A Howling Heart
Chapter forty-one

Fae's POV.

"Nate, we are blood... you don't mean to do this. You can't possibly." I can't believe I'm saying what I'm saying, attributing a moral compass to this clearly vindictive, clearly insane man. It's the only technique I've got.

His upper lip curls with distaste. "You are nothing to me," he spits the words with utter contempt. "I will be glad when this is over, and you are out of the way."

I've never felt this level of hatred directed at me before. He's created an enemy out of me all on his own. I guess it shows that no matter how you treat someone if they want to hate you, they will; if they're going to destroy you, they will stop at nothing.

No kind word will dissuade them. No sense of loyalty will ever befriend them. I always knew people were capable of it, but I never thought I'd be on the receiving end.

I decide I no longer care that I haven't heard Matias in my head. I call out to him anyway. My comfort. The man who has been my savior since arriving here.

I realize that my words are spoken aloud. My voice is almost unrecognizable. It's weak, quivering and dry with defeat close enough to taste, and yet I still call to him. "Matias... my Matias."

The next time I wake, I jolt upright at a booming voice in my skull. Pain. Memories. Fear. A million emotions and sensations slam into me, none of which are good.

"Fae!" His voice is in my mind, pulling me from the depths of pain and darkness until I'm panting heavily in the room, fully awake, pain a bearable ache as compared to earlier.

I call him through our bond. "Matias! Matias! Please! It's Nate -"

"I know!"

The desperation in my voice only seems to anger him.

"I know, Anima mea. I will tear his throat out with my teeth! Are you hurt?"

I flex my jaw, aware of how my face screams with the movement, but I don't want to worry him.

"Uh-"

"I will fucking kill him! I will tear his insides out with my hand and feed him to the rogues!"

The ferocity in his voice turns my blood cold, but still, my affection for him lingers, unwavering.

"Matias.... I-I'm scared."

A heavy sigh fills my head, and I know he's longing for me.

"I will come for you. I will find you. And I will make him pay. Mark my words."

"Are you close? Please tell me you're close." Even in my mind, my voice is whiny.

The growl that tears through me makes me jump, and I know that regardless of whether he's nearby, he still can't pinpoint where I am. His frustration is palpable, as if he were in my room. I vibrate with his anger-another example of how connected we are despite my stubborn thoughts about mating with him.

"I need you, Matias. You don't know what Nate's planning to do."

"I know, Fae, I know, baby. My soul. I am coming for you."

I can't help but cry. I try to mask the sound and sorrowful thoughts in my mind, but I cannot hide things from Matias. I am practically one with him. My anguish moves through him as it does me, but instead of tears and emotional depletion, it conjures anger and malice within him, so potent it'd destroy anything in its path.

"I am yours, Matias. I will mate with you. Forever."

"My Fae. You are my heart."

I swipe the tears on my cheeks, blinking rapidly as I'm overcome with emotions. I'm unable to stop the flow from my eyes, so instead, I let it out, crying and wailing, waking the monster that lurks within the walls, ready to swallow me whole. I hope he comes for me....

Before it's too late.

I expect to hear Matias's strong voice of reassurance, but it's gone quiet again, and the uncertainty of his words waver, and the fear takes over again.

What if I bargain with Nate?

What if I tell him to Kill me but spare Matias?

The thought of Matias hurt....

I gasp, my gut twisting as images of him bloody fill me with dread.

I would die.

The thought kills me inside.

Take me... Spare him...

I know the curse will get him eventually, but... I'd rather him live longer and do more than be killed by that lowlife.

He deserves to live.

Even if he knew his uncle killed my father. Even if he lied about his uncle attacking me.

I know he will keep me safe. I know we are connected. Our bond is unbreakable.

And in that, I will put blind faith.

It's useless...

Nate doesn't take anything I say seriously. I am nothing to him... how could killing me alone satisfy him?

He won't stop there... because it was never about me. It was always about Matias.

Always...

But... I can't sit back and do nothing.

I won't sit back and do nothing.

"Nate!" I call to him, knowing he'll be listening out for me. "Nate! Please!"

I hate the fact I'm forced to practically beg him, but I am out of options.

"NATE!" I screech his name, my throat raw, when I finally feel the vibrations of those same footsteps approaching the door. I brace myself to see him again, as if that'll take away the surprise factor that someone I thought was a friend is not an enemy, but even bracing myself does nothing to lessen the sting.

"Keep yelling, and I'll cut out your tongue."

He scowls as he threatens me after opening the door slightly. He doesn't wait for a reply and begins closing the door again, but I call him again.

"Wait, please! I want to make a deal with you! Please!"

That piqued his attention enough for him to hiss and enter the room, slamming the door closed behind him.

"You think you have something of value? Something that will save you?"

He guffaws sarcastically before shaking his head.

"Considering we are related, what's between your thighs is unappealing...Sorry to disappoint you."

I never thought he could be so vile...

So completely different than when I first met him...

It makes me bite my tongue to keep from spewing curse words at him and ruining my chance to negotiate. "Please, look..."

Here goes nothing.