Nightfall ✓

Hortensia

0 8

H o r t e n s i a

[FRN] jumping into air with legs drawn up.

ALEC ACCOMPANIED HER to the airport. There was so much on Clo's mind that worrying about being in a car with him was the last thing on her mind. She must have called Theo a million times to remind him where everything was. Being in the same city as him allowed her to monitor his diet, his vitamin intake and the medication he took for his asthma so when she was not near him, it worried her that he'd forget to take care of himself. The man only cared about mathematics and leaving him – especially during exam season – was difficult.

She'd been punished more times than she could be bothered to count for visiting her husband without Alec's permission or calling him at every chance she got. But his punishments calmed her mental state these days – the pain and humiliation provided relief from the voices screaming in her head.

After all, she'd signed up to be treated like a whore, right? And that's what he was doing.

It was fair.

She was hurting Theo and she'd hurt Alec.

It was fair that she got treated the way she did.

"Felix will pick you up from the Oteverve airport. He'll accompany you anywhere you go. If I hear you've wandered off somewhere on your own like you do here, there will be repercussions." He didn't spare her a glance as he looked at the laptop in his lap, typing away.

Clo nodded. "Is he a member of the Varjot?" She couldn't help but ask. Now that he'd broken her out of her thoughts, she wanted to speak with him before she left.

There would be no reason for him to call her while she was in Sweden. He rarely sent her any messages while she visited other cities or countries.

"Do you need to know that?" He questioned, looking away from his laptop to stare at her.

She shook her head, murmuring an apology. "What I really want to ask is if you can look after Theo. Alexander knows I'm going to Sweden so I'm worried he'll hurt him or something. If he knows you're involved, he won't–"

"Hurt him?" He interrupted, voice colder than it was a few moments ago. "Fine. I'll look after your husband. Should I make him sleep in the same bed in which I fuck you? Alexander wouldn't dare look for him there."

She couldn't help but giggle, putting a hand on her mouth before full out laughing. What he'd said was so pathetic and yet so true that she couldn't help herself.

His glare softened as he stared at her before shaking his head.

"You don't need to do that," she hesitated, looking out of the window before turning towards him, "I think the marks you leave on me torment him enough. He just – he doesn't have anything to do with this whole ordeal, you know? I am the one who wronged you. I'm the reason Amara did what she did. He didn't do anything. Hell, he didn't even know who I was until we'd moved in together. So, I just want you to call him once a week. I should be back by the end of this month." She sighed before smiling at him. "I'll pay for this favor as well when I come back."

Alec raised an eyebrow, tilting his head to one side. "Wonderful," he murmured, "I'm sure I can conjure ideas. Maybe we can give him a call when I'm fucking you this time?"

Clo looked down at her lap, exhaling softly. She knew he said all those things so he could get a rise out of her. The old her would have lashed out at those who looked at her in a wrong manner. The present her, though, was beaten.