His Claim

8

Ember

My eyes widened as his lips were against mine. Heat rose to my cheeks and for a moment I almost closed my eyes. A part of me wanted to melt into him, to indulge.

I tore my nails into his chest. My heart was beating painfully hard in my chest. I could feel that my cheeks were burning a bright red, my nails stained with his red blood. I stared into his brown eyes, his brows had come together in thought.

    "What are you! Some pervert! Stay away from me!" I screamed as I stood up. Why did he do that? I was mates with Marcel! What did I do to even catch his attention?
Another rock and hard place.

"Ember, I am sorry," Corbin grabbed one of my hands and cupped my cheek with this other. I felt the tingle of my skin, my breathing becoming sharper.

"I can't stand when you touch me..." I breathed out. He let go of me. I looked up and wasn't prepared for what I saw. He looked hurt.

"Ember...I don't want to hurt you. I...would like to know more about you," he said softly. His voice....was almost pleading.

"J-just leave me alone!" I hissed  and marched out the door. The moment I slammed it shut I collapsed. It felt like a bird had carried my heart away. Strange sparks of light and happiness had danced over my skin as Corbin kissed me. His words seemed to touch something deep inside of me. I slapped my cheeks just thinking about it. I couldn't think that.

    I whined softly as I thought about how he had opened up a little. How he held me in his strong arms as if shielding me.

...He is just using you...

    I look around trying to see where that familiar voice came from. Waiting to see the blue eyes.

...Aww you think he cares for you. Oh my sweet darling...

    I kept looking frantically around. I stood up racing around the dim hallways. Searching for him.

...He might be kind to you now. You are a pretty face. But he is just using you. You will always be used...

    "Marcel!" I cried out, My walking turned to running. His words echoed through my mind and cold terror wrapped around my heart. I had deceived myself, some part of me thought the people here might like me.

...Like you? My love, they want you dead. They want the air taken from your body, ripped limb to limb...

    "Stop it! Stop!" I screamed as tears poured down my face. I collapsed again as his words and eyes wouldn't stop tormenting me.

...You can kill them all. You could do it so easily. Then your real family would have somewhere to live. Why should they get to live here? We can make a family here, our family....

    I tore my nails into my own wrists, willing for this to stop. Suddenly, the blue eyes were gone. Instead a softness seemed to cover my mind, it was a bit cool. Like the air right before the sun comes up, an air that leaves dew on the skin. Refreshing.

    "Emmy" my mother's voice echoed behind me.

    I gasped and whipped around to see Lily looking down at me with a mixture of worry and fear.

    "Emmy, it's okay. Marcel isn't chasing you. He isn't here," she whispered and cupped my cheek. I know why I felt this way with Lily. She smelled so much like mom, it was something I hadn't smelled in such a long time. I let out a cracked sob as I wrapped my arms around her. A few people had stepped out of their rooms from the commotion but none came near us. After a few moments Lily helped me up and took me to her room. It was large with wooden furniture. Vines grew up the walls and different types of plants were potted in the corners. The doors to the balcony were wide open.