Kattlyn

(A few days later)

 

Everything was great most of the time. Alan and I were staying in my rooms, and everyone seemed fine with it. But sometimes Alan was distant, almost preoccupied. I caught him and Krista whispering at times, and when I asked him what it was about, he’d kiss me and end my questioning. I didn’t like being kept in the dark.

When I woke up this morning, he was already out of bed.

“Alan?” I called out, but he didn’t answer. “Alan?” I yelled a little louder. Nothing.

I threw the covers off and crawled out of bed. I searched my rooms, but they were empty. Where was he? A bit aggravated, I threw on the first dress I found and headed out.

I searched the dining hall and other obvious places first, but he wasn’t there. When I headed to the garden to ask Sydney, I stopped dead in my tracks. There was nobody there.  She’s always sitting on that bench this time of morning. Something must have happened.

A little panicked, I rushed back toward the castle. I needed to find Jakke.

I wasn’t paying attention, and when I rounded the side of the castle, I collided into someone.

“I’m so sorry,” I said as I looked up. Oh, shish! Jussin!

He roughly grabbed my shoulders, anger marring his face. “Did you think a Human could take my place? A Human!” Spittle hit my face as he not only sneered the word but almost yelled it before looking around and lowering his voice.

“Jussin, go back to Vanna.” I thought bringing her name up would make him see a little reason. But looking into his enraged eyes, I knew nothing would help.

I tried to wrench out of his grip, but his fingers dug in and sharp pain radiated down my arms. Trapped! I was trapped. I tried thrashing my head, but it only made him angrier.

With a quick, violent move, he wrapped one arm painfully around my body, grabbed my hair, and whipped my head to the side.

When I realized what he was doing, when I felt the pain in my neck, I screamed as I desperately tried to get away. This could not be happening. Not now. My heart beat frantically, my breathing grew ragged. I needed to get away from him.

When his head reared up, he looked feral with his crazed eyes and long teeth. He released me and I staggered backward, my hand shooting to my neck.

“I told you that you would be mine.”

I walked backward, shaking my head until I turned around and ran. I had to get out of here. I had to leave. But go where?

I ran without thinking. My world had just collapsed. I jumped into a hover car, set the coordinates. I had to get away. Father might honor the mating since the deed was done. He might even be happy about it. I just knew I couldn’t stay. Not now.

~~~~

Risshi met me with a smile, but with one look at my face, it quickly faded. “Kattlyn? What’s wrong?”

I didn’t say a word, just threw my arms around his neck.

“Kattlyn?” He brushed my hair away from my face. “Talk to me.”

But I couldn’t. I felt like Jussin had taken my choice, my life, my entire world from me. And as much as I hated to admit it, I was mad at Alan. Where was he? Why wasn’t he in our room?

I stepped out of Risshi’s embrace, needing to be alone. Maybe. All I knew is that I couldn’t talk about it right now. I just needed to be away from the castle, away from the others.

“Come on, let’s get you something to eat.”

I stepped inside the dwelling and immediately knew it was a mistake. Mara was sitting at the table, feeding Destiny. She was still so tiny, and as much as I wanted to hold her, it only reminded me of what I would never have. A loving family.

My face must have showed too much. Risshi grabbed my shoulders, made me look him in the eyes. “What happened?” he demanded.

I just shook my head and raced from the dwelling. I needed to be alone. For the rest of the day, I walked the beach, sat on the rocks, and just let the lapping waves soothe me. At least a little.

With my back propped against a massive boulder, I stared out into the water and let memories of my time with Alan play in my head. I loved him, and at some point, I had to tell him what Jussin had done.

“Hey,” Risshi said as he climbed the boulder and sat down beside me. The sun would sink behind the waves at any moment. “Want to tell me what’s going on?”

No, I really didn’t. But I loved and trusted Risshi. So with a shaky voice, I told him about Alan and what Jussin had done. And then I tilted my head and showed him my neck.

“I don’t know what to do.” I leaned my head over onto his shoulder.

I could feel his body vibrate with anger as he stroked my hair.

“How could he do this to me, Risshi?” But I knew how he could do it. I always knew what kind of male Jussin was, even if he had everyone else fooled.

I felt Risshi relax, and when I straightened and looked at him, he had a puzzled expression on his face.

“What is it?”

“I’m not sure, but I think we need to see Rikker.”

Shaking my head, I said, “I don’t think I can go back there.”

“Yes you can and I’ll go with you.”

“I can’t.”

“Don’t you think Alan will be worried sick about you?”

To be honest, I didn’t know anymore. “I don’t know. He’s been acting strange lately. Maybe he regrets being with me.”

“I’m sure that’s not the case.” How would he know? Risshi didn’t even know Alan. “Besides, Mara and I were about to head there anyway.”

“You were?” He nodded. “Why?”

“It’s just been a while.” He kissed my forehead. “Don’t worry, sister, everything will work out.”

“It’s late. Let’s go tomorrow.”

“All right. Come on”—he held out his hand— “let’s head back.”

When we walked into the dwelling, Mara smiled up at me. Risshi told her what had happened, but he didn’t seem worried.

Risshi was acting strange, not himself. Mara didn’t seem to be worried about what Risshi had told her either. I wanted to yell at them, cry like a Human, scream at the gods for doing this to me. My anger grew at not only Jussin and Alan, but now Risshi too.

I ignored them and headed to the couch.