Chapter 69

Jo
She slicked her hair back into a bun and looked herself over. She groaned. What in the world was she doing? She didn’t even like men.
‘He’s our mate,’ Isla repeated stubbornly for the thousandth time since she woke up ten minutes ago.
‘Isla, just stop. We will reject him.’
She pulled the hair tie out of her hair and went to pull her hair back in its usual messy ponytail. Isla sent out a small burst of fire and it turned to ash in her hands. She growled. That was her last one. If she had known that he was going to be here, she would have shaved her head. Now, she had no choice, but to let her black hair hang down her back. Fuck. When had she turned into such a girl?
She left her room and walked down four doors to collect Lily from her room for breakfast. She knocked once. No answer. She knocked harder. Again, there was no answer. She flung the door open and flipped the light on. Her heart stopped when the room was empty and Lily’s scent had faded. She wasn’t there. Panic took over and she took a deep breath. She began to move slowly down the hall, sniffing at each door and calling her name.
“LILY?!”
A door at the end of the hallway opened and she peeked out.
“I’m in here, Jo.”
She hurried down the hallway to her, her anger growing. Why the fuck was she in Lukas’ room? What the hell did he do? She pulled the young girl into her arms and began to check her over.
“Are you okay?,” Jo asked.
“She just got-”
“Was I speaking to you, Lukas? No, I do not believe I was,” she growled, cutting him off. “Lily, are you okay?”
“Yes, Jo. I got scared and tried to find you, but I knocked on the wrong door. The king-”
“Lukas.”
Lily blushed. “Lukas let me sleep in here with him.”
“Are you hurt?”
She pulled back and Lukas growled.
‘Can it, asshole. You know damn well what this looks like,’ Jo hissed through their link, before turning her attention back to Lily.
“NO! He was very nice to me.”
She draped her arm over the girl’s shoulder and began to lead her out. She saw Ethan sneaking down the hallway and she groaned. This man. Ugh. Every single morning, he tried to come see her. She had taken to climbing out of her window just to avoid him. But, man, did he look good in that- Jo shook her head. NO. Not going there. She hated the man. Then why did she always want to touch his muscular-
“Ethan, good! You’re right on time. Could you escort Lily to the dining hall?”
He froze. “Jo, I uh- uhmm-”
She pushed Lily gently forward. “She’s hungry.”
“Yes, of course. Come on.”
He held out his hand to her and when Lily took it, jealousy filled Jo. She had to remind herself that Lily was Lukas’s mate and she was innocent. As soon as they disappeared around the corner, she stormed back into Lukas’s room. She slammed the door, glaring at him.
“Did you have sex with her?,” she yelled.
“No.”
She punched him in the face. “DON'T FUCKING LIE TO ME!”
He grabbed her wrist and yanked her forward. “I didn’t rape her!,” he snapped.
“YOU ARE SUCH A DICKHEAD! WHY DID YOU LET HER SLEEP IN HERE? GIDEON IS GOING TO FEEL THE DAMN PULL A LOT MORE THAN YOU TRUST ME ON THAT!”
“Gideon tried to touch her.” He paused, sighing as he stuck his hands in his pocket. “Trust me when I say, Gideon and I are fighting over it.”
She bared her teeth at him. “Dickheads, I swear. Both of you.” She sniffed the air. “Why does it smell like vomit? Is Lily sick?”
“No, I threw up when I woke up to Gideon dry humping her.”
She narrowed her eyes on him. “Excuse me? He did what?”
“You heard me. I’m not going to repeat it.”
“What are you going to do, Luke? You can’t go around trying to hump her. She’s so young.”
“I’m leaving. She will be safe here with you guys.”
“Well, damn, dude. It’s that bad?”
“Yeah. She drives us both crazy. It’s not just Gideon.”
She patted his shoulder. “I know it’s hard to fight the mate bond, but you have to.”
He pulled her in for a hug. “I know I have to, but you don’t. Talk to the man, Jojo.”
“Not a chance, but thanks.”
“The longer you hold out, the harder it’s gonna be.”
She pulled back. “Lukas, come on. The Goddess has never been more wrong than to pair me with a man.”
He kissed her cheek. “The Goddess is never wrong, stupid.”
“You still think that even now, with your mate being 11?”
“Yes. Have you seen my mate? She is perfect.”
“Mine’s not. I don’t want him.”
Lukas walked her to the door and shoved her out. “Go to breakfast.”
She hesitated. “I don’t want to.”
“You can’t avoid him. Besides, since I’m leaving, you have to protect Lily.”
“Are you going to come say goodbye to her?”
She watched him think about it, before he shook his head. “If I do, I won’t be leaving. It’s better if I take off from my room.”
“Alright, just be careful.” She flipped him off, grinning. “Guess I’ll go let the future queen know that she’ll be in charge, since you're such a little bitch,” she teased.
“Don’t be a cunt, Jo,” he warned, fighting a laugh.
She stepped into the hall and blew him a kiss. “Try not to die without me there to protect your lame ass, will ya?”
He burst out laughing. “Go to breakfast, Jo.”
She turned around and found herself pressed against Ethan.
“Oh.”
She took a step back and looked away from him. “You’re supposed to be with Lily,” she told him as she walked past him.
“Is that why you sent her away so you could fuck her mate?”
She rolled her eyes. “I am not sleeping with Lukas, dumbass.”
“Sure looks like your relationship is deeper than just king and beta.”
She spun on him and jabbed her finger into his chest. “For your information, Lukas and I have known each other forever. He is my fucking brother. Don’t ever think that you have the right to say shit about anything I do or who I do it with.”
She stormed off down the hall and he followed her. “Then why was the door closed?”
She screamed in frustration. For their first conversation, it was most definitely not going well. Did he think that this was the way to win her over, because it sure wasn’t. She stopped moving.
‘Isla, I’m warning you. Stop this shit.’
‘That’s all you, dollface,’ Isla purred in her head.
“None of your fucking business.”
She started moving again, only to be stopped by his hand gripping her elbow. The sparks that exploded in her body made her legs get weak. She clenched and tried to jerk her arm out of his hold.
“Let me go.”
“We’re mates, JoAnn,” he sneered. “Like it or not-”
“I don’t, so leave me alone.”
“As I was saying, like it or not we’re stuck together.”
She growled at him. “I don’t want you, dude. I’m gay. I like pussy.”
He chuckled darkly. “I don’t want you either. I’m in love with someone else, but it doesn’t change the fact that-”
She punched him in the face and still he held onto her arm. She had to blink tears back.
“Let me go!,” she ordered.
He pulled her around so fast that she fell into his chest. He tilted her face up and pressed his lips against hers. Her body instantly ignited with the hardest, deepest arousal she had ever felt. The arm that was not in his hand went around his neck and she kissed him back. She pushed her tongue into his mouth as she thrust her fingers into his hair. Her eyes closed and she kissed him until his arm wrapped around her waist, letting go of her arm.
Her eyes opened and she saw his were closed. She brought her knee up between his legs and pushed him back. He hit the ground and she jumped back out of reach. She kicked his leg.
“Leave me the hell alone, you asshole, or I swear next time I’m taking your balls off.”
She sprinted down to the dining hall. He was in love with someone else. Why did he feel the need to tell her that when she already knew? What the fuck ever! She didn’t even want his stupid ass. She had probably had more women than he had had even in his dreams. Fucker! She entered the hall and her eyes went straight to Sasha. If she wasn’t with Aiden, Jo herself would have tried with her. At least he had good taste.
“Jo, Jo. Do you want to eat breakfast with me?”
Jo smiled at Lily and took a seat next to her. “Sure. What are we having?”
“Macaroni and cheese.”
“For breakfast?”
“Yes, I love it.” Lily flushed. “Is the king coming to breakfast, Jo?”
Jo spooned some pasta onto her plate. “I’m sorry, little one. Lukas was called away on business. He left.”
“Oh. Will you tell him I said thank you.”
“Of course. What do you want to do today?”
“Sasha said she wanted to do something with me. So, after breakfast, we are going to my room.”
“OK. I will join you. Also, Lily, Lukas wants you to call him by his name, okay?”
“Alright. He’s really nice.”
Jo laughed. “Sometimes when I remember to feed him.”
She giggled. “He’s a big guy. Does he eat a lot?”
Jo grinned mischievously. “He even eats little girls when they misbehave, so you better eat all your food. You’re too skinny.”
Lily blushed and lowered her head. Jo cursed at herself. Why had she said that? It was obvious that Lily was feeling the bond. They were most definitely going to have to be careful. Ethan walked in and Jo smirked when he was moving gingerly. He flipped her off and she blew him a kiss. Serves him right. The dick.