“Hello, cousin, you look like you’re lost,” Chris said when I ran into him in the main hall after dinner. I knew he and Nikolas worked and sparred together a lot. If anyone knew where to find him, it was Chris
“Actually, I’m looking for Nikolas. Do you know if he’s around?”
He cocked an eyebrow. “You’re looking for Nikolas? That’s a switch.”
“Yeah, it’s like Bizarro World,” I retorted and watched his brow furrow in confusion.
“Bizarro World?”
“You know, from the Superman comics?” He shook his head, and I sighed. “How can you live forever and not know about Superman?”
He made a face. “I know who Superman is; I just don’t read comics. As for Nikolas, I believe he and Tristan had a meeting. They should be almost done now.”
“Thanks.” I headed for Tristan’s office, hoping to catch Nikolas before he left or before my newfound courage deserted me.
Tristan’s door opened as I walked down the hallway, and I heard muffled male voices inside. The closer I got I was able to pick out snatches of conversation, and I stopped in my tracks when I heard Nikolas’s deep voice. “ . . . not what I wanted . . . miserable . . . break the bond.”
I flinched as if I’d been slapped. Nikolas wanted to break the bond? I knew I shouldn’t be surprised after the last week, but it still shocked me to hear him say it. I wasn’t prepared for the sharp pain in my chest. My throat tightened, and I spun to leave before one of them came out and saw me.
My escape was blocked by the last person I wanted to see. Celine tossed her long black hair over her shoulder and speared me with a pitying look that was ten times worse than her usual sneer. “So now you know,” she said in a low voice so Nikolas and Tristan could not hear her. “If you care about Nikolas at all you will release him.”
I pushed past her. “Like you care. You just want him for yourself.”
She kept pace with me easily. “I’m not going to lie; I do want him and he wants me. Nikolas and I had something very special once, and we would be together now if this ridiculous mating bond wasn’t messing with his head. Males are so susceptible to these things.”
I pretended to ignore her, but she kept talking. “You are a lovely girl, Sara, but Nikolas is a man. I understand why you might fancy yourself in love with him; you wouldn’t be the first young girl to lose her heart to him. But he wants a woman, not a girl.”
“Why doesn’t he break the bond then?” My voice cracked and I walked faster, trying to get away from her.
“He is too honorable. You’ve known him long enough to see how chivalrous he can be. He doesn’t want to hurt you.”
Her words were painful barbs, and I had no defense against them because they were true. Hadn’t I thought the same things since I’d learned about the bond? Nikolas was no monk, and he’d probably been with many beautiful women like Celine in his lifetime. What could he possibly want with a girl who came unglued by a simple kiss and was so stupid when it came to men that she’d thought a gay man was flirting with her?
We reached the main floor and Celine grabbed my elbow before I could leave. “You can still be friends with him if that is what you want, but it is cruel of you to hold him to this when he is obviously unhappy.” She let go of my arm and turned to leave. “Think about it and you will see I am right.”
“Just who I was looking for.” Jordan bounded down the stairs from our wing and scowled when she spotted Celine’s retreating back. “What did she want?”
I forced a smile. “The usual; you know Celine.”
“Unfortunately.” She linked her arm with mine. “Forget her. We have a party to go to.”
“Jordan, we can’t go to a party after what happened at the last one.” Not to mention, Tristan and Nikolas would probably lock me in my room if I even mentioned it.
She snickered and tugged on my arm. “Who said anything about leaving the stronghold? We’re going to have our own little holiday party right here.”
“That’s great, but I don’t think I’m in the mood to party tonight.”
“Listen, I get that you’re bummed about your uncle not coming, but what good is it to hide out in your room all night and be depressed about it?” She fixed me with a determined stare. “Wouldn’t you rather hang out with us and have some fun? We have beer, and Terrence got his hands on some Gran Patron.”
I had no idea what Gran Patron was, but I assumed it was some kind of alcohol. I wasn’t into liquor, but I could handle a beer or two. I looked up the stairs and realized the last thing I wanted right now was to be alone.