Aeress

     She got out of bed, responding to a knock at the door. The morning light burned against her sore eyes. She needed a big glass of water to make up for all the crying from last night. 

     She wrapped her naked body in a robe. When she opened the front door, she revealed Klein, who stood with an envelop in his hand. He was dressed in a tight grey tshirt and some comfortable looking jeans. If only she wasn't mated... He was the only person in her life who hadn't lied or withheld information, but, of course, there was still time...

     "I thought we were coming to Chicago in a week, not a day," he commented, walking in and settling on the floral couch. Just like Warrick, he sat like a king. The current men in her life were a little too confident for her taste, not that she would have be satisfied with someone who obeyed her every command, while it sounded all too tempting, she did know better.

     She leaned over him. "What's that?" She inquired, stealing the paper from him. She saw that it was already opened, but it was addressed to her. She glared at him for the intrusion and read. 

     "So? Are we going?" He sounded far too eager. 

     She held the paper out for him to take and squinted her eyes at him in suspicion. "Why? We should be on the search for Jonah, that bastard has to pay-" 

     "While I do not disagree," he cut her off, snatching the paper back from her, "I do think you need a break. I mean, they want to celebrate you. This is exactly what you need to loosen the stick out of your ass. You would focus more if you got this pent up energy out. You know I'm right." 

     "You should know more than anyone that I don't know the meaning of 'break' anymore." She crossed her arms. They didn't have time for this. After recieving the information she did from Shaya, this only worsened her desire to rip his throat out. 

     "You need to interact with your people. Never underestimate the power of a neglected people. Get to know them, let them buy you drinks! Jesus, I don't remember being tought that Godhead is a prude."                                                                                                                                                        

     "I. Am. Not. A. Prude." 

     "Prove it then." 

     "Fine, assshole. But just remember that I warned you." 

______________________________________________________________________

     She was let in through the back door. Entering in the front door would have been too dramatic. Too many people would have seen her all at once. 

     She was dressed to kill. 

     Red and lace corset wrapped around her waist and ribs, curving around her breasts, covering them with cups which barely contained her nipples. A collar was around her neck, connected to a tether that ran all the way in between her breasts, disappearing between them. A matching latex skirt just barely covered her ass, but got the job done anyway. The white, glittering, fishnet stockings stopped mid-thigh, making those around wonder what they would look like wrapped around them. Finishing off with matching, crimson heels sharp enough to break skin, she never felt more dangerous. 

     First she would go up to thank the owner, because now that she was in an official position, it was her responsibility to keep in the favor of her people, just as Klein had mentioned. 

     Then, she would have fun. 

     Klein followed behind as she made her way upstairs. 

     "Jesus, are you even wearing underwear?" 

    "I don't see how it's any of your business?" 

    "Well, it's everyone's business now." 

    "Whatever." 

    They reached the top of the steps, confronted by a couple of beastly men. Aeress didn't have to do much for them to step aside. They bowed their heads in respect, but she had a feeling it wasn't the only head of theirs that was moved. Okay, so maybe she got addicted to dressing like she could be taken at any moment, but so what? If people were bothered by it, they didn't have to look. 

    The guard at the next door opened it for her. She walked into a cloud of what she could only describe as ecstasy. 

    Warrick. She should have known better. 

    "Fuck this," she muttered, turning around to exit, only to find the knob immobile. She slammed her first on the door. "Really, Klein, do you want to die?" 

    His amused voice came from the other side. "On the contrary, I want to live as long as possible. This is for the good of both of us. Just remember what I said about all that pent up energy." His retreating footsteps were the last she heard of him. 

    "You guys are acting like I can't just break this shit." She lifted her foot, readying to do just that. 

    "Why do you dress like that? Is it to torture me, because I can tell you that it's working perfectly." 

    The sound of his husky, sultry voice did all kinds of things to her mind and body. She turned. There he was, sitting in his big office chair. It was his natural habitat. His carved chest was hugged by a crisp, black button-up. She was sure he was in matching slacks. The first two buttons were undone, revealing his heavily-inked skin. Her mouth watered just to get a taste. And her fingers itched to run through his newly-cut copper locks. They just had this gleam to him, like a brand new penny. And those eyes, so hard and wintry, yet they threatened to burn her alive. "I know it is. But what makes you think I dress for you?" 

    He shrugged, leaning forward. "But what's the point?" His voice deepened. "Is it for Klein?" His eyes darkened with warning. 

    She laughed genuinely. "Is that what you think? You think I have fallen for Klein?" 

    "The only thing you are doing when flirting with Klein is putting his life in danger. You don't understand how many times I have come close to killing him, just because he had your scent on him." His jaw was tight with tension. "I suggest you put an end to it." 

    "Even if you were right, what on earth would make you believe I would listen to you?" 

    He was a whirl of movement. Sitting one moment, caging her against the door the next. She inhaled him like a drug. He did the same. But in his eyes burned many things. "You think to get back at me? Shaya kissed me. I never once touched her. You're punishing me for something I didn't willingly participate in." 

    She immediately felt her mood blacken. "I don't think you want to go there-"

    He flattened his palms against either side of her head. "No, Aeress, I do. I really, really do. It's been an entire fucking year! Stop being a child and talk to me." 

    She got into his face as fury overtook her. "I am acting like a child? You did not just say that! Fuck it, let's do it here and now!" She shoved at him. "You lied to me. I begged you, 'Warrick, just tell me, you can trust me', but you never did, did you? You could have made me understand-" 

    "I was doing what was best-" 

    "For you, not for me! You lied to me for the same reason you lied to Shaya! Your plan. Your rules. You would have done anything, right? Lied, cheated, manipulated. I knew you were cold, I wasn't ignorant to it, but this, I never would have believed you were capable of this!" 

    He was seething. "Shaya knew what she was doing-" 

    "I swear on everything I will punch your fucking teeth out if you finish that sentence." She shoved him again. "You threw her back to him, the man who destroyed her. What was she supposed to do? She just lost her mate, her baby. You could have taken care of her, but you chose not to. That's what kills me. You sat by, allowed her to be raped, tortured. You allowed my best friend in this whole world to suffer! And you knew from the beginning what she meant to me, and still you allowed it!" 

    "You make it sound so black and white. I was doing this all for the sake of my people, our people, not me." 

    "That's not the kind of leader they need. They need someone who will not sit by and watch them suffer-" 

    "You think I don't live with this everyday?" He shouted, face bright red with frustration. "I do. I know what I did. I know I was wrong. I fucked up, I did. I can't go back and save the lives that are gone because of me, I can't fix any of it-" 

    "Then why the fuck are you here?" She roared back, feeling like she would literally burst. 

    "Because I want you!" 

    She laughed. "You want me? If you wanted me, you wouldn't have lied, you wouldn't have let another woman, but not just any woman, of course not, fall in love with you. If you wanted me, you would have stopped the bullshit, and we could have figured it out together, like real mates." 

    "It's so easy for you to cast blame, but you do not know what I have done for our people, what I have sacrificed." 

    Her lips trembled. "That may be true, but I can tell you one: me," she whispered, "You sacrificed me. You sacrificed Shaya." 

     Warrick didn't respond with the aggression she was expecting. "It doesn't matter what I say, does it? I could say I am sorry, that I wish I could turn back time, but you wouldn't believe me. Nothing I say is getting through to you." He shook his head. 

     She didn't say anything, because she wasn't sure. Could she ever forgive him? Aeress had been in such a rage this past year that she had never bothered to think or even contemplate her next move. Did he even deserve it? Could she risk it?

     She realized something, something she had always known for a long time. "What do you want me to say, huh? I've had enough, Warrick, I really have. Words aren't going to fix this." 

    "Fine, then, dance with me." 

    She frowned. "Be serious, Warrick." 

    "What are you scared of?" 

    You. "Not you." 

    "Come, let's go." 

    It was a challenge, and he knew how she loved to win. So she stepped in front of him and found the door to be unlocked. She sent a glare over her shoulder. "You follow me, and remember who runs the show from now on." 

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Guys, what the heck! The support is too awesome, you guys are the best! The ranks for this book are higher than I have ever seen them, this is amazing! Thank you, really. 

I am not sure whether you will understand what is going through Aeress's mind during this entire time, but I want you guys to keep in mind that a lot of time has passed, so things will be progressing quickly.

Anyway, have a good night/day <3