THE ALPHA’S ADDICTION

Aiden furrowed his eyebrows as he watched the man beside her lean forward, look into her eyes, raw longing on his face, desire in his eyes.

“I will come with you. The vampire won’t be needed.” He suggested, and his hand moved from her thigh to rest just above her knee.

Aiden saw red.

At once the pain in Freya’s head increased, crushing at her skull, stabbing at her behind her eyes. She jerked her leg out from under Kyran’s hand. Demons leaped, raged, burst free. Never had Aiden felt such terrible fury, not even when he had known that the wolf boy had slept with Emma.

It rushed over him, claimed him, became him. That someone could hurt her like that, so casually, without even knowing or caring. That someone might touch her while she was so vulnerable and unprotected. That a man would presume to put his hands on her. He hurtled through his open window, to the sky, the cool air fanning his rage.

Freya felt the force of his anger. The air in the room thickened; outside, the wind rose, whirled fiendishly. Branches pelted the outside walls; the wind rattled ominously at the windows. Several of the witches on the table crossed themselves, looking with fright around themselves, their gazes collectively resting on Yodah, who smirked as he already knew what was happening. The room was unexpectedly, strangely silent, as if everyone was collectively holding his and her breath.

Then Kyran gasped, both hands going to his throat, tearing at it as if at strong, strangling fingers. His face was first red, then mottled, his eyes bulging. A witch screamed. A young girl who had served then dessert, ran to assist the choking man. Some were standing now, muttering amongst themselves.

Leonarya dropped the fork on her hand, and glared at Yodah, who for the first time wasn’t concerned about her heated gaze.

Hadn’t the woman seen that her daughter had jerked away from her subordinate?

She should be glaring at the pervert, not at him.

Freya forced calmness into her slender body. Emotions were running far too high for her to remain unscathed.

“Release him.” She said through the mind path.

Silence answered her. Even with the girl behind him, desperately working at the Heimlich maneuver, Kyran fell to his knees, his lips blue, his eyes rolling back in his head, unable to use his magic, paralyzed.

“Please, I’m asking you, please. Release him. For me.” She begged, aware that her mother was now staring at her. She had talked out aloud unconsciously!

Kyran suddenly inhaled, a terrible gagging sound, labored and harsh. His sister, Summers was crouched at his side, tears in her eyes.

Instinctively, Freya moved toward him.

“Do not touch him!”

The command was stark, without any mental enhancement, more frightening than if he had forced her compliance.

Freya was besieged with emotion, from everyone in the room. Kyran’s pain and terror. Summer’s fear, the witches’ horror, her mother’s shocked reaction. They were swamping her, beating at her already fragile state. But it was his all-consuming rage that sent needles shooting through her head. Her stomach heaved, cramped, and she nearly doubled over and looked desperately for the ladies room. If anyone touched her, tried to come to her aid, she might go mad.

“Freya.” The voice was warm. Calm in the eye of the storm. Black velvet. Soothing.

Yodah.

He had tuned in his sweet compelling voice.

They had agreed that he wouldn’t use it unless it was necessary.

Well, it seemed it was now.

A curious hush fell in the dining room as Yodah hugged Freya to himself. Now, he had a hard arrogance, an air of complete command, totally different on how he had appeared to them before. The young boy whom they had thought harmless, was angry. His eyes were burning with energy, with darkness, with a thousand secrets, that drew immediate attention. Those eyes could mesmerize, hypnotize, just like the power in his voice. He moved with purpose, sending some witches scurrying out of the way, some shrinking back into their seats.

Most haven’t seen a vampire, which they had thought he was.

“Yodah, it wasn’t necessary to hurt Kyran that way.” Leonarya stated, successfully masking her surprise and awe. She was already calculating on how to involve the guy in her quest for the throne. He was powerful even for a vampire. She thought he might be something else, a being her mother had mentioned about. But she wasn’t sure. She would have to do a research later. For, she had been shocked that he could move around during the day. Still, he would be a powerful asset.

It would not be best to offend him.

Yodah spared the woman a spiteful glance, his eyes sweeping over her black shrouded figure.

“I will be going out now with Freya. We have a date this evening.” He said it softly, imperiously, and no one dared argue with him.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Leonarya nodded her head as she broke into a smile. “Enjoy yourselves.”

But when Kyran shook his head at her, she soughed as she remembered what day it was.

Her daughter couldn’t be out at night.

“Wait.” She said, calling out to the duo who were about leaving the room.

Freya swayed, pressing her hands into her stomach. Her sapphire eyes were enormous, taking up her face at her call.

Why was she telling them to wait? She thought.

She closed her eyes, as she felt Aiden’s caressing touch on her face. She was already on overload; she would not be able to take the overpowering emotions radiating from him.

“What is the matter, Leonarya?” Yodah asked, shocking Leonarya. It had been long someone called her by her name, without attaching the queen title.

She would have ensued a strong order to her cabinet to wreck him with their magic, at least to paralyze him-surely they could, but for the fact that he would be an assest, and because of her daughter.