Page 53 of Tortured Soul (Soulless #1)

Aghen

V ictory tasted bitter. Or was it the cheap and nauseating ale that I was served in this disgusting tavern? I wasn’t sure.

The front door opened and I tensed, my back straightening on instinct. I risked a glance over my shoulder, scanning the entrance and the people milling inside.

A couple of drunks and a small, chubby woman between them. They stumbled toward the bar, too busy ogling the large breasts spilling out of the whore’s cleavage to notice anyone around them.

I grunted, returning reluctantly to my stale beer.

The wooden counter was sticky and the whole place smelled like sweat and piss.

The few battles I’d been in made me familiar with that stench, but it didn’t mean I had to fucking enjoy it.

“Hello handsome,” a feminine voice crooned in my ear as a delicate hand slithered up my back and I shivered, holding a wince. “Want to have a good time?”

My lips tugged up in a forced smile as I leaned to the other side, away from her touch. You don’t have what it takes to make me have a good time , I thought.

“I’m good, thank you.”

She didn’t let my answer deter her as she stepped closer, her too strong perfume—something between coriander and almond—invaded my space and nostrils and made me want to retch.

Her palm landed on my thigh, her finger climbing up toward my crotch. Fuck no.

“Really,” I said a little more firmly as my hand snapped around her wrist. “I’m not interested. You should try your luck with the trio behind you, the men look ready to spend all their coins for sex. Would be a shame to let the competition get them all.”

The woman turned then, narrowing her eyes at the two handsy drunks and the other whore.

“Been there, done them,” she drawled, returning her attention to me. For fuck’s sakes woman, read the room. “I’m more interested in the handsome fresh meat.”

My forced smile must have looked more and more like a grimace at this point.

“Look, I’m flattered, really. But I’m waiting for someone.” I wasn’t. Not really . “You shouldn’t waste your time with me I’m—”

“That’s an interesting accent,” she interrupted, ignoring my protest and pulling the stool next to mine impossibly closer, almost sitting on my lap. “Where are you from?”

Anger and unease flared at her proximity and my skin started to heat up and burn. My free hand turned to fist on the counter as my grip tightened around her wrist when she tried to place it back on my thigh.

“You could—”

“If I give you coins, will you go away?”

Her weirdly shaped eye-brow pulled up in surprise as I dug my fingers into a hidden pocket inside my coat, retrieving a small leather pouch.

“What’s your rate?” I asked, although it couldn’t have been much. This place was a shithole and I had no idea where I was. I knew they accepted my coins, so at least we used the same currency, and their language was barely different.

“What? I—”

“Two silver coins?”

Her eyes widened as her jaw dropped. Wow, was it more ? Not sure it was worth it.

“Uh,” she stuttered, eyes drifting to the sides in worry. “Yes. Yes, that’s it.”

I grinned. No way it was that much, but I didn’t mind spending more to get my space back.

“Here, take it and find yourself someone interested.”

I placed the coins in her open hand and turned back to my stale drink, the dismissal clear. She stood up and hurriedly left the Inn, not looking back. Good, let me brood in peace.

I hadn’t stopped mulling over the recent family tragedy in days.

My father was dead. My sister was gone, and hopefully far away with her mate.

And I was free. Well, on the run, but it was still something.

I didn’t have to take over my father’s title as the head of our clan, and I could live my life how I intended to, far away from the family drama and the man who was probably going to kill—

The little bell over the door rang again and my whole body was quick to jolt, anxiousness plaguing my mind.

It was hard not to notice how the whole tavern had gone suddenly silent like frozen in fear.

Laughter died out, the instrument played by a couple of musicians in the corner stopped, dancers stilled.

Well, fuck.

My freedom had lasted what, three days? And he fucking found me . I was as good as dead now.

I plastered the brightest smile on my face as I pivoted on my stool, grabbing the ale in the process. If I were to go, I might as well be drunk for it.

My fire-like eyes met his cold opal ones as he strode toward me, the dark scales exposed on his forearms and cheekbones. Long dark hair was partially tied but falling over his shoulders and back.

His tanned skin and monolid eyes stood out here, like it did on my island. But people were familiar with the Astrals, and they had to know what he was. A Dragon— an asshole —and he was pissed .

My grin only widened. “Am—”

“Everybody out.”

In mere seconds, no one was left inside except for us. Even the barkeeper had run away with a muttered curse, knocking a couple of glasses crashing to the dirty wooden floor.

“Fancy seeing you here.” Funny how I’ve been anxious about him finding me for the last few days only to be nothing but calm now. “Haven’t you crawled back to the cold hole you came from yet? Your scaly tail between your legs?”

My taunt didn’t seem to amuse him as said tail started to slither behind him in agitation. He must have had very poor control over his human appearance if he couldn’t conceal it. The anger probably.

“Are you proud of your little stunt?” he asked, prowling closer, his steps predatory.

But I didn’t move, my ass remaining seated on the uncomfortable stool.

“Not sure what you—”

His hand snapped around my neck as he slammed my back against the edge of the counter top, the edge digging painfully between my vertebrae.

The sharp claws at the end of his fingers scraped my skin, as the pressure closed up my air supply.

“Tell me, sae ,” Amyntas growled in my face, the southern Asian word making me shiver. “How come I showed up to your village to pick up my Maiden only to be told that she doesn’t exist?”

It was easy to conceal my surprise as my head felt suddenly too dizzy to react in any way.

“I’m pretty sure I did meet your sister and yet, your family seems convinced that you never had a twin in the first place. Where. Is. She?”

“I—I don—” My hand tapped his forearm frantically. I couldn’t talk. Not if he held me like this.

He let me go abruptly, shoving me against the bar for good measure. Taking a few deep breaths while rubbing my sore throat, I pondered on what he said.

Our family might be mad about what we’ve done, but saying she never existed seemed a bit far-fetched.

“Do you mind explaining? I’ve been away for a few days and—”

My voice hitched in my throat as he leaned closer, his nose sliding from my cheekbone to my temple, his hand gripping my hair to tilt my head back.

Damn, that beast of a man was going to be the death of me.

“Where’s the soul-shard?” he groaned, obviously trying to catch the shift in my scent, the tip of his nose and lips on the side of my throat sending goosebumps all over my body. “Your father said—”

“Wait, what?” I asked, his words pulling me out of my short trance. I pushed him away, but he didn’t let go, grunting as I tried. “Amyntas, what the fuck are you talking about? ”

My arms strained to push him harder, but he growled, holding my hair tighter as he kept smelling my neck.

“They said you were the Shard Carrier now,” he asked bitterly. “Why don’t I smell it on you? Why wasn’t I invited to the ceremony? Where the fuck is Anastasia?”

My eyes rolled in the back of my head as he bit down on the sensitive skin right between my neck and shoulder. A moan slipped free as I tried to pull away from him, shifting to the side to put more distance between our flushed bodies.

The last thing I needed right now was for him to notice how hard I was just from his touch.

“Amyntas.” What I hoped would come out firm but sounded more like a plea made him hiss in the crook of my neck as he bit harder. “ Fuck , stop. I can’t—my father’s dead, what do you mean?”

It all happened fast from there. Him retreating, his hand back around my throat, his lips pulled back over his teeth in a sneer.

“What the fuck are you talking about? I saw him three days ago, with no recollection of his own daughter and saying that you were now the Shard Carrier and gone to create your own clan somewhere else.”

Not a single one of his words made sense. My father was dead . Killed by Anastasia, and she had the soul shard now, since I gave it to her after ripping it out from our father’s ashes. But was I about to tell this to Amyntas? Certainly not. It would only make him more inclined to go after her.

Steeling myself from the violence inevitably coming my way, I squared my shoulder, ignoring the pain of his tight grip.

“Anastasia’s gone. Leave her be and find yourself another Maiden to breed as I won’t let you disrespect my sister the way your mother has been disrespected and used for years.”

To my surprise, his sneer turned into a mocking grin.

“What, the way I’ve been disrespecting you ?

You didn’t seem to mind…Were you so jealous of the thought I’d fuck your sister at night instead of you that you made her disappear?

You know I wouldn’t have treated her the way my mother had.

You know I’m better than this. She would have lived a happy life—she would have been free to do whatever she pleased as soon as I got my heir. ”

I tried to turn my head to the side but his hand lifted to my jaw to keep my eyes locked on him.

“Where. Is. My. Maiden?”

“She’s gone, firben ,” I spat, the demeaning word falling free from my lips making him hiss in my face. “She found her mate, it wouldn’t have been fair to her. As it wouldn’t have been fair to me to see you with her.”

There was a long pause where he just got closer, rubbing his front against mine, and I held another moan when his hard length pressed against my equally hard cock through our clothes.

“You think you’re safe from my wrath because you’re my mate?

” He spat the word like it didn’t mean anything.

Like our soul being fated to be together was nothing but a joke, and my heart broke at his tone.

“That I’ll somehow forgive you from robbing me of the heir I was supposed to have?

Because I won’t. I’ll hunt her down and take what I’m owed.

I’ll rip her precious little mate to shreds because you and she dared to go against me, and I’ll make you both watch as I’ll feed on his fucking heart and use his bones to build the useless throne she’ll be forced to sit in.

Maybe I’ll even keep you as a side piece afterward and force you to watch as I let my dragon soldiers use her like my father did to my mother before. ”

“You said you weren’t—’

“I changed my fucking mind,” he yelled. “You made me mad, Aghen. I don’t care that you’re my mate, my core , I’ll make you pay for this. As soon as I get her back, I’ll come for you too.”