"Jealous?" I quipped.
"Disgusted would be a better word. I never knew you to be a cheater on top of-" Before he could even finish his thought, I had him pinned to a tree, my arm at his throat. He blinked rapidly at me, heat rising to his cheeks.
Was he...?
There was no mistaking the heat emanating from his eyes as I held him hostage. His breaths shuddered in and out.
"Don't talk about me like that," I hissed. "I didn't want this mate bond either, asshole. But the last thing I would ever do is cheat on them...or you, for that matter. Though sometimes I want to fucking stab you."
"Oh, how you flatter me," Bash drawled dramatically.
“Go have an orgy or something and leave me alone," I snapped, my already thin patience splintering like a ball being thrown on a slate of ice. When the ice broke, I was immediately submerged in an icy cold water that made goosebumps erupt on my skin. "Wait. You can't have one. Because you can't get fucking hard."
We were both breathing heavily, and I saw Bash's pupils dilate.
He leaned over me, and I knew he was going to kiss me. I couldn't decide if I wanted him to...or if I wanted to knee him in the balls. All I knew for certain was that his hot breath fanned over my face, smelling distinctly of peppermints, and I was slowly losing all mental capabilities. When he exhaled, those damn lips parted seductively. He was so handsome, and it fucking bothered me.
How could such a dick be so beautiful? How could such a dick be my mate?
"I can’t fucking stand this," Bash whispered hoarsely. Huskily. "I don't want to be a puppet in fate's grand plan, you know? I don't want to be fated to love someone."
He leaned even closer, a trickle of blond hair caressing my cheek. His forehead rested against mine. If I didn't know Bash like I did, I would've almost described his eyes as tender. Reverent. Loving.
But I did.
"Z..." His eyes flickered upwards, over my shoulder, and in a span of seconds, I was falling to the ground, Bash standing protectively in front of me. Before I could even scream at him for shoving me, I took stock of who he was protecting me from.
Or what.
It was unlike anything I had ever seen before with decaying flesh and milky, sunken eyeballs. It was completely naked, revealing withered, gray skin that reminded me vaguely of a raisin. Its nose consisted of two large holes directly in the center of its face. And when it opened its mouth, head canted to the side, I saw row after row of sharp teeth. More teeth than should've been possible - I counted at least three rows, formed in a circle in its mouth
The creature's nostrils - holes - expanded, and it tottered forward when it caught a scent. My scent, if the direction of its eyes was any indication. It let out a guttural scream, lunging forward. It didn't walk. The combination of abnormally long legs and a small upper body made it seem as if it was flying, leaping, propelling itself off its back legs.
Bash muttered something beneath his breath, an incantation, I realized, and extended a hand. Golden sparks flickered to life, and he directed it towards the creature. His hand still raised, he pushed the sparks towards the monster.
I watched in rapt fascination as fire engulfed the creature immediately. Glorious red flames spread from its head to its small, naked torso, down to its legs, and finally rooted itself at its feet.
Scrambling to my feet, I released a knife from its customary sheath at my side. I didn't know if Bash's hand on my shoulder was meant to be restraining or comforting, but either way, I pushed it off and marched towards the withering creature.
Up close, even with the flames charring the skin, I could see how hideous it actually was. Mottled, gray skin and wispy black streaks of hair at its head. Those unseeing white eyes. The pervasive scent of urine combined with burning flesh.
Disgust churned in my lower belly, but my hand was steady as I tossed the dagger into its head.
The monster collapsed to the ground, the dagger protruding from its forehead and flames continually eating away at its sunken skin.
I exchanged a glance with Bash, both of us breathing heavy from adrenaline and, in Bash’s case, over-exertion. I noted sweat dripping from Bash's forehead - a product of the spell he had cast. Still, he managed to level me with a glare that made the fire burning appear cold.
"What the hell were you doing?" he snapped, stalking up to me. His hands grabbed my shoulders and gave them a shake. I eyed his hands through a slitted gaze, and he dropped them immediately.
Good choice, running under the impression he wanted to keep those limbs in the first place.
"I had it taken care of," he continued curtly. "You didn't have to jump in there like some motherfucking hero. You could've been hurt. The fire could've burned you!"
I rolled my eyes. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if they remained glued to the back of my head.
"He, the creature, was in agony, Bash. What was I supposed to do? Allow him to burn a slow and painful death while I watched? Believe it or not, I'm not a monster." My tone was more defensive than I wanted it to be, bitterness seeping through despite my best efforts. Bash's face softened considerably, and he hesitantly placed his hands back on my shoulders. This time, I let him.
I didn't know why, only that a part of me craved the comfort he offered. I knew he wasn't the type who would hold my hand and tell me everything would be okay, so the comfort he did offer,
