Bloodbound: The Alliance
Chapter 38 - 42

Chapter 38: Chapter 42

Silence is my torturer, constantly crucified and persecuted by its infinite and depthless damnation. No one has spoken a word in days. When Vance and Kelsey came back—in the early hours of the morning. They didn’t say a word... which gives the impression that something happened. Which I’m afraid to question because then I have to answer the same question. Neither of us has been able to look the other in the eye. I’ve been holed up in the library and the others are wherever, unable to keep track of who stays or who goes.

In the three hollow days that have passed, I’ve been trying to get a hold of Simon, but it goes straight to voicemail. A hybrid feeling; worry and relief. Worried about his well being and relieved for the bad connectivity, because I can’t connect to the internet. The country still quakes with the news of Grayson’s tragic death, making him nothing less than a martyr. I sought asylum in the library, planning to spend most of my time there until my father and brothers arrive, but Landen has other plans.

"I’m not going to your adolescent and debaucherous yacht party."

Vance lingers in the archway of the sun lounge, on an island of his own, standing afar. Kelsey sits on the other side of the room, on an armchair, unnaturally quiet. I sit on the cusp of the long couch, an inch from falling off, ready to flee.

"In most cases it would be an invitation..." He pulls out his Iphone. "This isn’t most cases."

Landen pitches his phone at him. Vance catches it mid-air, frowning, he wakes the screen with a tap.

"How do you think I got dad’s yacht to the port?" He moves back to lean against the tall window, crossing his ankles. "I told him I wanted to throw a party. And Allison mentioned that it was the perfect opportunity for another public stunt since she believes things have gotten a little...boring between you two. Not enough face-time. She wants to recreate a buzz because Bahadur’s party is next week. Which means... I hear church bells ringing."

I stare at Vance, waiting for confirmation. Eventually, his face lifts from the screen and he gives me a tired nod. He sneaks a glance at Kelsey but her gaze is flung far into the distance, a flat, fixated stare on the lake.

Vance frees a tortured groan. "When is it?"

"Tonight."

***

Since the yacht is set to sail once we arrive. We get there late. The tiers of the superyacht are brimming with people. Music thundering from the ultra-luxury vessel even from where we stand. An exterior of black high-gloss and polished surfaces. Vance’s knuckles brushes against my hand suggestively. I look up at him, smiling softly before I interlock our fingers, assuming the facade.

We board the yacht from the rear. The free flowing layout has a large beach club aesthetic with an extended platform at sea level. The main deck has bleached woodwork that’s carried throughout the yacht’s interior space with bleached oak cladding, converging precisely in an uninterrupted continuum of lines with palatial columns.

Landen strides ahead and transforms into something deific, like a god who has been hidden amongst mortals but has now revealed himself. The crowd shatters the air with an excited cheer, some even applauding. Landen outstretches his arms expansively and like a magnet, his lady friends come running. Two girls wearing barely anything flank him and he drapes his arms around them. They steer him towards a secluded lounge that’s been cordoned off by a red velvet rope and a security guard.

Vance leans towards me. "If I’m going to stay here," he yells over the booming music, "I’m going to need a drink."

I check Kelsey. She smiles weakly and shoos me away. "Don’t worry about me. You know I can keep myself busy."

I allow Vance to wind us through the throng of people to get to the circular bar.

"What do you want?"

I shrug. "I don’t care as long as it doesn’t have alcohol."

He turns away to order. I flip over to rest my elbows on the glazed surface of the bar, eyeing the crowd. I see why our attendance here would be good coverage. There’s alot of A-list celebrities here, trust-fund babies and aristocrats high on the social hierarchy.

A cluster of people, a mix of men and women, approach Vance with star-struck eyes. They try to talk to him, but Vance barely glances to acknowledge the small swarm, aloof and apathetic, treating them like they’re an annoyance. The conversation doesn’t last long.

My eyes fall on the exclusive lounge and irritation flickers through me. One surgically enhanced girl with lips that look bee-stung, fondles Landen from his flank and the other is right on top of him, straddling his lap, making out erotically. His hands all over her and whilst they pleasure him, his eyes are on me, staring at me from the corner of his eye.

I spin around, breathing hard. Shortly, the bartender slides over a mocktail whilst Vance nurses his drink. I take a dainty sip of the non-alcoholic drink, strangely regretting my choice, wishing it was something a lot stronger. Vance nudges me with his elbow, staring back at me quizzically, like he’s been asking me the same question for an hour.

"What?"

He tilts closer. "You okay?"

I force a nod, rotating my body to face him fully. "The parties I’m used to usually involve a political speech or an endorsement for a philanthropic cause."

"Since we are here... we might as well put on a show."

I cast a quick glance at Landen, who’s entertaining another new girl. My stomach clenches.

I tear my gaze away—glimpsing his drink. I snatch the glass and drain it.

"Whoa, I can get you your own?"

I pound it back on the table, shaking my head.

"I’m good." I take his hand. "Shall we?"

We move away from the bar to find somewhere to dance. I lock eyes with Landen and he holds eye contact. I make sure that Vance’s back is to him, so his eyes are only on mine. And it stays that way, only stoking the tension. I tangle my arms around Vance’s neck and he reels me closer to him, our faces dangerously too close. Swaying back and forth, his nose trails down mine and I lift my face to feel his lips against my own.

Vance deepens the kiss, unfurling his tongue in my mouth. I tilt my head to fasten my gaze on Landen with his brother’s tongue shoved down my throat. Vance pulls me closer to him with more force, the intensity rising with swift gradation with a firm grip on my ass. I look back at him through my eyelashes. Landen removes the one girl off his lap and shoves the hand of another away.

I pull away suddenly, breathing deeply.

Vance’s hand rushes through his hair.

"I—I need the bathroom."

"Need me to show you the way?"

I shake my head fervently. "No, I’ll find it on my own—I need some air, anyway. You just go check on Kelsey. I know you don’t need pointers on how to do that."

I leave before he can say anything, hurrying to the outdoor area of the main deck. I dart to the railing, my mind swirling. The harmony of the ebbing tide, unable to calm me down. The blackened waters mirroring the midnight sky, grateful that it’s too dark to see my reflection—not that I’d recognise it, anyway. I throw a glance over my shoulder to see Landen slithering through the crowd to reach me. I turn and I walk away, accelerating my pace, but he pursues me nonetheless. I hurry towards the stern of the yacht, pursued by his lithe silhouette.

"Stop following me!"

"I just happened to be going in this direction."

I halt to wheel on him hotly. His piercing stare holds a blade to my throat. Aware of his effect, his ever-pleasing plump lips carve into an infuriating, smug smile.

"The question is, why do you keep running from me?" A devious look glints in his eyes. "Do I make you that nervous?"

I glance over his broad shoulder, making sure no one is in range. The salt-scented winds carry the dull roar of the party, distant, but anyone can sprout at any moment. I choose not to indulge this, so I swivel around and walk off again. I cast a look behind me to see no one there. A shot of fear loans speed. Out of nowhere, a brute force collides into me, moving me with his sheer bulk until my back hits the railing.

"Landen!"

"You didn’t answer my question."

"Someone will see you," I warn.

He smirks devilishly. "You say that as if I care."

"Would you care if Vance saw?"

He throws out a curse, rifting the space between us. "Just had to bring him up."

Outrage tightens my chest. "Yes!" I shriek. "He’s kinda going to be my husband."

A dark emotion emerges in his eyes, burning brightly. "But you don’t love him."

"He’s going to be my husband," I repeat riotously.

"You don’t love him!" he booms with the cords of his neck strained and prominent. He looks around furtively, then leans in infinitesimally closer. "You can lie to me."

My breathing snags. He comes so close we share breaths and his veiny hands grip the railing, trapping me between his arms.

"You can hate me for what we both know you crave. And what I yearn for most."

A moment of madness prompts me to say, "And how would Vance feel about that?"

His thick brows quirk. "Pissed off, probably.But imagine the weight on my brother’s heart when he discovers that while his fiancée stumbled into something... forbidden. And that his own brother... fell so deeply, he found himself... lost in its depths."

"I... I don’t believe you."

"Or you don’t want to?"

I hurl a punch at his chest, reacting to the purest emotion. Anger.

"You have a messed up way of showing it."

"Says the one who made out with my brother and made sure I had a good view. I never thought Saint Avara could be so sinful."

I gape at him, mortified. My eyes even start misting.

He tips his head back to let out a little chuckle. "You said you don’t care. If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t be jealous. That’s why I did it... so you’d stop being in denial."

"Contrary to what you think, not everyone is bewitched by you." I move fast, swooping under his arm, freeing myself. "I may be confused about some things... but definitely not about you."

He shoves his hands in his deep pockets, raising his chin. "You say one thing. Your body keeps saying another."

***

The yacht is on the open sea. I watch the cosmic, soul-soothing scenery from one of the cabins. A bedroom with its own private deck. The walls are paneled in bleached oak, contrasting with the natural wood with LED strips throughout the interior. A chill wraps itself around me, goading goosebumps as I hold on to myself—a poor attempt to garner warmth.

I haven’t left the room since I escaped Landen and I don’t plan on coming out until we dock back at the port. I’ve been hiding out here—hiding from a lot. Landen is right. I have been in denial and running because I can’t face these feelings that have been sown into me, growing inside of me like a vital organ. I can’t let it die.

A knock on the door. I ignore it, hoping they’ll go away.

They knock again. I swear if it’s him.

Another knock.

"Landen, leave me alone!"

The knocking turns into a violent banging, sending me staggering, my heart hammering fast. I gawk at the door, fearing it will fly off its hinges. I dash to the door, unlocking it and swinging it open. I leap back. Botan lurches forward to slam his hands against the frame of the doorway, holding onto it as if restraining himself with a feral glint in his eyes that are deep wells of darkness, as if carved from the very essence of shadow. Gazing into them feels like standing at the edge of a precipice, staring into the unknown—cold, consuming, and full of untold promises of oblivion.