97

SIN

I paced around the room and sighed. No sign of Artemisia yet and it was going to be a week now.

I could barely think straight as all my thoughts were centered on her and it annoyed me that I wasn't discerning enough that night she ran.

I blamed myself each day for not chasing Emma away from the room as soon as I noticed her.

Heck, I blamed myself for entertaining her shenanigans.

I blamed myself for letting her stay more than her visit in the first place.

The first time Artemisia had changed her attitude towards her, I could have sent her packing

But then, I hadn't because of Artemisia.

I thought she could use a sister and friend in a foreign land.

But she had destroyed everything. She freaking did it without caring about the life at stake.

I grasped the wine glass filled with bourbon and tossed it towards the door.

"Sinclair!"

My eyes collided with Emma as she stepped into the room in a tight mid-length dress.

It showed her baby bump which was getting huge and her ample breasts were on display.

"You could have hit me with that."

"I would have been happier if it happened." I narrowed my eyes on her. "What do you want, Emma? Don't you think you've done enough damage already?"

She rolled her eyes and stepped toward me, "I didn't tell her to run away. She did it because she was weak."

I was pissed by how she classified Artemisia as weak.

The wrath I had been trying to keep inside of me surged out and I marched towards her.

I grasped her hand and shoved her to the wall, not bothering to be gentle.

I pinned her hands above her and tightened my hands on her wrists.

"Your eyes…" She stuttered.

I didn't care about what she was saying and I didn't even want to know.

"Are you crazy, Sinclair? You are going to harm the baby and me!"

"As I said, I'd be happy if that happened!" I growled.

I believed aside from being influenced by the disappearance of the moon and everything I did to Artemisia, I hadn't manhandled a woman before.

No matter how pissed I was at them, I had never done so.

But looking at Emma right now, I wanted to do all sorts of things to her. I wanted to rip the baby out of her stomach, yank her heart out, and tossed her remains where the vultures could feed on them.

I wanted to do all sorts of damage to her body and I was certain I wouldn't regret it.

"Why would you say that?" She whimpered. I noticed the tears in her eyes as I focused on her face. "Do you hate me this much?"

I dropped her hand and dragged her to the centre of the room and shoved her into the couch.

"I hate you, Emma, I hate ever knowing and coming across you. I fucking hate your existence and I wish you can disappear right now!"

She flinched and wrapped her arms around herself. "You are a monster!"

"I agree." I smiled maniacally and stepped toward her.

She huddled on the couch and gazed up at me with fright in her eyes.

That was what I wanted all along. I wanted her to be afraid of me.

"I am a fucking monster and you'd do well to stay away from me Emma because the next time you come in here or close to me, I wouldn't hesitate to rip out your heart!"

"I-I will…" Emma stuttered. She stood abruptly from the chair and raced out of the room.

As the door slammed shut, I yanked my hair and let out a low growl.

A growl that resounded throughout the wall of the palace.

******

ARTEMISIA POV

"Somnium!" I yelled and shoved a chair towards Chase as he fell backward.

I giggled as his head lolled and I walked toward him.

I tapped his shoulder and whispered, "Evigilo."

He jerked awake, wheezing.

His eyes rounded and she let out a groan.

"Geez Artemisia, are you trying to kill me?"

"I wasn't." I rolled my eyes at him. "I don't think you'd be alive if I wanted to do so."

"You are just too powerful to be let loose," He grumbled and stood from where he sat.

He stepped toward me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

"What are you doing?" I giggled, trying to shove him.

It wasn't his first time acting all touchy. This was even better. Yesterday, whilst talking, if I hadn't pulled away from his embrace, I was certain we would have kissed.

Again, it had been the interruption from one of the kids in the pack.

"I feel so lonely." He mumbled.

"Then get a mate." I joked.

"I can't." He said.

I removed his arms that were wrapped around me and managed to let him stare into my eyes, "Why not?"

"Because I just can't fall in love."

"That's absurd." I rolled my eyes and punched him. "There is no one not capable of falling in love."

He winced and glared at me, "You barely weighed anything but your punch can render someone armless."

"Stop trying to change the subject," I said. "Why can't you fall in love? Is there some sort of rule against it?"

"My first love left me and my heart has shattered too many times."

I tilted my brows as I stared at him. He looked quite distant and I wondered what he had been thinking.

I didn't know who would have broken such a kind man's heart but I believed he hadn't seen anyone that deserved him.

He needed a better partner and…

"I like you."

Even though it sounded low, I heard him.

I shook my head and bit my lower lips. I didn't know how I felt about him. It had been a week but it wasn't enough to bring out some feelings in me.

I believed I only saw him as a friend I could lean on and nothing else.

"Do you like me, Artemisia?"