"I'll steal it" the phrase comes slanging into his head every second he takes a step down the tall stairs. Out he chases his paths for the doors that reveal the open sky of sunny yet mild wind that touches the skins.
She can't possibly do it? his naive mind argues against her words. He knows the kind of girl she is, she isn't a dolly nor a damsel, she's fierce and does more than her words, and that scares the nerves in him.
He can't just hand her the stone, not without knowing the reason for her demanding it but her being her, well?
With a deep breath in and out he levels his hands on his face as he leads his eyes for the green ground. ' Forget it' he attempts to conceal his thoughts of her, possibly from thinking of her in manners of the forbidden.
"John" a voice calls causing his feet to die in sliver cold of ice as his skin sprouts out his many hairs. In faint heart, he turns in the direction of the voice and as familiar as it came, his eyes take recognition to his king which folds him in half to a second and back on his straight posture.
"What were you doing in her room?" Steffen asks gently, not meaning to sound intimidating yet fails as his voice sparks husk and might even at his effort to mildness.
"You went to her room" he again says gaining a tight face from him.
Right, he didn't expect his king to see him leaving his queen's chamber.
He could tell the truth but his whole being seemed filled with heavy weights that squeezed him off his breath. He doesn't seek offense to the king, his first was pardon and likely…...
"I went to thank her" his voice pours out dully, he could lie but his thoughts are probably being invaded by him so, can't take the risk of being caught.
He can't possibly have him sneak out the truth of him having lustful feelings for his mate, that certainly would earn him a quick trip to the underworld.
"I just thought it fit to thank the person that helped talk you out of punishing me" he smooths out with a smile that can have anyone killed happily.
"That's fine. I was a bit out of line so am sorry" Steffens words get him gawking but quick to recover as he glares at him to stop looking at him.
"Just ensure that it never happens, also you're in charge of her security" he orders. After the recent incidents, he can only trust John to have his mate safe and even a pinch of him feels insecure, he knows he is best for the task.
"Also pay a visit to Sulieman"
****
A mile away or perhaps less or more, a mansion holds voices of enticement and thrills which soon fade after minutes of heavy exhales.
"I love the way you handle me" a female voice pours out in the ears of the man whose body lays on the bed as his eyes watch the woman's hands struggle to reach the top of her dress zip.
King Sulieman best known as Sulieman, gets up and reaches his fingers on her back, gently he pulls up the zip after laying a few kisses on the bare skin of the lady. Her sweet smell still lingers on his breath after a long hard night together.
"You look beautiful," he says half between closed lips while his eyes fade out to the phone that buzzes on the desk. The woman, whom she addressed as Hawa got her feet traced for the far desk at the end of the room they were in and grabbed her phone for her ears.
"Yes" she responds
"Is there a problem?" He asks on her face scaring off a smile. Her fingers are in her dress and her eyes deeply dig her him telling her she's not in a good mood, yet compelled to ask.
The call must have been a bad one, he said through his head as he walked up to her.
"Tell me what's wrong?" He asks through a kiss on her back neck, his fingers gently rubbing on her arms causing a rift in her throat.
"I can't," she said holding back her breath " That was a call from Lia, there was another death. Two bodies were found and reported to be the same as previous bodies. Sulieman what ain't you telling me?" She asks in a serious tone.
" I agreed when you requested me to stop investigations being done on the recent deaths but right now I don't think I can hold back anymore. Especially when you refused to tell me why you asked the favor. What're you really up to?" Her voice hardened as were her hands that fence on her chest. As much as she loves him or his body or the pattern of making her feel alive she can't just turn a blind eye to what's happening.
The deaths have come in huge amounts and as the city mayor, she's responsible for giving answers to people's questions and finding out what or who's causing these deaths.
As it stands her head is playing the man that erects her high to be the murderer and who can blame her, he's keeping secrets from her.
"Believe me this will be settled soon, the deaths will be handled just have the police out of it."
"Are you serious, you want me to stop the cops from getting involved but you won't tell me why? I'm your partner, so whatever shit you ask of me you've to give me a reason" she demands, as his partner in business and other deals she holds the right to know his every move. And even thou she's aware her power was gained due to his influence and wealth she needs him to cover his end of the deal, killing was never a part of the contract.
"I can't tell you the reason but am going to need you to trust me. It the best for us both"
" Goodness gracious" she tiredly sighs " you're a piece of shit, do you know that?"
"I try not to" he counters with a wink that has her scoffing in the air. The audacity of him to get her to lose her lips, oh.
If she wishes he isn't this hot or good at what he does then it would be easy to have him dragged out for the crime he's doing.
Or so sure her.
"Anyway I should get going before Ibrahim returns," she says hastily grabbing her purse. Her husband was out on a business trip and he makes it back today so she's best to be home on his return. And before she's judged, her husband knows of her external affairs as she does of his, their relationship is one of complex, best tell their marriage is one of the status of families and gains with no feelings attached.
"And Sulieman, you have until this week to settle this mess if you don't then I'll have the police up at your ass" she states meaning every damn to her words. And as said her legs walk off his premises and in her car and off a rough drive on the roads.
"She's getting hotter by the day" Sulieman head twirls in the direction of the familiar voice. Out in his living room, The lady stands with hands settled at her sides. He in his birth clothes rushes to grab a full wrap on his waist before strolling his legs back the stairs to his living room.
"What're you doing here?" He asks barely holding his surprise at her visit. He wasn't informed.
"Definitely not to see you naked nor watch the scene of you and your.." she hesitates in thoughts of her name which is well known to her but rather labels her another. " Bed partner or whore?. Which is she?" Her teeth grins out to his eyes rolling in disagreement with her words but less she cares. The best to her excitement is his reaction.
"How long have you been here?" He asks
"Trust me you don't want to know" she declares with a chuckle. Her presence has been in existence for an hour or less, the merit of her witch powers to have herself invisible to others' eyes. And she could have said a word but her eyes were loving what it was witnessing, being entertained comes rarely so why let it slip?
"You're a pervert," he says walking for the stairs. She's a crazy bitch and he rather have her let as she is.
"Oh sir, I brought you a message. Master wants you to help her "
"Her?. Your agent, she's alive?" He had thought her life was at the end the night of the council meeting, but again she's said to be Steffen's mate so it makes sense that her life is still hers.
But what with him aiding her?
"Why is that?"
"Because you need her to complete that mission so you can get what you desperately desire" she fiercely states.
His eyes lock for a second before widening out in a tight gasp as his thoughts go into memories of his wife. He had lost her in a car crash along with his two kids years back and now, he seeks them back. More than anything he wishes for his family as whole as before, so he's on a deal with the lady's master who promised to bring back his wife and kids if he does as instructed.
" All you have to do is help her without questioning much. She's set to get the gemstone, the white witch earrings, and the dark witch ring"
"You're kidding, right? Do you think it is easy to possess those things? Lucy will never have her ring taken away" he said venting his fists in the low air to her scroll eyes and losing breath of not caring.
"That's why you're ordered to help her, the sooner you help get what is required the sooner you get your wife and kids back. You certain you want to make up for your mistake?" His eyes widened at her last words, triggered by guilt as his mindset for the past.
"How long has this been going on?" His wife asked joking her hands from his touch. "Tell me how long have you been sleeping with her?" Her voice raised out harshly to his ears.
His wife as said was a polite and gentle soul with little words to say. Yet her voice was being heard above the normal due to his never-left habit of sneaking women into their home and that day just happened to be the one that his wife returned home early, catching him in the act. The moment ended with her leaving him and his mistress for the car, along with their kids she drove off.
The last he got was a call that informed him of his wife and kids' deaths and he blamed himself for their deaths.
****
"Fine, I'll help" he agrees after a hard pull from the trauma past. He will do anything to have them back alive in front of him and this time around he promises to treat them right, especially his wife who showed nothing but loyalty and love to him.
"Good." She says heading to her heels for his doors only to be halted for a second and twirls her body in his direction with a hard gaze at the frame on the wall shielded with a white sheet. "Give her a breathing space, you owe her that much," she said before having her presence vanish.
Him, his eyes trace at the photo frame that he had concealed from view. After his wife's death, he had all photos of her burnt and trash not because he despised her but because his guilt wouldn't disappear, every stare at her photo with their kids reminded him of how he was the cause of her death. And so he had to make those decisions, it being twenty years and slowly the clear image of her has begun to fade.
"I'll get you back my love, I promise you" his fingers rub on the edge of the frame as he oaths.
****
Right there, his head is beneath the mercy of Steffen's shoe that tensely ruffs halfway to his face. His body is subdued on the greenery ground that leaves his dark shirt painted in colors. Around his eyes looks at his men being circled by the so annoyed council, most half dead laid on the ground with no dignity attached.
His every breath is choked in by Steffen's dark gaze. For he knows his death is next to a second but before that, he might as well give his last card. He should have known better than to trust a night sucker for a partner.
An hour earlier
He impatiently breaks his shoe heels as his eyes scan the surroundings. Off and on he gazes at the gold watch wrapped on his wrist, hard his breath comes out as he takes another ruff on his hair.
Damn it
If she didn't show up any moment soon then he would be out of there and off for his next plan, he still doesn't know what got him to meet up with her at her request.
Whatever good plan she has he would forsake if she doesn't come soon, his patience is as much as the thin air in his breath.
"Sorry am late" the voice comes by halting him on his leg. Thankfully it was hers, he was on a return trip.
"What took you so long?" He queries with irritation in his tone.
"That's not important, but what I have to say is." She silences off leaving no chance for counterback or further protest. "I need you to kill her in return you get your revenge on Steffen" Balu offers having an intense stare at him.
"You want me to kill his mate?" He asks rather much of a statement as he knows the reasons for her request. She's a dovey lover of the king and right now his mate is a stand in her path so she would do anything to her off. But again dubious of her request, she's a loyal whore to the king and would never go against him nor wish him to harm so why have him such a request?.
Unless it's a trap.
His brain said as he stiffened his shoulders high, securing his position for whatever was at the plan. He can't be too careful with someone like her.
"You do know having his mate killed would drive him insane and probably death?" His eyes scan her face as she prepares to respond. Urging his mind is ready to hear what she has to say.
"True, but like you said it's a probability, not a sure one. Besides your mate is dead but you ain't dead." His knuckles hardened as his teeth grit within, detesting to the measure of his dead mate. He isn't dead because his heart is full rage of and vengeance and till he gets one, his wolf won't die.
"Also having her dead serves a much benefit to you"
"Not as much as to you" he voice out above the normal.
"True but at the end of the day we both get what we want. So are you in?" She asks leading her hand for his that reluctantly clasp with hers.
"Deal," he says after seconds of silence
"Have her brought to the location to this location" he informs dropping a piece of paper on the table.