CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Nikole and Zayn sat on her bed and stared at each other in silence, the moments passing by ever so slowly. Neither knew where to start or what to say. . She opened her mouth to speak, and then paused, thinking twice. Placing her hands down both side of her body and pushing up on the bed, she turned her body sideways, letting her legs fall off the side.
“How could you do it Zayn? She is my best friend.” She looked back at him, sensing his conflict.
“I didn’t mean to, Nikole. You have to believe me… I didn’t.”
“I could have been dead. I was being tortured, and you’re off sleeping with Adara. Did you even care I was gone? Did you even look?” She shook her head, standing up to brace against the nightstand. She moved to the bookshelf in the corner looking back at him.
Zayn was feeling the pain of her words and taking offense to what she was implying. He stood up quickly and stormed over to her, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her to him, making her look into his eyes. “Don’t you dare say I didn’t care or didn’t look! I was losing myself without you here. I didn’t know what I was going to do; I was losing my mind. I kept picturing our parents and their death. Adara, she...”
Nikole pulled herself out of his grip, and then slapped him across the face, her body shaking from the anger and pain. “Spare me your bullshit. If you gave a damn you would not be with my best fucking friend! You can have anyone you want, and you pick her. What is wrong with you?” Nikole started to walk in a steady pace back and forth from the bed to the bookshelf. She couldn’t decide what she wanted to say. All she saw was them together. Zayn moved to take her arm when she started to lean one way. It was clear she was having issues maintaining her balance.
“Don’t fucking touch me,” she said, pushing him off of her. She didn’t need his help to live; she didn’t need his help now. “Why don’t you just go fuck my best friend? That’s what you would rather be doing, isn’t it? ISN’T IT!?” she yelled at him.
“NO! Nikole, stop it. I’ve been so worried, and Gods, I’m just happy you are alive. Can’t you believe me? I had everyone looking for you around the clock. Adara and I, we just happened. I didn’t mean for it, and I don’t know if I even want it, but it happened.”
Nikole braced the night stand, staring at a statue Zayn had bought her for one birthday. She palmed it and ran her fingers over the smooth texture. She heard him in the background, speaking, but she started to tune him out.
“Nikole, you’re my flesh and blood. I love you. Me and Adara”
She couldn’t take anymore. Turning around, she hurled the statue at the wall and watched it shatter. “LEAVE, JUST LEAVE!” She couldn’t understand why he didn’t get it. “Anyone, anyone but her.”
Zayn turned around, trying to hide his hurt. Why couldn’t she understand he didn’t mean anything by this? Sending her a mental note, he told her, “I love you, Nikole. You’re my only family, and I would die to protect you.” He opened her door and left the room. Nikole fell on the bed and started to cry into her pillow.
“I love you too.”
Outside her door, Zayn couldn’t help but wonder how all this happened. All he did was seek comfort from a friend during a time of need. How could she be so upset with him? Hearing a noise, he looked to his right to see Adara opening her door and stepping into the hallway. She heard it all… every last word. She could even feel his emotions, his hurt, and his anger. She had caused this, caused her best friend to hate the man she….the man she what? Had sex with? Cared for? Could there even be more there? Walking down the hall, she decided tonight wasn’t the night to figure out what happened and what it all meant. All she knew was her lover was in pain.
Zayn wrapped his arms around Adara’s waist and buried his head in her neck. Slowly, she stroked the back of his head as she felt warm moisture on her skin. Tears, the man was crying because of his okht, again. She held him tight, their embrace lasting what felt like hours.
All he could think about was how this woman who so freely and wonderfully gave herself to him had caused his okht such grief. What was he going to do? It wasn’t like he could pick between the two women. Tomorrow, tomorrow he could decide what to do.
Zayn brought his head up and looked into her eyes. Gods they were perfect. He stared into the pale yellow as he realized something. He didn’t care about tomorrow, because tonight he was claiming her. He wrapped his left arm around her waist, and his right arm reached down and scooped up her legs. Holding her tiny frame in his arms, he leaned over and kissed her softly. They moved down the hall and into his bedroom. Setting her on the bed slowly, letting her fall nicely onto his sheets, the mattress gave into their combined weight. Zayn looked down at her and was captivated at the sight. Her golden hair sprawled across his comforter, her tiny body beneath him. Perfection that is what she was.
“I’m so sorry, Zayn. This is my fault, Nikole and you, fighting. I should leave.”
Zayn leaned over and kissed her lips, shaking his head no. “No Adara, it is not anyone’s fault. We can’t help what happened. She’s just upset; it will be alright.” He cupped her face in his hands and brushed his thumbs over her cheeks. Her skin was so soft; it was as if the Gods made her perfectly for him. He started to move his hand down her body, teasing her playfully with soft caresses and light tickles. Her laugh filled his heart as he saw her face light up each time he caressed her sides. This was what he wanted to live for, the beauty and affection of a woman like this.
Adara couldn’t stop her heart from racing. All she wanted was him and that was what he was giving her. Could she be so lucky to get to keep this moment forever? There she lay in the King’s arms, and all she could think about was how wonderful he looked. His eyes glowing down on her, she could feel his excitement and his need. She brought her legs up and wrapped them around his waist, trapping him there on top of her. She heard him growl, a feral sound, only something you hear from a warrior. Her body responded with excitement. Gods, she was the luckiest woman alive to be with him.
Adara leaned forward and captured his lips, his hands running under her shirt and up her back. Slowly, they undressed each other, and with their bodies touching, they began to bond in a whole new way. Adara’s body arched at Zayn’s touch, his soft lips on her warm body driving them both wild. Zayn’s tongue dragged across her stomach as his hands explored every inch of her skin. Her body grew feverish, the heat of her skin needing to be cooled. She reached out and cupped his face. Pulling him in to kiss her, she felt him slowly glide inside of her warm and ready body. Together they made love all night, over and over until they each had no energy left.
“I don’t want you to go back to your home.” Zayn told her while brushing the hair out of her eyes, playfully nipping at her jaw. He wanted her like this always.
“I told you, I won’t go back home. I’m too scared to. I’ll have to move.”
Zayn ran his tongue along her jaw his hands dropping back down to her side. Did she not understand what he meant? He couldn’t be without her, not after this. He wasn’t sure how it would work, but somehow he would be hers. “No. Adara, I want you always in my bed when I come to sleep. I don’t want you to leave any time.”
Adara pulled her body back and off to the side so she could see directly into his face. “What? What are you saying? Are you crazy? We just started this; it’s been what, three days? I can’t just stop the life I had.”
Zayn pulled her body back into his, kissing her lips, stopping her from speaking. “Adara, I don’t want you to leave. I need you with me. I’ve never felt like this, and right now I almost lost my okht. I’m not going to let a moment pass without telling you how I feel. Please, give me a chance. If this bothers you so much you can continue to sleep in your room but you will stay, alright?”
Adara’s face flushed with nervousness, should she say yes? Could he just make her stay? She nodded a yes; she didn’t even remember telling her body to do it. Cle
arly her heart and mind were not on the same page. Zayn smiled at her, his fangs large and desirable. Gods, she wanted to be his, even though logic said no.
Adara tilted her head, exposing her neck; she felt his cock growing with the anticipation of the bite. Within moments he sank his fangs into her flesh, her life force being drunken in. Her arms wrapped around him, and she held him close to her as he fed. What was she doing? Was she really giving herself to their King?
Nikole could hear Zayn’s thoughts, what he’d just done all night long and to her best friend. She decided she didn’t need to be in her room to get better. Sitting up, she slid her legs out of bed, and with assistance from the furniture in the room, she made it to the door. Opening it into the hallway, she started to head toward the stairwell. She could smell them, their love, desire, and need. Sickening, absolutely sickening. Reaching the steps, she looked down the banister, gave a nervous laugh, and decided it was a better idea to teleport down, less chance of injury. Closing her eyes, she tried to concentrate on something peaceful. A picture of Alec was pulled to her mind, and she smiled at the thought of him. Feeling her body warm, she vanished from the stairs and landed in the foyer.
Looking around to see if anyone was up, she felt it safe to try and go walk into the living room. Slowly making her way inside, she saw one of her servants who quickly came to her aid. Getting settled in, she took one of the books off of the table and propped herself up and opened to chapter one. Reading, that would help calm her mind.