14.

-HIM-

Vipsania was already knocking on my suite door when it was time to go out. I fought a frown climbing on my face as I got dressed. She clung to my arm as we went downstairs.

Valter was sitting in the reception area, talking to another member of the Legacy. His eyes instantly found me. I nodded at him lightly and he did the same in return before I finally stepped out into the night with his sister.

One hotel staff was already waiting outside with my car ready. I silently got inside with her.

“I know this wonderful place. We’ll have a lot of fun,” I didn’t miss the darker tone in her voice. I knew her motives. She had been using the same tactics for years on me to take me to bed but I never complied with her. I never felt any kind of attraction towards her.

Valter and I were good friends. I was also very close to their family. These were the two main reasons I could never say ‘no’ to Vipsania. I tried to give her the hints but she just wouldn’t leave me alone.

“We’ll see,” I grumbled under my breath as I drove through the traffic. She asked me about work and when I was going back. I answered her questions drily but still being respectful towards her. I tried to find out when she was going back but after hearing her plans, it became obvious to me that she was planning to stay here as long as I was here.

When we reached the place, she hung dearly to my arm as we walked in. I was instantly annoyed by the loud music and the crowd. I wanted to leave instantly but her grip on my arm was tighter. My strength was enough to overpower her but I didn’t want to come off as rude.

She dragged me deeper into the crowd. The few extra inches of my height helped me to spot the liquor counter. I froze when I spotted Anna’s familiar figure.

Her hazel eyes instantly met mine and she froze too. It was after a few seconds when she tore her eyes off me to look at Vipsania beside me. The latter was busy looking around for something. Realizing that I had bought another woman with me, Anna instantly looked away.

I instantly felt disgusted with myself. I wanted to go to her and make it clear that I didn’t want to do anything with the woman who was currently clinging to me. But my hands were tied… both literally and figuratively.

“That place is empty!” Vipsania chirped beside me, pointing to an empty space at the counter. I let her lead me to the place while my eyes found their way back to Anna. It was this time when I noticed the guy sitting beside her for the first time. She was talking to him and it instantly came crashing down to me that she had come here with someone.

My jaw was instantly set and my feet were ready to carry me to her. It suddenly dawned upon me that she could be dating someone. The thought made me deeply uncomfortable and unsurprisingly jealous.

My feelings towards her were justified because she was my Czira. But I didn’t want to do anything with her… or so what I was trying to convince myself.

“Who’re you looking at?” Vipsania asked when she noticed that I hadn’t been paying attention to her.

“Nothing,” I grumbled as I took a seat beside her and ordered my drink.

“What are your plans after you’re done with this mission?” She inquired with hope in her eyes.

“I’ll take over another,” I answered her stiffly. The frown that climbed on her face gave away that she wasn’t expecting that as an answer. I unconsciously looked back at Anna. I wanted to know what relationship she had with that guy.

She seemed to be busy talking to him currently, feeding my urge to go to her even more. I was slowly getting restless to get to her and get out of the place.

“Have you ever thought about us?” She inquired next, “By the way, who’re you looking at?” She asked instantly looking in the direction I was looking at. I instantly looked away. I didn’t know how Vipsania would react if she ever saw Anna. I don’t think she’d be very pleased.

“Nothing, I thought I saw someone I might know,” I answered, turning back to her. She narrowed her eyes at me for some seconds before she let it go and repeated her question.

“Theo… what do you think about us?” She placed a hand on my arm, making me want to put more distance between us. I hated to see the hope in her eyes. It made me heavier to sink deeper into the guilt.

“Nothing. I think you’re aware of the Legacy’s rules,” I answered her stiffly as I sipped from my drink. I internally fought hard to steal another glace in Anna’s direction. It was bothering me very much to know that she was out with another guy. I just couldn’t sit peacefully after having to see her with someone else.

Vipsania rolled her eyes at me before she argued, “Theodore, your dad was part of the Legacy too but he mated with your mother anyway,”

“I don’t want to be associated with him,” I told her, looking dead in the eyes. She hesitated before she added, “I meant that men from the Legacy mate anyway, at least not in the traditional way. It's still doesn't really make any difference,”

“Would you like it if your brother broke the rules after how hard he had worked for the position?” I asked her instead and she rolled her eyes at me. If anything, it irked me even more but I did my best to stay composed.

“If it makes him happy then why not! Everyone must have the right to chose,” She argued.

"We sacrifice that right for the position," I told her coldly.

"You are just finding excuses, that's it!" She stated. My control snapped at this point and I instantly turned to look at Anna. I saw her raise from her seat before she headed outside.

“I’ll be right back,” I told Vipsania and headed towards the exit before she could even say anything or follow me. I shoved aside anyone who stepped in my way. I made sure not to tear my eyes away from her. I didn’t want to lose her in the crowd.

I followed her closely until she was out. By then, she was aware of me following her but she still continued to walk towards the parking lot.

“Anna,” The tone of my voice came out a bit rough, hinting away that I was unpleased to see her with someone else. At this, she stopped and looked over her shoulder.

“Why are you following me?” She asked. The tension was slowly building in the air. I wanted to eat the distance between us. I was suddenly feeling angry but I couldn’t quite understand the reason behind it.

“Who was that guy?” I demanded, feeding my unprecedented rage that threatened to cut the very thin rope of self-control on which I was balancing myself.