Page 13 of Anywhere

I stopped and turned to face him. His green eyes went wide as he almost bumped into me. We were, as I suspected, the same height. An electrical charge swirled around us, and it would’ve been easy to succumb to the seduction of the power that wanted to form and tie us together, but I just glared at him.

“Do ya think I din’t know that ya rejected the union wit me long before yer were forced to come? Ya tink I be sittin’ around ‘ere like a sap just waitin’ for yer sorry arse ta show up? Or maybe ya taut dat I be some oblivious knob dat din’t know about da pairing at all.” I took a step in his direction. “From da moment dat ya rejected me, I felt it. I felt every excruciating moment of it.” I tapped over my heart as he licked his lips, which were too tempting, so I took a step back. “Da next ritual moon be comin’. I can only accept da rejection den, which I’ma gonna fuckin’ dance doin’. So let me make dis clear fir ya since ya dinnie seem ta be catchin’ on. Stay da fuck away from me. I no want anythin’ ta do with ya, and in a few weeks, ya can go back ta all yer adorin’ fans, and I git me room back.”

Turning around I grabbed my head as it spun and marched towards the kitchen. Shit. I hadn’t meant to let him know that his rejection affected me. I could only blame it on the fuzzy brain I was still suffering. The kitchen was quiet, but the coffee was percolating soI sat down and put my head in my hands as I waited for it to finish. When Rook stepped through the door, I could feel him, and I wished I could figure out how to cut the connection early. It was maddening and stronger than I ever thought it would be, especially with him rejecting me.

“I’m not following you. I want a coffee, and I couldn’t remember how to get to the kitchen,” Rook said.

He was leaning against the counter when I glanced over, and if my brain weren’t screaming inside my head, I would’ve said fuck the coffee and left. I should leave, anyway. I could stay at one of the other castles or rent a spot for a few weeks. That sounded like a good idea. Then the temptation to touch him wouldn’t be so strong. Stupid union magic was sizzling in the air and was alluring as fuck.

“I’m sorry,” Rook suddenly said into the quiet room. “I don’t want to be forced into a triad. It was never something I wanted with anyone, but I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. It wasn’t personal or anything.”

The fucker had no idea what he did to me for weeks. He was either as oblivious as a jaybird or didn’t give a fuck. Either way, I didn’t care. I just wanted him to keep his fucking distance and to shut the fuck up. Was that really too much to ask?

“Aye, it be what it be.”

The coffee pot beeped, and I stood and grabbed two mugs, putting one on the counter for Rook. Pouring my coffee and leaving it black, I turned for the exit to the outdoor patio.

“Do you play?” Rook asked, and I turned and lifted my brow in question as I blew air on the hot liquid. He pointed to my neck, and I glanced down at the chain that held a silver pick.

“Aye, da chain was me Da’s before he died, and da pick be mine. But I dinnie play dat crap ya call singin’.” I smiled as his face grew dark with the insult. Turning, I marched out to the patio and sat down.

“Ah, fir fuck’s sake, man, cannie ya just leave a guy alone,” I said as Rook wandered out and sat down beside me.

“I just want to talk. It’s not like I know anyone other than Liam and Gregory.”

“Aye, but I no yer friend and no wanna talk.” I took another gulp of my coffee and could almost envision the magic from the ritual seeping along the floor and wanting to wrap itself around my ankle. Nope. Not happening.

Standing, I moved across the sitting area to put more distance between us.

“Look, man, I already apologized for embarrassing you. Can’t we just get over it already?”

I bit my lip to keep from divulging any more of how much he’d hurt me. I didn’t want anyone except Mari to have that kind of sway over my feelings. I trusted her not to hurt me. Ignoring Rook, I closed my eyes as pieces of last night came back. Shit, I shouldn’t have brought those girls here and instantly hated that I’d put Mari in the position of possibly seeing that. Fuck, I hated myself for that shit, I needed to lay off the booze and pills.

“Fine, you want to stay pissed, stay pissed. What kind of music do you play?”

What was this, fifty questions? Lifting my head from the back of the chair, I stared at the man across from me. Rook had a strong, angular jaw that was way too sexy in the soft light of the early morning. The dusting of his five o’clock shadow only added to the look. My heart thumped harder as he leaned forward, and those blue eyes locked with mine. I could openly admit that I wished this magic would go away as my skin heated and thoughts of him pushing me against the wall filtered into my brain. I needed to sit bare-arsed in the ocean, and with any luck, something would bite me cock off.

Sighing, I gave up. “I play folk, and local songs with a rock twist.” I caught sight of Illiam and Liam walking by a window, talking. “Has Liam gotten in ya trousers yet? If no’, he will keep at it. He be a great worker and loyal, but a bit too enthusiastic. Dere ya can keep yerself busy with him until I can except da rejection.”

“My trousers? Man, you all talk so weird. No offense, but I can barely understand any of you.” Rook shrugged. “Liam hinted, but nothing happened, he’s not really my type. Unlike what you got up to with those four girls last night.”

Usually, the jealous edge would’ve turned me on, and I would’ve poked at him until he got aggressive, which I liked from my male partners. I liked them to be in control. Doing what they wanted with my body in any depraved fashion they chose, but right now, it only infuriated me.

“Naw, ya dinnie get ta make dat kind of comment. Ya wanna whole bus of wet cunt or hard pricks? I’ll ‘ave ‘em ordered in like a menu fir ya, but ya dinnie get to be jealous wit me.”

“I’m not jealous.” His tone and the look in his eyes said the complete opposite.

“Aye, ya are, and ya have no right.” Rook started to argue, but I stood up and gulped down the remaining coffee in a single mouthful. It burned my throat and felt like acid in my empty stomach, but I didn’t care. “I cannie be around ya, Rook. I’ma gonna ask ya one more time ta stay away from me and find someone else ta talk ta. Soon ya will be gone, and we neva ‘ave ta see one another again. I cannie be yer friend. Go visit yer cousins or somethin’.”

Slamming the mug down, I marched away, praying he’d fucking stay put and leave me the hell alone.

I felt like I’d been preparing for the moment I’d be chosen my whole life. I sacrificed my feelings and dreams for the greater good of the Faction because that was who I was. The person who wanted to help our people. And if that meant I had to bottle everything else important in my life and put a cork in it, then that was what I did.

Rook blatantly did the complete opposite. From the bit I’d been able to gather from the other lads in the Faction, Rook never took part in the rituals. He barely studied any of the magic or ritual books and had no interest in helping run the Faction. So, of course, the spirits would choose him and pair the fucker with me. What were they hoping? That I’d rub off on him? Well, they could all fuck off.

I loved the Faction, helping to protect those who lived here, making us stronger, but right now, I really wanted to accept the rejection and pray that I didn’t get re-paired. If I made it ten more years past my thirty-fifth birthday, Mari and I could marry. I would still help run the Faction and take over as head of my family. Even if I wasn’t in a triad, there were many ways I could help.

Rook needed to go home. That was all there was to it. ‘Cause I was done being kicked in the teeth and expected to accept it.