Chapter 165


    Chapter 165 – Kindred Spirits


    3rd Person


    When Cora walked into the pce’s opulent dining room, she expected to find the table packed with


    people. Ever since they’d arrived in Vanara, Gabriel had been entertaining different statesmen and


    potential allies for the war, in addition to their own party. However this night the dining room was almost


    entirely empty. Not only were Gabriel and his coterie of powerful friends absent, but so were E,


    Sinir and Henry. Only Roger sat at the long, shining table, a ss of amber liquid in his hand.


    “Where is everyone?” Cora asked, standing frozen in the doorway.


    “The King had a prior engagement – some charity g for the hospital.” Roger answered, not looking


    the least bit surprised to see the lovely human. “Dad was exhausted and decided to take supper in his


    rooms, but I don’t have any idea about Dom and E.”


    “Oh.” Cora replied simply, relieved by the thought that her sister would probably arrive any moment.


    After he’d badgered her with personal questions on their excursion into the capital, thest thing Cora


    wanted was to be alone with Roger all evening long. She didn’t like the way he looked at her, the way


    his eyes darkened and his attention lingered with unnerving focus. He made her feel as if she were a


    particrly scrumptious rabbit bound for his hungry wolf belly, but only after he’d chased and taunted


    her to exhaustion.


    She gingerly crossed to the table, painfully aware of the way his eyes followed her every move. She sat


    down and made a show of spreading her napkin over herp, refusing to look at the wolf seated across


    from her.” So, how was your day?” She asked, striving for some semnce of small talk to kill the time.


    When Roger didn’t respond, Cora finally dragged her eyes from her empty te to look up at him.


    When her gaze finally reached his face, he offered her a knowing smirk. “Oh, so you can look at me.”


    He teased, “I was beginning to worry.”


    She narrowed her eyes, not caring for being called out when she was only responding to his behavior.


    Still, not one for confrontations, she muttered a sulky, “sorry.”


    “Are you?” Roger inquired slyly, “because you look annoyed.”


    “I’m trying to be polite.” Cora replied, forcing the words out through gritted teeth. She nced to the


    door for the dozenth time, willing E and Sinir to appear and rescue her.


    “Why?” Roger asked, shing his fangs. “I hope not for my sake – I’d much rather have your honesty


    than some fake nicety.”


    Cora wasn’t sure what to do. Unlike her sister, she had never been the sort to offer up her opinions to


    people whose reactions she could not predict. She didn’t mind sharingints or venting with E,


    who she knew would always love her unconditionally, but this man was another matter entirely. It


    wasn’t that she was afraid of him per se, but she certainly couldn’t foresee how he would respond to


    her criticism – and that was a dangerous thing, especially knowing how violent some men could be


    when challenged.


    Roger watched the emotions flitting across Cora’s face, listening to the way her heart pounded and


    raced. He recalled her words about E respressing her feelings and trying to do everything on her


    own, and it struck him that while their struggles might be different, Cora was far from unscathed by their


    difficult upbringing. He decided to give her a push.” Come on, what’s the worst that could happen?” He


    purred, his wolf sitting up at attention, curious and eager for her response. Roger mentally shook his


    head, why was his inner animal so fascinated by the woman?


    Cora’s eyes widened, and her cinnamon skin nched slightly. Btedly Roger realized this might


    have been the wrong question to ask – knowing what the human orphanages were like, it wouldn’t


    surprise him if honesty was sometimes met with terrible things. Luckily Cora recovered rather quickly.


    She crossed her arms over her chest, unintentionally pressing her breasts together, and notched her


    pert chin upward. “You know, I think you’re trying to provoke me. Politeness is a perfectly normal


    default among people who don’t know each other very well.”


    “We’re hardly strangers, Cora.” Roger replied easily, his wolf shing in his eyes. “We’re practically


    family – inws for all intents and purposes. If you can’t be honest with family, then who?”


    “My family is E.” Cora answered stubbornly, flipping her raven curls over her shoulder. She couldn’t


    believe the gall of the man, he betrayed his father and brother but somehow he saw fit to lecture her


    about family?


    Besides, she doubted he even believed his own words, the way he’d been looking at hertely was far


    from brotherly.


    Roger arched his brow, “And she’s all you’ve ever needed, hmm? You’ve never wanted more?”


    Cora was beside herself. Why was it that everytime they were alone together, Roger seemed intent on


    interrogating her deep personal feelings? “Why do you keep asking me these things?” She eximed,


    staring at herp. “I’m just trying to mind my own business here, so why won’t you let me?”


    “Because I want to know you.” Roger shrugged, ducking his head to try and catch her eye, but failing.


    “Is that so wrong?”


    “But why?” Cora repeated in exasperation, peering up at him atst. ‘What interest could you possibly


    have in me?”


    Roger sat back in his chair, assessing the disgruntled human with cool detachment. “Why shouldn’t I?


    Because you’re human, or because you don’t think you have anything to offer?”


    Cora flushed, “I didn’t say that… and you didn’t answer my question.” Roger’s lips unfurled into a lethal


    smile, and suddenly Cora realized that she might not actually want to hear his answer. “I find you


    fascinating, Cora.” He confessed, noting the way her heart skipped a beat. “I see a kindred spirit in you.


    I see someone whonded in many of the same circumstances I did, but rather than letting them define


    you or pollute your heart, you found a way to turn them into strengths and make your own way in the


    world. I admire that… I want to know how you managed it.” He paused, eyeing her “Not to mention


    you’re beautiful and clever, and cute as a damn button.”


    Cora fought the urge to scoff. ‘You don’t know me as well as you think you do.”


    “So correct me.” Roger invited, leaning forward in his seat. Now that he’d captured Cora’s gaze, he was


    determined not to break it, hoping his wolf’s power mightpel her to open up.


    She shook her head, emitting a small huff of disbelief. “I didn’t make my own way in the world, and as


    much as I’d like to say otherwise, my rtionship with my sister defined me every bit as much as yours


    did with Dominic. I got where I am in my career because E shielded me from things that would have


    destroyed me and gave me the space to find my own ambitions, the freedom to dedicate myself to my


    school work without any ghosts hanging over my head.” Cora’s mouth ttened into a hard line. “I stood


    on her shoulders my entire childhood and I show my gratitude by ming her. She saved my life by


    bringing me here, but all I can think about is the fact that the life I built in Moon Valley has been taken


    away, probably forever.”


    She looked away for a moment, but Roger waited patiently, sensing she wasn’t finished. “And if


    anything proves just how fucked in the head I am, it’s that I can’t even take apliment. Because


    while you might tell me I’m clever and beautiful, all I can think is that I’ll never be as clever and beautiful


    as she is… plus now she’s an actual mythical creature – how the hell am I ever supposed to stack up?”


    Roger didn’t smile this time, he didn’t tease or try to refute her logic. He simply said, “I know exactly


    how you feel.”


    Cora blinked in surprise, feeling a strange sense of disappointment. “Well there you go. Mystery


    solved… nothing to admire here.” She tried to feign augh, but it came out sounding hollow.


    “I didn’t say that.” Roger countered sharply. “The way I see it, there’s even more to admire than before.


    And you better believe I’m going to keep doing it.”


    Cora’s eyes widened, “But… I thought…”


    Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    “I know what you thought.” Roger assures her, “you thought your honesty would dissuade me, in fact


    you hoped it would. Unfortunately for you, now I want you more than ever.”


    Cora visibly bristled, “want me?”


    Roger cocked his head to the side, “I’m sorry, didn’t I make that clear?” He rose to his feet, his dark


    gaze raking over Cora’s form, “I’m not interested you as a friend or confidant, and certainly not as a


    sister-inw. I’m interested in you as a lover.”


    “But I’m human.” Cora objected, so shocked her jaw actually dropped.


    Roger rounded the table until he was standing over her. He took her chin between his thumb and


    forefinger and gently closed her mouth, feeling a zing of electricity pulse through his fingertips. “And I’m


    still an Alpha, even if I don’t run a pack. It’s in my nature to go after what I want with every fiber of my


    being, whether it makes sense or not.”


    “What exactly are you saying?” Cora gulped, butterflies exploding in her tummy. She couldn’t


    remember ever feeling so aware of another being, or so electrified by a single touch. She’d always


    found Roger handsome, but she hadn’t imagined he would be able to turn her into a puddle with so


    little effort.


    “I’m saying that if you want to push me away you can go ahead and try, but one way or another, I’m


    going to win you in the end, Cora.” Roger dered huskily, “So what will it be? Do you want to


    surrender now? Or do you want to keep pretending like you don’t feel this thing between us?”