Building the Tension | ✔ | 18+

Chapter 24 - Chain Reaction

Author's Notes: This chapter contains adult content (the section after the second break). Viewer discretion is advised.

-=o0/&\0o=-

The next morning, Adrian approached us when Christian and I were waiting in line for him to see the feeders.

Without preamble, he said, "Here it is," holding a ladies' silver ring, complete with a diamond that looked to be about two carats, out towards me, "I was able to feel the magic to be able to do it from the ring Lissa made for me. It should be as powerful an anti-compulsion charm as I could make."

It made me curious enough that he would have such a large diamond ring just laying around to almost want to have a closer look at it, but I wasn't about to touch it without knowing it was safe. I waited for Christian to take the ring. I motioned to Christian and he took the ring and looked it over.

Adrian continued talking to me. I didn't want him talking to me, but I was wearing my necklace and still guarding Christian for my field experience, so as long as Christian was there, I had to stay there. "I tried to charm the ring with healing, too, but the ring just wouldn't take more than one kind of spirit magic. Rose, after seeing what healing did to the darkness in your aura, you and Lissa both reeeeaaaallllyyy should have some sort of healing charm on - at all times. Would you let me make you one, please?"

I wanted to just walk away. I wanted to keep my mouth shut and turn my back. But instead, I blurted out, "Why would I ever let you do anything for me again? You violated my trust."

"So I can start to make it up to you," Adrian said, "I will win you back, Rose."

Rage boiled up inside of me. Just like I had done with Camille Conta a month ago, I flung him up against the wall, using my forearm to press against his windpipe. Keeping my voice low, I spit out, with as much malice as I could, "You do not get to touch me, Adrian - ever again! You don't even get to look at me! I am not yours, I am his! And I will always be! Is that clear?"

Adrian had a hand on the arm that was pinning him, but he wasn't making any effort to try to pull it off of him. Suddenly, I felt a wave of tingling warmth and cold spread through me. With a shock, I realized he was healing me. "What the hell?" I said. Confusion washed over me as I slowly backed away from him.

Nearly everyone in line of sight in the cafeteria was staring. The rage had just overtaken me. I hadn't realized I was publicly assaulting and threatening a royal. This didn't look so good. "It's fine, everybody!" Adrian called out to the people around us, "I was just pretending to be a Strigoi for her to give her a little extra practice! Well done, Rose! Good job!"

To me, in a much quieter voice, Adrian said, "I could see how much darkness was in you, Rose. No matter what happened, I still love you. Let me care for you."

"It doesn't change things, Adrian," I said, in a low threatening voice just above a whisper, "I love Dimitri. I don't love you. You can't change that. And you can't come between us."

-=o0/&\0o=-

Once Christian was done at the feeders, we brought the ring over to Lissa. As soon as she put it on, Lissa pulled it back off again.

I wasn't sure if I was angry or afraid. "Did Adrian lie about it being an anti-compulsion charm?" I asked.

"No, I can feel that it's what he said it is. But the inside of this ring feels all weird," she said, looking at it more closely, "It's engraved with something." Lissa held the ring up to the light. "Oh. Oh my."