Dark Fates: Mated to my Ex's Uncle

Chapter 3

REISLYN

His question stumped me and I struggled to answer quickly.

“W-well,” I began to think. “I know you’re Elijah Corbyn. You probably don’t have a need for me anyway, do you?”

Even as I said that my heart skipped a beat as I watched his eyes narrow onto me.

I shouldn’t have blurted that out so quickly.

How could I explain how I knew who he was without him telling me?

He let out a low hum, almost sounding like a growl. I flinched.

“Oh? And how did you figure that out?” He began to do the cuffs of his shirt and I found that action really bloody attractive.

Come on, universe, I thought with a groan.

Can I get a break here?

How was I going to let him know that I had dated Jeremy Corbyn, his own nephew? Even though he wasn’t close to the main Corbyn family, he certainly would be able to see how weird that was, right?

“Because… Well, because… I saw your picture… somewhere on the internet…” l trailed off, swallowing audibly as he glanced at me again.

I needed to get dressed. At the very least, to preserve my dignity when I inevitably got him to kick me out in disgrace.

“Look, can I just…” I mimed getting dressed to him and he c****d a brow at me in response before nodding a moment later.

“We have a lot to discuss,” his words were foreboding. “And you will join me for breakfast of course, Reislyn.”

The way his silky-smooth baritone pronounced my name gave me a strange fluttering feeling in my gut.

How could that be?

Was I coming down with something?

It was only when I was left alone by Elijah that I heaved a sigh of relief, cursing my fates for putting me in the paths of the Corbyns again.

“What did I do to earn your ire?” I asked out loud, knowing I wouldn’t get an answer as I tugged on the minidress that Ashley had gifted me a couple of moons ago.

Suddenly my phone rang.

I grabbed it like a lifeline, seeing ‘Ashley babe’ displayed as the caller ID.

“Ashley? I need your help,” my voice cracked, panicked.

“Where are you, Reislyn? I’m at your door,” she demanded, concern thick in her words.

“I… I’m screwed, Ashley. I’m at Elijah Corbyn’s house right now.”

She fell silent, and a best passed.

Then, like an avalanche, her voice came in a high-pitched yell.

“What are you doing?! At Elijah Corbyn’s home? The incubi?!”

“Yes, Ashley,” shame colored my voice as I lowered my voice. “That same Elijah Corbyn. My ex’s uncle Elijah Corbyn.”

“Tell me this is a damn joke!”

I wondered if she felt like hitting me for my stupid decisions because I did.

“I know,” I tried to calm her down. “I know, trust me. This is terrible. But… he’s…”

How could I articulate the words he had stated? Mate? That he wasn’t letting me go?

Ashley’s voice was firm as she spoke,

“Don’t tell me. Just…”

She sighed. “Come home, and we can talk this out. You’re okay right?”

I answered in the affirmative.

“Good, or I’d have Zayn take me there to beat that guy up.”

Her words startled a small, weak chuckle out of me. A more rational part of me wanted to remind her that as the soon-to-be-wife of the head of the Witches council, she couldn’t be biased and cause a war between Witches and Shifters in the process.

As a witch I had broken the rules that guided the tenuous peace between our kinds more than once, engaging in inter-species relationships with the vigour of a rebellious youth. Now I only thought back to it with pain and cynicism.

Suddenly I felt a lot calmer, even though she had no idea just how screwed I was. It was enough that she was there, in my corner.

After hastily saying goodbye, I hung up the call, and rushed to the door.

I took a step out of the room, hyper aware of my surroundings. It was the first time being in Elijah Corbyn’s home after all.

True to form, his wealth wasn’t a joke. I eyed the row of chandeliers down the long hallway that stretched up until a corner.

I saw the window right by that corner, a chance for me to flee—

“Lost?”

Oh heavens!

I gasped and grasped my chest with my hand, feeling it race as I heard Elijah’s voice right behind me. How had I not noticed him?

Jerking back, my back collided with something hard, which I found was his chest after whipping around so quickly I nearly bowled him over.

But he then pushed me away, making me lean on the wall to balance myself.

“Oh! Um… I was j-just admiring the decor!” I tried to sound normal but it was dang difficult when his eyes were so… intense.

“Hmm,” his voice rumbled in a growl as he folded his arms across his chest, making his already impressive biceps larger, close to bursting through his shirt.

Delicious.

I swallowed audibly, trying to listen to his words.

“You do like to take your time don’t you, Reislyn? Breakfast was meant to start a while ago. I don’t like being kept waiting. Unless you’re thinking of running away?”

“T-That’s ridiculous!” I laughed nervously. “Why would I run away? I’m not a criminal. And I haven’t done anything wrong…”

Realization struck me just then how tall he was. We were chest to chest, and yet I had to tilt my head up to look into his eyes.

“Good. You wouldn’t get very far either way.”

I swore inwardly.

“Look… about this mate thing,” I stammered while trying to take a step back. “You don’t have to take it so seriously. I don’t want this, and I’m sure you can find a better person. All you need to do is reject me, and we both go our separate ways. Cool?”

He froze, and a beat passed. I could hear my heart hammering through my throat as he pinned his gaze only again. This time, he looked like he was ready to tear me apart.

“Reject you?” He sounded so calm, but underneath his words a storm was brewing. “Where did you hear that?”

I felt like I had stepped out of a hot pan and into the fire. Had I said something wrong?

But Elijah’s question unlocked something inside me. Unbidden, a memory came to mind, words that I wished I could forget.

‘You don’t have to worry about me finding someone else, Lyn.’ Jeremy’s words were assuring, tinged with the excitement of youth and romance. ‘Even if it’s my own mate, I would rather reject them than let you go. I love you too much to ever let you go, okay?’

Of course, I had heard it from Jeremy. My ex. His nephew.

But how could I say that now?