Chapter 5

Addison

I don't know why but Mateo hasn't been bothering me. He has been coming by every night to see me with food and to talk. He doesn't talk much but he makes sure that I know what I'm dealing with. He asks me questions about everything that I have been going through and I have been trying to deal with what I have been going through. I don't know if he will believe me when I tell him everything, but I don't think that he will. I think that he thinks that I have something against him. I don't know why he thinks that when I have been trying to prove to him at every second that I'm a good person.

I run my fingers through my hair and read my book, trying to decide what to do about it. I sigh softly, wondering what I might end up doing about it. I have been trying to read this book for what feels like the millionth time, and I keep letting my mind wander. I don't know if it is even possible, and I want to stop falling for him.

I know it is the mate bond and I know what's going to happen if I end up figuring out what to do about the entire situation. I can't fall for him even though he is my fated mate, he isn't going to want me for me. He wants me because of the information that I hold and what he can exploit from me. I'm not going to even try to sugar coat it at this point and I wish that he would have made sure that I was okay.

I don't know how I'm going to be able to accept all of this because I don't know how far he is willing to take this. I don't want to see my family die because it wouldn't be right. It wouldn't be right to go down that path and allow them to die in a way where Mateo would take over. I wish that they would have been able to do the right thing and make some kind of treaty. I hope I could have convinced them to do. I know my parents are not the easiest to get along with, but they know when they need to give something up. I don't know if they are going to make the right decision if I tell them what Mateo wants but they can at least try. At least it would stop even more bloodshed. Isn't that the right thing to do?

I can't be completely certain about where this is going between us, but it seems like he is tempted to see where it goes as well. I wish that things could turn out for the better but when he walks in again, making me look up, I know that it isn't.

My heart practically skips a beat as I stare at him, wondering what he is going to say to me. I couldn't be completely certain about what's going through his head, but it is becoming more and more apparent that the mate bond is pulling him in closer as well. I'm okay with that but I hope that he does the right thing, and he doesn't try to screw me over in the process. I couldn't be completely certain about that though. This could very well turn around and bite me in the ass.

"Mateo." I greet him, setting my book down and trying to remain as nonchalant as possible, "I didn't think you would come so early today. What do I owe the pleasure?"

"I am meeting your parents tomorrow." He explains to me, making me go incredibly still, "I am going to try to make a treaty for the sake of our relationship. I'm not going to hand you over though if what you're telling me is true. I won't see you married off to someone."

I wonder why my heart flutters when he says that, "I honestly thought that you wouldn't give a damn. I thought you would have done the right thing and made sure that your people were safe. Why care about a prisoner?"

His eyes flash and he gives me an annoyed look, "Don't start with me, Addison. I understand that you are frustrated with me, and you have every right to be, but I have a right to be angry with you as well. You need to understand that we are at war and being in this cell is the best place to protect you."

"Protect me from what?" I challenge him now, rising to my feet because I don't know how much more I can handle this, "I think you misunderstood. I am not a damsel in distress. I do not need you to protect me, and I don't need you fighting my battles. Thank you for being concerned about me, I appreciate it and it does make me feel very good about myself but that is as FAR as that relationship goes. I can't accept the fact that you keep lying to me and you're trying to make this seem like you're doing this for me when you are not."

"What do you mean?" He yells back at him, balling his hands into fists, "I don't know what's going through your head, but I can assure you that everything that I am doing HAS been for you. I know you might not be able to believe it, but it is the truth."

I can't believe him because he is not being honest. He is not doing this for me. He would NEVER do this for me because there's no reason for him to. He's going to keep doing everything for himself and then I'm going to be on the short end of the stick. He's going to hand me over when he has the chance and then I'm never going to be able to get out of this.

Fuck me.

He moves closer until we are practically toe to toe as he glares at me, "I would never do that to you, Addison. I don't know why you have a vendetta against me when all I have done is try to protect you from those who wish to harm you. You might THINK that I am the bad guy, but I can assure you that there are worse people out there who would eat you alive."

My lips part with surprise as I just gaze at him, wondering why he has resorted to threatening me, "I'm not afraid of them."

"Maybe you should be." He corrects me coldly, folding his arms across his chest, "If you keep this up, I'm not going to be able to protect you… So please shut up and listen to me for once."

How about he shuts up?

I just turn away, "Do whatever you want, Mateo, because that's what you are going to do. I might want you as my mate, but I doubt you're ever going to feel the same way because I do not live up to your standards and that is okay. I know I'm not going to be perfect and I'm fine with that. I just hope you realize what is coming your way."

"Are you threatening me?" He snaps, moving closer and I see the fire brewing in his eyes, "You have no idea what I am capable of, Addison, what I could do to your family if I wish to. The hatred towards the Royals and what they have done is unimaginable and I am keeping EVERYONE who wants to harm you away. I think you should thank me."

I should want to thank him, but I bite my tongue and hold myself back because how can I allow him to treat me this way. I understand how he is feeling and how he might be a little upset about the situation, but he doesn't need to take it out on me. He might have gotten frustrated with waiting for me on this because he ended up storming out of the cell and slamming it shut behind him, cursing as he did so.

I don't think he's going to be talking to me for a while.