All Chapters of The Beta's Daughter: Chapter 101 - Chapter 110

“Arienne–“ Samyak said, his tone startled. His eyes no longer looked black; now they were a bright, translucent brown, like a crisp, autumnal leaf held up to the sun.  “Why didn’t you want me to take this book, Samyak?” I asked. My own voice was devoid of emotion, and I could hear a sharp inflection to each word that I had not intended to use. He looked as though he’d been slapped. Outside, the sky began to darken with thick, oppressive clouds. “I – I don’t mind. I just didn’t think you’d want it,” he stammered. “That’s why I put it down.” “Okay,” I said, my eyes narrowed. I clutched the book close to my chest, and looked away from him, my nose and chin hoisted into the air.  “Ari…” he trailed off. From the corner of my eye I saw him exhale heav

I found myself thinking about everything but the notes in front of me as we drove to the meeting point. I missed my truck; Samyak’s car was too sleek, too comfortable. I realised that made no sense, but I stuck my nose into the air as I thought it. Yes, his car was too comfortable. I settled myself back on the too-comfortable seat and stared resolutely out the window. The trees were thick with orange leaves, save for the evergreens rocking gently in the light breeze behind them. The curved edge of the road was littered with a myriad of brightly coloured leaves, in bold reds, ochre yellows, and wilted browns, that had been discarded by the gnarled branches above. Some of them looked damp and crumpled, sodden where they had been trampled into the tarmac. Samyak had not spoken a word to me all morning. There was an uncomfortable tension in the air, and it existed within our mate bond, too. I was not used to feeling nothing from h

Despite my fear, I stuck my chin out as far as I could. “I have already given you information which you did not previously possess. Agree to my truce, Gedeon.” He sneered down at me, the curiosity of his dark blue eyes undercut by his arrogance and building fury. The forest seemed to grow behind him, arching up and over my head. I felt small, incompetent.  Then I had an idea. I did not want anyone to possess such otherworldly magick, such raw, heady power. But I needed him to agree to my terms, and we were stronger united. I had to hope that Gedeon would see that. “They – they control how much power they give you.” It was a guess, but I held my resolve as I stared into his eyes. Power seemed to be the only way to get through to him, and as his eyes crinkled I felt a smug sense of satisfaction. I’d guessed correctly. “Yes,” he p

Samyak was waiting for me anxiously as I approached the car. He leapt out of his seat and jogged over to me, relief making his bottom lip quiver. The cold vial of serum I clutched in my hand burned, as though it was liquid fire rather than an ordinary plastic syringe.  “Thank the Goddess,” he murmured, and then I was wrapped in his arms. His warmth encompassed me, and golden light flooded from his soul into mine. Our argument – if it could even be called that – was forgotten, for now at least. I buried my head against his chest, and felt a sob latch itself onto my throat. His soothing hands were in my hair, on my face, and then suddenly the anger was back. It rose up like a flame, scorching my skin as I pushed against his chest. The syringe was still latched in my hand, and I curled my fingers into a fist around it. My knuckles pressed into his pectorals, and his lips parted mournfully. &ldqu

Alpha Felix’s office felt smaller and more crowded than usual. We were tightly packed within the space. Outside, the pale grey clouds outside loomed. I felt as though they were pressed up close against the glass of the windows, as squashed together out there as we were in here.Of course, there were no more people present than normal. There were, in fact, less. Upon our return, Samyak and I had been called upstairs to discuss the events of the morning’s meeting with Alpha Felix and Luna Carla. Though there were only four of us present, the walls closed in on us as I spoke, slowly pressing the air out of the room.My head throbbed, and though I knew it had not been cut, I could feel the phantom blood creeping down the back of my neck. Its trickle made my shoulder blades squeeze together unconsciously, giving me the appearance of being compressed, and even smaller in stature than I usually looked.Samyak’s nervous energy bounding through the mate bond was not helping matters. I could fee