CHAPTER THIRTY
Z
ayn leaned in and kissed Adara’s cheek while watching the sunlight slowly fill his room. He could feel her stirring in his arms, the night playing over and over in his mind. He was unsure of what to do to fix the fight with his okht. He loved her but he couldn’t let Adara go. Adara felt responsible for the fight. Was this what life was going to be like, the two women in his life always at odds with each other? Surely not, they were best friends. Nikole would come to reason and understand that she couldn’t be mad at them. It just wasn’t logical; they needed each other. She had to get over it. Zayn watched Adara roll over, smiling at him. This was a sight he wanted to see every time he woke up.
“Good Morning, Beautiful,” he said as he leaned in, kissing her soft lips.
She moaned into the kiss, forgetting the rest of the world as he melted her body with his roaming tongue. “Mhmm. Yes, it is a good morning. Did you sleep well, my King?”
Zayn laughed at her comment then rolled on his back, bringing her body along with his. Her hair fell down around his face as he took his hand and brushed it out of the way. “Yes, I did. What about you? I didn’t wake you up or anything when I had to get up in the middle of the night did I? I hope not.”
She shook her head no, looking down at him grinning like a teenage school girl. “No, you wore me out. I slept like a rock.”
Zayn ran his hand down her side to her ass and cupped it. “One sexy rock, if I do say so.” He gave her a small spank, making her jump and laugh at the same time.
“What made you get up in the middle of the night? I didn’t snore did I?” Leaning up Adara shook her hair back and looked around for her clothes.
“No,” Zayn said as his hands started to explore his woman’s body as he stared up at her. “Alec showed up last night, looking for Nikole. He was worried she was hurt. Apparently he gave her some blood and could feel our fight. He ended up staying over, but he is going home today. I don’t want a stranger in my home.”
Adara looked at him with a confused expression. “What if Nikole wants him around? Are you still going to make him leave? Maybe he would be good for her. I’m sure she is going to need to feed again, and well, it’s not like you can feed her.”
He ignored her, pulling her down to him and placing kisses across her collar bone. “Mhmm, I think you need to feed.” He scraped his teeth across her skin watching as goose bumps popped up. Licking her skin and teasing her playfully, he heard her let out a soft moan as her hands ran through his hair.
“I think we should go check on your okht. She was very upset last night. I could hear you two fighting. Come on.” Adara tried to wiggle out of his hold, making him hold her tighter.
“Just give me ten minutes. I promise you won’t regret them. Please.” He kissed down her chest while she kept wiggling.
“No, Zayn, come on.” Breaking his embrace, she saw disappointment on his face and laughed. “I promise later, baby, you and I will finish this.” Leaning over, she kissed him quickly before jumping out of the bed and collecting her clothes, slipping them on as he watched her with a hunger he didn’t understand. Zayn sighed. How could he want her so badly? It was like he hadn’t lived before she entered his world. She leaned over and slipped her jeans on and he damn near died, her firm body, the muscles and curves. Completely engulfed in her beauty, he didn’t notice her laughing at him. She grabbed a pillow off the floor and tossed it at him.
“Hey, focus. My eyes are up here!” Laughing at him, she crawled back in bed and let him wrap her in his arms, kissing her with a new passion he’d never felt.
“I can’t help it, Adara. You captivate my every sense.” Adara moved out of the bed and pulled on his hand for him to join her. She tossed him his pants and headed to the bathroom to fix her hair. Zayn dressed then, quickly looked for his cell phone, and noticed he had missed a call from Nasir. Maybe he had more information on the person who was killed at Adara’s home. Adara rejoined him and they walked out of his room together. Zayn led her down to the living room where he last saw Nikole.
“Looks like she is awake,” Adara said when she noticed the blanket still laid out on the couch.
“Yeah, it does. Wonder where she is.” Zayn brought Adara’s hand to his lips and placed a kiss on it when he heard something outside. It sounded like people yelling. “Excuse me; I’m going to see what’s got everyone yelling. I’ll be right back.” He left her exploring the book shelves and headed outside.
“How would he have known we lived here? This is too much; I am not safe anywhere! I want to go back with you. Right now let’s just leave; I don’t have anything keeping me here.” Nikole told Alec as they were making their way back to the front of the mansion.
“What is this about you leaving?” Zayn said as he heard them come around the corner. “You’re not going anywhere, Nikole. I won’t let you.”
Nikole and Alec stopped at the sound of Zayn’s voice. “Oh, like you have a say in this. You abandoned me three days ago while I was being tortured! I am going home with Alec. At least no one can find me there, and I can heal.”
Zayn was confused at where this paranoia was coming from. “Nikole, no one is going to get you here. What are you so worried about? I refuse to let you go somewhere we don’t have complete access to with a total stranger.”
Alec followed behind Nikole as she marched up to her akh. “Oh, you will protect me you say. Where were you were when someone broke onto our property? Tell me that, mister King. Where were you? Oh yes, let me think, in bed with my best friend!” Nikole yelled out to her akh.
Zayn placed his arms on Nikole’s shoulders just to have her push him off of her. “Nikole, what are you talking about? No one broke in! It must have been a nightmare, you’re safe, I promise!”
She pushed against him. “No, I’m not. Go look at the fence line and see what the dogs found, and they killed him, one of the men who tortured me. He was here, Zayn, on our land, next to our home! I can’t stay; I am leaving and going with Alec while I’m still alive.”
Alec came up behind Nikole and placed his arms around her waist protectively, “Zayn, they did attack someone. I will have to check the news feed back home to verify that it is the same person, but he was definitely on your grounds. Nikole will be safe with me. No one knows where I live but you and Nasir.” Alec pushed at the small of Nikole’s back and they moved past Zayn and into the house.
Zayn reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone, calling Nasir while following after his okht. “Nasir, there was a break in. Go check it out. How the fuck does someone get on my property?! The dogs killed him, but you find out who was on duty, and I want him brought to me NOW!” Hanging up the phone, he walked into the house, calling out to his okht. “Nikole, stop! You can’t leave; you just can’t. Please, I can’t risk losing you again.”
Adara stepped out of the living room and Nikole turned to her. “You were with my akh when I was taken. My best friend and you were WITH MY AKH! Did you two even miss me; did you notice I was gone?” Turning to Zayn, Nikole fought back tears. “I’m leaving. It is decided. You cannot control me and it is clear you cannot protect me. Goodbye.” Nikole felt Alec’s hands wrap around her waist and then one hand slip under her legs as he lifted her into his arms and started the climb up the stairwell. She turned her head into his chest as the tears streamed down her face. Adara felt Zayn’s pain and he could feel hers. Zayn moved to her and pulled her close as they both stood in silence as the most important person to them moved out of sight.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
T
he door slamming shut echoed through the house. Nikole was serious about leaving, and Zayn didn’t know what he was going to do about that. He didn’t trust her out there without him; they had been inseparable since she’d been born. He didn’t even know anything, really, about Alec. He felt Adara squeeze his waist tighter as they stood there in the foyer. Was this really what it came down to, his okht packing to leave? All of this caused because he didn’t want her in the army? He supposed that’s what the catch 22 was all about, seeing how things should have been but not acting accordingly at the time. Somehow he would fix this. He placed a kiss on top of Adara’s head and silently prayed that she and Nikole made up soon, because he knew neither one could go without the other.
“Zayn.”
He looked up to see Nasir walking into the foyer. “The man who is dead on the lawn, we did confirm is the same one who killed Kevin. We pulled the surveillance. The man climbed the wall and fell to his death. It looked like he was speaking to someone but it doesn’t appear he was with anyone. I am still looking into who has been patrolling and why this wasn’t noticed.”
Zayn released Adara and motioned his head to the library; she smiled at him and then left the two men alone. Zayn raised his body to his full height and turned to Nasir once Adara had shut the door. Zayn stalked towards Nasir, looking down at the man who’d swore an oath to protect this family.
“Nasir, how did someone even get this close to us? This is unacceptable. I will not allow failure to work for me. If you do not fix this, and I mean right now, blood will be shed. No one endangers my family, MY OKHT outside of MY home!” Zayn’s voice was cold as ice, fierce and determined. “You will make sure this place is secure or the next blood that will be shed will be yours. I will not tolerate it! Not even you will put my okht and what’s mine in danger. Do. You. Understand?”
Nasir stood to attention and bowed to his King respectfully. Never had Zayn taken this tone with him before, but part of him felt pride watching Zayn take charge and come into his kingdom. “Yes, Sire.”
“Good, now leave. I don’t want to see you back here till you have given me answers as to how someone could fucking get on my property and possibly take Nikole again!” Zayn turned toward the closed door and walked away from Nasir, his back to him and carrying an arrogance that last week had not been present.
Nikole and Alec walked into her room, leaving the door cracked so they could hear what was going on down stairs. Looking around her room, she started to inventory the possessions she had. She knew she could always come back for anything she wanted, but she didn’t want to have to see Zayn again for a while. Walking to the closet, she pulled out a suitcase then started to pick out what clothes she wanted. Alec came to her side and started to fold the clothes up into the suitcase neatly in silence.
Neither broke their focus as if they would get it done faster if they keep distractions to a minimum. Walking back and forth from her closet to her bathroom, she passed a sketch of her and Zayn in a small picture frame. It was done in the early 1400’s. She picked it up and handed it to Alec to pack. She might be mad, but she still loved him. Taking a final look around her room she nodded to Alec who picked up the suitcase and grabbed her hand, placing a kiss on it before they stepped into the hallway.
Zayn opened the door and slipped in, shutting it behind him. Adara looked up from her seat and saw his eyes glowing yellow, the bright shimmering color that the King was known for. She left the couch and came to him, embracing him tightly. “Are you alright, Zayn?” She could hear his heart racing from what just took place out in the foyer.
“No, Adara, I’m not. I cannot lose her again. I will do anything to keep her here and I will not allow anyone to possibly hurt her, even if that means Nasir has to go.”
Adara pulled away from him at his harsh words. She couldn’t blame him though; his okht was all the family he had left. She would be the same way. “I’ll be getting my things gathered and will be out within a few hours.” She moved away from him and headed to the door. How had she been so naive to think he would want to keep her around? She felt his hand grab her arm, stopping her from going any further.
“What do you think you are doing? You are NOT leaving.”
She turned around and looked up at him, those spectacular eyes, the perfect olive skin, sturdy jawline. “You just said you won’t let anyone hurt her, and you won’t let her leave. I have to go. I’ve hurt her, and as long as I’m here, she won’t be. I was selfish and foolish to think I could have you, to have this.” She pulled her arm out of his hand and opened the door stepping into the hallway.
“Adara, I didn’t mean you! I meant everyone else but you! Stop now. Adara. STOP!”
Halfway to the stairs she turned around and looked at him. “What do you mean everyone but me? You just said no one.” She turned around and wiped the tears from her eyes and started walking toward the stairs. “I am not going to come between you and my best friend. Period.” She started climbing up the stairs, fumbling with each step along the way.
“Adara, stop!!”
She ignored his calls; she couldn’t look at him right now, not when she was crying like this. Zayn flashed in front of her on the stairs, Adara ran right into him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her while she cried into his chest. “I have to go, Zayn. I can’t be the reason that you two fight. I can’t do that to my best friend; I just can’t.” She pushed past him and as she reached the top of the stairs, she saw Nikole and Alec standing there, looking at them. Unable to face her best friend, she just lowered her head and walked into her room, shutting it silently leaving them in the hallway.
Adara grabbed her bag that was still mostly packed from her house and shoved the items of clothing she had into it. She knew this was crazy, yet she still foolishly thought she would be able to manage it. Who would have thought anything with the King of their people would be easy? He was the King and his okht was her best friend. She had to find a way to fix things with Nikole. No one deserved so much hurt and pain, but then to come home and have salt poured on the open wound… She truly was a horrible friend. She sat on the bed for a moment, looking around to make sure she gathered everything she’d brought.
She could hear Nikole and the others in the hallway. Her stomach started churning in sickness at her actions. She rushed to the bathroom as the wave of nausea hit from the stress of this situation. She just wanted to go home and forget everything that happened, but she couldn’t.
“Dear Gods, where am I going to stay?”
Zayn and Nikole stared at each other in momentary silence, neither ready to say what needed to be said. Nikole felt Alec place his hand on the small of her back as he leaned over and picked up the suitcase she’d just packed. “Let’s go, Alec.” Nikole stepped around her akh and started her descent down the stairs.
“You can’t take her. She can’t leave me, Alec.”
Alec looked at his King and took a momentary breath before saying, “This is out of my control, and Nikole wants to come with me, that’s all I need to know.” Walking past Zayn, Alec started followed Nikole down.
Nikole looked back up to her akh; she could see the pain and hurt in his eyes. She didn’t want to leave, but she had no choice. She had to get away from him, even if only for a few weeks. “Goodbye.” Taking Alec’s hand, she walked out of the front door. She felt her confidence fall as she pulled Alec into her, his arms wrapping around her protectively as he held her on the porch for a minute, letting her cry.
“Am I acting wrong, Alec? Should I be staying in my home?” Nikole looked up at him with her bright violet eyes shining at him.
“No, you are not wrong; you just don’t want to be here. You are entitled to be wherever you want.” She turned her head in the direction of the dead body that they’d found; Alec could feel her body shiver in his embrace. He was scared for her and would gladly bring her home so he didn’t have to worry anymore. He forgot how intense the blood bond was. “Come on, Nikole. Let’s go home, and we can figure this out tomorrow.”
Zayn lowered himself on the first step of the stairs watching the door shut. His okht was gone. His heart broke into a million pieces as twice now in one week he had seen his okht vanish before his eyes. He heard Adara open her door and come up to him. “I’m sorry, Zayn. I just don’t know what else to do.” She walked down the stairs and he watched the other woman he had grown to love walk out of his life.
Zayn’s body became flooded with grief and anger. Nikole and Adara walking out of his house and away from his life was the last straw to his sanity. With his scream piercing the quiet, the pipes began to shake as the foundation rumbled beneath him. His stark bright yellow eyes scanned the room as water began spewing from the walls. Seconds turned to minutes as Zayn’s final grasp of reality faded. He felt as though all was lost, and in that despair his rage fuelled hotter and deeper. He wouldn’t hurt anyone to satisfy and calm what was inside of him, he knew that, but as he took his last look around, he let his pain consume him as he destroyed the Kadin home.
PURCHASE
BLOOD YELLOW
NOW