My Personal Hell, D. Richardson [ebook reader browser txt] 📗

we made it up there, but it certainly wasn’t what we found.

Ailith sat leaned back and comfortable with her arms stretched out to the sides. Her exposed leg was crossed over the other one and a small smile played on her lips. She looked like the sexiest female villain that ever existed. Chris stood leaned down behind one of the males, a dagger to his throat, Keira was seated firmly in the other males lap. Her dagger pressed so tightly to his neck I could see it making an indention. All three of them looked like they were enjoying themselves immensely.

Jackson sat, leaned back with his legs stretched out. He seemed to be taking the blow to his ego very well. When he spotted Asher he smirked.

“Asher, so nice to see you again.” The two used to be fast friends until Jackson inherited his pack. After that they drifted apart. Though to hear Asher talk about him it seemed like they had always been enemies rather than friends. One always out to outdo the other.

“Jackson, wish I could say the same about you,” he replied, moving to sit to Ailith’s left. I stood behind her while Bastion took the same spot behind Asher.

“I would very much like to know what brings you to my door.”

“I’m sure you’ve heard…,” Asher started, but Jackson cut him off.

“I will listen…to her,” Jackson stated, leveling his gaze at Ailith.

I had just the right view of her face to see her raise a brow. I could see her mentally weighting her options. She could refuse, giving Asher the rightful respect for a future alpha. But it would be quicker to go ahead and speak to him. She glanced over at Asher, rather than looking upset, his expression was one of relief. Then she shrugged her bare shoulder and started to talk.

“I’m told news of the packs spread like wildfire, so I assume you know about the Crudelus pack’s challenge?” Jackson gave a slow nod.

“I have, though it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with me.”

“It’s no secret that the Crudelus are underhanded.”

“True.”

“Van’s planning something, something very unpleasant to ensure that he gets the territory whether or not he wins the battle.”

“Still, what’s that do to with me?” Jackson asked, spreading his hands.

He looked like he was trying to toy with her, upset her to get her to loose the cool exterior. Instead she lifted a hand straight back over her shoulder. I knew what she was asking for, so I handed her the pack of cigarettes I kept on hand. She didn’t smoke very often, simply when she needed a moment to think. I handed it over without a second thought.

She pulled her skirt up a couple of inches and reached under it, pulling her trusty Zippo out to light it. Then slipping it back in place. I’d have to ask later how she kept it from falling out. His eyes followed her every movement, lighting up when she had pulled her skirt up. It took an awful lot of willpower not to snarl at him.

“You share our southern border do you not?”

“Indeed I do, and?” he asked, slightly flustered.

“What do you think is going to happen if Van succeeds? Do you really think that he’ll be satisfied with just our territory?” His eyes narrowed.

“No one wants this territory. That’s how I’ve managed to hold it.”

“This area has a lot of businesses. Plenty to make his pack richer beyond his wildest dreams. You may be the last territory he seeks out, but I guarantee you will eventually be a target. And by the time he reaches you, you’ll be alone, no allies to come to your aid.” He leaned forward.

“And if I send my males to fight with you and you lose? I’ll have none to fight my own battles with.”

“We don’t want your males.”

“Then what is it that you want?”

“Your eyes.” His own eyes widened slightly.

“I beg your pardon?” She smiled and put her half smoked cigarette out in the convenient ash tray.

“We simply want you to witness the battle. From a safe distance of course. So that when the time comes you can testify that it was the Crudelus who overstepped their bounds, not us. Given that you have no interest in either packs and are allied with neither, your word will have enough weight to keep the other packs from issuing their own challenges.” He sat back, looking intently into her eyes. After several moments of silence he finally answered.

“I’ll do it, but I want something in return.”

“Tell me, Jackson, what is your price?” she asked, her head tilted slightly to the side as she narrowed her eyes, simultaneously giving a small ironic smile. He returned that smile.

Chapter 34

Ailith

 

 

 

Two hours after our deal was struck Sadler pulled into his driveway. I had ridden back with him since it was so late. On the drive back I had texted Drake, telling him we were all fine, there weren’t too many complications, and we got his yes. He asked what the alpha had wanted in return and I told him he would get a full report the next morning. He seemed frustrated by it, but let it go, wishing me a good night instead.

Sadler had been silent throughout the drive, though I didn’t think it was because of the deal I had made. He just seemed to have something on his mind, so I left him alone. When we walked in I immediately kicked my heels off. I was certain I would have at least three blisters when I woke up the next morning. I was going to go change but Sadler started to talk.

“Why are you so intent on being on that field?” he asked, I spun and looked at him, stunned. This was a topic we had never discussed. I didn’t even think that it mattered to him that much.

“It’s just something I need to do.” He leaned against the back of his couch, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked at me.

“You realize you could get killed right?” I nodded.

“Yes.”

“Then why risk it?”

“I told you, it’s something I need to do.”

“What, die?” he asked, his attitude was starting to hit me the wrong way and I started to feel my temperature rise.

“No, fight.”

“Even at the expense of your life?”

“Every time I drive a car it’s at the possible expense of my life.” He brought his fist down on the back of the couch.

“That’s not the same and you know it!” My temperature spiked again. I was starting to really feel the heat in the room.

“It’s my choice,” I snapped.

“It shouldn’t be!” I flinched like he had slapped me. It felt like he had slapped me. He took a deep breath. “Not if you’re just going to throw your life away.”

“You may not like it, but it’s my decision to make!” It was so hot that I started to pull at my dress. “Why is it so damn hot in here?!” I yelled, my frustration building. He gave me a weird look.

“It’s not, I keep the thermostat at sixty five degrees in the summer.” I stared at him.

It didn’t make any sense. It couldn’t only be sixty five degrees, I was starting to sweat and it wasn’t like I was wearing heavy clothes. Then realization hit me, probably about the same time it hit him.

“You have to take me home.” His eyes had gotten as wide as saucers.

“I can’t, the house if full of males.” Then the full pain of the heat hit me, forcing me to double over.

He caught me before I hit the floor and picked me up, carrying me into the bedroom. After I was gently laid on the bed I rolled over, curling in on myself. Last time when I hit this point I had blacked out. It didn’t look like that was going to happen this time.

He was trying to cover me with a blanket, but his hand brushed against my arm. He was cool to the touch and I grabbed his arm, curling around it like a life line. I could hear his heavy breathing, but I couldn’t bring myself to open my eyes.

“Ailith,” his voice wasn’t any higher than a whisper, but even that low I could hear the pain. I looked up at him.

His eyes were flashing silver, his wolf trying to take over. I didn’t want to let go of him, he made the pain less intense. But I released him, hoping he would leave before I couldn’t stop myself from pulling him down onto the bed with me. I looked away from him, wishing he would just run away. Instead he said my name again.

When I looked back, he was right there. I hadn’t felt him sit down on the bed, but his face was only few inches from mine. I tilted my head up without thinking, his lips came closer, both of us breathing quickly. I thought he’d never actually do anything, my frustration mounting until I was ready to cry out. Then his hand touched my face, and his lips met mine.

I’d never felt lightening shoot through my body before. Not even when I had slept with Cory. But this kiss had my body tingling. His lips were soft and moved against mine with so much intensity my pain faded to the background.

I was so lost in the moment that I didn’t notice when he moved to lay next to me. His hand found my bare thigh, moving slowly up to my hip as I pulled him tighter to me. Then his shirt suddenly wasn’t there, leaving nothing but skin for my hands to wander over.

He groaned as my hands roamed over his stomach. And though I don’t remember how it happened, my dress was gone, and I laid under him in nothing but my bra and panties. His scent overwhelmed me. I couldn’t see, smell, or feel anything but him.

 

 

 

Sadler

 

 

I woke up with her sleeping soundly next to me. It would be easy to lie. To say that I had lost control. But I could have left, she gave me the opportunity. I could have run from the apartment and called some of her friends to go take care of her. But the truth was that I hadn’t wanted too.

I wanted to touch her, kiss her, take her as mine. It was the first heat that I had ever sated, and it was everything the older mated males had said it was. Intense, overwhelming, it was complete and total bliss. And to wake up to her at my side, her skin against mine. I never wanted it any other way again.

When I leaned up to get a closer look at her she rolled to face me. The blanket slipped off of her hip, exposing the tattoo that I had wanted to see for so long. It was the same moon and star that was engraved on her lighter. The thing that she said reminded her of who she was. But in the center of the crescent moon sat a pewter colored lily. It was beautiful.

She let out a heavy sigh, reaching out to me. I caught her hand, bringing it to my lips as she opened her eyes. She