She just got her hand on the doorknob when she was yanked back by her ponytail. She tried to scream but Ellis clamped a hand over her mouth. “You’ve been a bad girl.” He was breathing hard. “Hiring someone to take me out.” He shook his head. “Well, they did a bad job princess and you should’ve stayed lost. Did I ever mention that some of my clients have rape fetishes?”

She moaned, the sound smothered behind his fingers.

“They pay excellent money for girls willing to pretend. I wonder what they would be willing to put down for the real thing.” Ellis laughed and her blood ran cold.

Chapter 18

Torrent sat upright and sucked in a breath. It hurt like a bitch. Coming back from the dead was a favorite past time of his… not! He pulled in some more air, being careful this time. His chest burned. Everything ached.

His nostrils flared as he picked up her scent. Candy. His female. His. It was her lingering scent on the sheets. She wasn’t here anymore. His female was gone.

No, not his. Not anymore. She never had been. Pain flooded him and he moaned. It was internal pain and it was way worse than anything physical he had ever felt.

Torrent slumped back into his blankets and pillows.

“I’m so glad you are awake.” It was Sky. The female hovered around him. She tucked in a sheet and poured a glass of water. “Drink this, my lord.”

Torrent growled from the pain as he turned over onto his side. “Leave me.” He didn’t want to see her or anyone else for that matter.

‘You need to drink and to eat. You also need to be eased, it will help the healing process. Shall I call Ocean? Another female?” She sounded angry. Her voice was hard and devoid of emotion.

“No,” he choked out. “Put the water on the table and go away. I don’t want to be disturbed.”

“Oh.” There was a tapping noise and he realized that it was her foot against the floor. Tap, tap, tap. “So you’re just going to lie there and wallow in self pity? Whatever you said, or did, to that female, it had to have been really terrible for her to have left.”

Torrent grumbled below his breath.

“She was so afraid to talk to you. I told her that you would accept her and forget her past. I was sure you would… never mind. I was clearly wrong.”

“Do you know then? Did she tell you?”

“No! It was between the two of you.” She began to walk away and then changed her mind and turned back. “She was ready to take the next step. That female loved you.”

“No, she didn’t,” he snarled. “She didn’t want me as a mate. That much was clear. No wonder I became angry. No one would blame me for my actions.”