Post-Apocalypse: Mated To Alphas Of Orion-Chapter 99: Asking Rigel Not To Kill Anyone

(Amaia)

I return to my room after my evening session with Alnilam. In today’s session, I was able to form a thin protective shield. It appeared that Alnilam was correct in his assumption that I could control the elements. At least I had started to stir the air but it only happened when Alnilam’s magic mixed with mine.

The feeling was strange, like our magic recognised each other, connected at some level beyond our comprehension.

Exhausted from the use of my magic, all I want to do is sleep. Tonight I will be alone so maybe I should invite Alnitak. He and Mintaka have been practising Moonball till late; they have a game coming up with Guild Pegasus.

Opening the door I enter my room and to my utmost surprise come face to face with Rigel. The suddenness of finding him in my room makes me let out a scream which I muffle with my own hands.

He stands in front of me, wearing all black attire and holding a white rose in his right hand.

Was that blood on it?

With an unapologetic possessiveness, he watches me as I remove my hands from my face and frustratedly ask,

"What in the world are you doing in my room?"

"Waiting for you, obviously," he nonchalantly says. "I brought you an apology gift." He extends the flower towards me like a peace offering.

Placing my hands on my hips I shake my head. His social etiquette is rusty to say the least.

"You can’t just go into someone’s room like that, without permission, especially after what you did in the training session."

"You are my mate, I can come to you whenever, especially when an apology is required. I am here to say sorry. I don’t want you to be mad at me."

I blink at him, unsure of what to say. Taking a step forward I stand right in front of him. My neck cranes as I have to raise it up to look at him.

"Rigel, you can’t just hurt people and act like it’s nothing. Actions have consequences." The more I stare at him and spend time in his proximity the more my heart refuses to remain mad at him, even though he has brought harm to my friend.

"It’s not my fault that the opponents were weak. But I am willing to try. Be my guide. I believe if you are by my side I can control these impulses."

My heart trusts him, my magic trusts him too but they both might be getting deceived. But my brain tells me to run as far away as possible.

I can’t let him continue this hurting spree, he might end up killing someone.

"Alright, I will help you but you can’t come for my guildmates just to vex me. Promise." I need to tread carefully with Rigel, any wrong words and he can flip.

"I can’t make promises I might not be able to keep but I am willing to try. Here." He offers me the rose again and this time I accept.

His cold fingers graze against the back of my hand, sending shivers through me.

I observe the white rose is coated in what clearly appears to be blood. But there are no thorns. He seems to have clipped them...

So thoughtful, even with his urge to kill and main he takes care of tiny things when it concerns me.

"Why does it have blood on it?" I question, not daring to even bring it near my nose and sniff.

He points towards the small wooden birdhouse of Zille and asks.

"Do you like birds?"

My gaze follows his long bony finger.

"Yes, it belongs to my pet grackle."

"Then you don’t need to know the details..." he says with a feigned calmness and I stare back at him with crinkles of confusion appearing on my forehead.

Oh God! Please! Don’t let this be true. I don’t think I can handle any more sick-mindedness.

"Don’t tell me you hurt my grackle." I almost drop the flower from my hands.

"No, it was some other annoying bird, not letting me get a flower for you. I tried, but the beaked devil was asking for it."

Help me; God. Let me have patience with this man. I let out a deep sigh and then take in several breaths to calm myself.

"No more killing birds, Rigel. Let’s start with this today. You will not harm any innocent birds."

He nods once. "He didn’t appear innocent though. No birds are innocent. They are devilish miscreants."

"We will still not kill them. Alright?" I ask nicely and it takes every ounce of patience I possess. I am trying here with this man, like, really trying.

"Okay! So are we good or should I bring you another flower?" He questions, taking a step forward and ending all the distance between us.

"This is enough. Thank you!" I offer my gratitude to this strange man, and his hands come together to hold my face in them, with his thumbs resting underneath my chin and slightly tilting it up. His burning coal-like eyes have me and only me reflecting back.

Slowly, I swallow the saliva in my throat.

"I promise I will treat you better than your shitty ex-mate whose bones I still need to bring you."

Again with the killing.

"We are not killing him or anyone else except monsters." I softly remind him and he offers me a dazzling smile which borders on danger and madness.

"We will make an exception...just this once." He lowers his face, the breath fanning me. The deadly shadows he owns elongate like projections and delicately stroke my skin. Just like Alnilam’s hair, his shadows seem to possess a mind of their own. So very unlike how they had handled Kacir.

"Accept me as yours, Amaia. Let me be your mate and not that redhead or anyone else," he demands.

Unlike my other mates, his scent, like that of a silver mist, is faint for me, but it’s there. That unholy attraction I feel for him and that urge to protect him and guide him has me in shackles.

"It’s not that simple for me," I tell him without trying to wriggle out of his hold and observe hurt birth inside his eyes.