Blood Ties

30

Protecting the enemy
~
Cadence
~

His voice unravelled from his tongue like a nip, with every word he uttered his bite grew sharper and harder.

"Cadence, I apologise for bringing her along. I should have realised the impact it would have on you."

It wasn't the impact it had on her, it was the devastation. The unceasing and lasting imprint Alexene left on Cadence.

Cadence hated many people, and many creatures, but Alexene rose to the highest point.

She was an immortal being made to prey on the weakness of others, designed to seduce and feed until there was no blood left. At least with a lycan, they have a chance of redemption, an opportunity to recount their humanity by the bonds of a mate.

Cadence whipped around and bumped right into the hybrid.

She steadied herself and sent him a glare when he attempted to grab ahold of her. Accalia and Tristan were up front, leading them to the inside of the pack and Alexene was nowhere to be found in the maze of the forest. But she would be listening.

"For once in your life, shut your goddamn mouth!" Cadence spluttered and took a step toward him, lifting her chin to see him fully. "Do you know why I hate Alexene?"

Rexton froze at her question. "She kidnapped you and you freed me because of it."

Cadence laughed, covering her mouth with her dagger and then thrust it at him fiercely. "Yeah, she did that. Tied me up, threatened to kill everyone I care about, strangled me and manipulated me. She almost makes your brother look like a saint. Let's not forget, the worst of all, made me free you and then you fed on me. You both have done nothing but make my life a living hell."

A cold and blistering hell.

Alexene was the catalyst, but Rexton was the executor, inflicting and deepening the wound.

Rexton's eyes glossed over with an emotion Cadence couldn't detect, but his voice rang with something worse. "Cadence, please forgive me. I hadn't the faintest thought of what she did exactly."

Another apology, Cadence released a ragged sigh and stepped back, wanting his body to disappear into the darkness.

"I don't want your apology, I want you to get the hell out of my life—"

Rexton fell to his knees, bowing before her and splayed his palms across the dirt as if to pray.

Her sentence flew into the wind and her heart galloped into her throat, eyes widening in disbelief as she fought back the urge to laugh.

"You're stupid." Cadence bit out.

Rexton shook his head stubbornly, dirt smudging his jeans and hands. "What will it take for you to forgive me?"

"Drop dead."

His head hung low. "If it ensures your forgiveness—"

Cadence's knife fell from her hand and her lip quirked upward. She couldn't help it and collapsed to the floor in a fit of uncontrollable laughter.

The lengths a person would go to.

Cadence couldn't grasp it as her body shook with laughter and she lifted her head from her hands to see Rexton staring at her curiously.

"What on earth is she laughing about? The lycans might hear us." Alexene hissed bitterly, emerging from the shadows.

"I said I would die if it meant she would forgive me," Rexton explained and looked up to the pale vampire. "She doesn't believe me."