Abyss - Book Five of the Alpha Series - MxM

Chapter 13

I shouldn't take out my drunken rage on her. It's not her who told me my way of life is wrong; in fact, it was quite the opposite. Verando quickly crosses the short distance and carefully takes her hand in his, inspecting her forearm under the short sleeve of her dress.

 "It's just a cold scald. It might burn for a few days, but it's not going to scar." 

She averts her eyes, watching the ground, as he examines my handprint, cursing under his breath as that arctic gaze lands upon me.

 "What is your problem? Why did you have a hold of her?" 

I realize he's talking to me, slumping back into the chair, I can only stare up at him with a vacant expression of uncertainty. As I drift in and out of sobriety, I make a silent vow to myself that I'll never drink again.

"Esmeralda got in my head, and then 'she' accused me of preferring men. I didn't want to hear it, alright?" Desperation clouds my voice, I can hear the emotion, and I grit my teeth at my weakness. 

My words cause him to pause, and he glances at the woman. "What do you know?"

"Nothing, " she says quickly, shaking her head, stammering through her flimsy explanation. "It was a misunderstanding, I just- I was trying to be- I'm deeply regretful to have offended His Majesty."

Verando exhales in relief, softening his stance. "You're not going to be put to death, so you can relax. I just need to know what you know and who told you. You're a maid, so your risk to the crown is low, but maids do like to gossip. " 

Her body shivers, her hands quivering as she retracts from him, and he tilts his head to get a better look at her face. She raises her hand to block her face from his view, and he frowns, concern causing his eyebrows to knit together. "Come now, you didn't get struck or beaten. Is it because I'm a lycan?" His attention turns to me, giving me a hard look from which I retreat. "What did you do to her?"

I put up my hands defensively, "Nothing besides what you saw. She was like that when she came!"

I know the wheels are turning. He's wondering, just as I had, what has prompted this woman to be so aloof and nervous. Grasping her chin gently, he lifts her face to look at him. "What're you hiding, little mouse?" he questions suspiciously, and when he meets her wide gaze, he drops her as if she's electrocuted him. 

She twists in his grasp and quickly pulls the scarf back down over her ashen hair, an array of whites and grays coming together to a mysterious pale shade. Her dark roots expand and fade towards the snow-white ends of her short bob cut. 

"What's your name?" his voice is stern, demanding, as he tries to show restraint.

"Helen." She murmurs, before gesturing to the pitcher of water and the tea leaves. "Drink that, all of it, tonight. It will help for tomorrow." Pushing past my warlord, she rushes out of the room as if she were forced to remain here, as if she were getting away from the villain. My warlord looks down the hall after her, making a mental note, no doubt, as he purses his lips in quiet frustration.

"Do you know her?" I grumble, tugging at my vest, unclasping the buttons as I kick at the heels of my tall boots to slide them off. This room was large, with a sitting area adjacent to the bed and a wrap-around library in the crook beside the massive windows. It was a living space as much as it was a bedroom. I had hardly gotten to appreciate it since being in here, and I admire the massive hand-carved bedposts as I climb to my feet. 

 "I couldn't get a good scent to trace her with all the herbs, but she is-" He stops himself like he's not ready to share his thoughts. "She didn't want me to see her face. It's very suspicious."