"What were you doing frolicking around with that dimwit?" he hissed, his voice sending shivers down my spine.
I swallowed, my heart hammering against my ribcage. "I wasn't doing anything, Cory is-"
"Don't!" he snapped, his tone biting enough to make me flinch. "That's his name, huh?" He let out a small laugh, his face coming closer to mine. I could feel his breath so hot against my skin. My heart rate accelerated.
"Please, Alaric... He's just a friend." My voice came out weak and teary. I realized I had messed up by mentioning Cory's name. I know what Alaric was capable of. I didn't want him to harm Cory in any way.
His lips curled into a cold, humorless smile. "Is that what you call holding hands under a tree? Friendship?"
I felt my cheeks flush with a mix of embarrassment and anger. "Yes, because that's exactly what it was! You're blowing this out of proportion!"
Cory's words came replaying in my head. I couldn't let Alaric keep controlling me this way.
Alaric's hand slammed against the wall beside my head, and I jumped. His closeness was suffocating me, his eyes boring into mine with an intensity that left no room for escape. "I warned you, didn't I?" he growled in a low and dangerous voice. "I told you to stay away from anyone until you find your mate."
"You don't get to control me like this!" I shot back, my voice rising despite the fear tightening my chest. "I'm not a child, Alaric!"
His cold gaze raked over me, making my skin crawl. "You're not a child, Jasmine?" he repeated in a low, biting whisper. "Is that what Cory taught you? To rebel against me?"
Realization hit me hard. He was looking for every means to find a reason to harm Cory. "No, Alaric, it's not like that." I stammered, shaking my head desperately as a stubborn tear slid down my cheek.
But he wasn't listening. His head tilted slightly, and a mirthless smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. It wasn't amusement. No, it was something far more sinister. "Don't lie to me, Jasmine. You've been taking lessons from Cory," he said softly, almost tenderly, but his eyes burned with a feral intensity that made my stomach twist.
"Alaric, please," I whispered, trembling. "Cory didn't-"
His smirk faded, replaced by an expression that sent ice through my veins. "You'll never see him again," he declared coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion as though he were simply stating a fact.
I felt the blood drain from my face. "What? No, Alaric, you can't-"
"I can," he cut me off. "And I will." He leaned in closer, his lips dangerously close to my ear. "I'll make sure Cory is taken care of." The way he said it made bile rise in my throat. I knew what he meant. He didn't have to spell it out. Cory's life was in danger, and it was my fault.
"No!" I cried. Without thinking, I dropped to my knees, my hands clutching the front of his shirt as I looked up at him, tears streaming down my face. "Alaric, please! Don't hurt him. Please, I'm begging you!"
His eyes flickered with something I couldn't name, a shadow of emotion that was gone as quickly as it appeared. He didn't move, didn't even flinch, as I knelt there before him, reduced to pleading.
"Alaric, I swear," I choked out, my voice shaking. "We're just friends. There's nothing else. Please believe me. Please don't hurt him. I'll do anything—anything you want—but don't hurt Cory."
He crouched before me, his gaze meeting mine, and for a moment, I thought I had convinced him, but I was wrong.
His hand moved, his fingers brushing against my cheek, startling me.
The touch was featherlight, almost tender, but it made my skin crawl. His thumb lingered, tracing the curve of my jaw, and I froze, my breath catching in my throat.
What was he doing?
"You'll do anything I want?" he murmured, his voice low, almost thoughtful. His eyes, dark and unreadable, roamed over my face as though he were committing every detail to memory.
The way he asked the question made me want to take back my word's.