Chapter 14:

〰 Proximo 〰

"My dear. What are you doing out here?" That son of a bitch, Claus, walks up to where we are as Hrudra jumped off the ground and stood in between us. He was wearing a classy suit, his dark eyes glancing over at me with curiosity and what seemed to be anger.

"What are you doing out here, Claus?" She throws back in a calm manner. Her hands were crossed behind her back in a relaxed manner making Claus look at her with a softer gaze than the one he gave me.

"I was growing worried when you never returned. Plus Valrun, the woman from the phone, had called back to tell me not to expect you back any time soon. My apologies, I didn't realize you had the situation under control." He nods to me causing me to growl under my breath, hating how comfortable they were with each other.

She chuckled softly, looking back at me with a mischevious glint in her eyes before glancing back at Claus. My blood boiled at her loose mood and body movements, she's never been so calm with me.

What made us different?!

"Him? No. This is a kink of ours." Hrudra waved away making us look at her with gaping mouths. "I was tied up a little while ago. Not sure why the demon general likes this kind of foreplay. But I don't mind experimenting." She turned to me, giving me a small wink when I blushed and looked away.

All the anger within me rushed away from me when she told the man, who was clearly interested in her, that we were doing sexual acts. The thought of him seeing it almost pleased and disturbed me at the same time.

"Oh... Then am I disturbing you both?" Claus asks, suddenly embarrassed and not looking either of us in the eye.

"I'm afraid so, my mafia. I will contact you once I reach my destination. Thank you for everything you've done." She bowed her head in respect before he nodded and scurried away.

We watched him leave us along with his men as she turned to me with a taunting smile. I shook my head with a smile of my own, just enjoying to see her showing me something other than sadness and anger.

Valrun was right. Hrudra liked being in complete control and keeping her prey tied up. At first, I was skeptical thinking she would torture me worse than I've ever felt in my entire life. Though the thought of having her near me and just soaking in her scent meant more than the world to me.

Hrudra has truly shocked me.

She didn't hurt me, even letting me breathe normally and speak to me as if nothing happened. There were still so many things I wanted to say, to confess, but Valrun had warned me not to put so much on her shoulders.

Valrun told me to let her come to me and to ask her questions that she knew for sure about. She had told me Hrudra was still unsure about the mate bond and I didn't blame her.

Her parents had hated one another and were sentenced to death due to their own doings. That probably makes Hrudra think she was the core reason for their end.

"What are you thinking of, demon?" Hrudra asks curiously, sitting on the ground once again and leaning forward on her hands.

"I was thinking of when you will finally call me by my name. Unless you wish to call me Demon, Valkyrie." I ask her as she chuckled.

"Do you want me to call you by demon or Proximo? Either one will okay for me." She answers truthfully standing up and walking towards me. I watched her, curious about what she was going to do but I kept my eyes stuck on hers.

"I want you to call me by name," I said as she brushed her hand across my jaw. The softness from her fingers caused me to relax enough to close my eyes, savoring the feeling of her hands on me.

"Then I am sorry." The warmth from her hand disappeared as if she burned her palm. I snapped my eyes as she backed away and kneeled to the small toolbox on the ground.

"Hrudra... Wha-"

"I've thought a lot about the past few hours." She slowly says, standing up and holding something in her hands. "I've come to a conclusion," Hrudra admits while peeking up at me under her eyelashes.

The way she was looking at me hurt me, but at the same time, I couldn't pinpoint whether the conclusion will be good or bad.

"I can not be with you." She smiles softly and wrapped her arms around her. "Your words and actions have destroyed my pride, my identity, and everything I've built in the last few millenniums." Her words drowned away as she refused to look at me, my throat had tightened impossibly while wiping her lip softly.

"Hrudra... Please, don't throw us away so quickly. I know I've been horrible but please. Please don't do this." I plead, ready to tear through my binds to keep her with me. She couldn't leave until I convinced her of my apologies.

"Sorry, Demon. This is farewell." She leaned down, pressing her lips against mine. The kiss was sweet yet it was a horrible feeling to know that she was going to leave, I need to get out of these ropes.

Her hands held the sides of my face, forcing the kiss to grow deeper for a moment before she pulled away and stepped away. Her silver eyes were watching me closely before smiling evilly.

"Enjoy the poison, Demon. Do not come find me." As she walked away, I felt my blood burn within me while I felt myself growing dizzy. Her figure slowly faded with the sunlight before I closed my eyes.

The poison within my system forced not only my anger but my muscles to fall asleep. As my mind drifted farther away, I promised with all my existence that I would find her no matter what.

〰 Hrudra 〰

"I left a present for you Valrun," I told her over the phone, strapping on a tight belt around my stomach with the phone pressed in between my shoulder and ear.

"You better have left me that lovely yellow sports car." She says in a mocking tone making me smile and clip the belt on. I grasped the phone in my palm and walked over to the bathroom, noticing Claus in his office and speaking with a few men that were sitting in front of the desk.

He noticed me halfway through speaking, giving a small nod to me before I waved and continued walking towards the kitchen.

"Sorry dear, I will be returning that car to my mafia. I left you a certain demon that is human for now." I saw an apple on the counter with several other fruits, almost tempted to try a bite but knowing that I did not need to have anything to eat. Shrugging, I grabbed the apple and began tossing the apple in the air.

"You poisoned him!" She shrieked loud enough for the guards in the office to peak out and look at me with curiosity. I mouthed an apology before turning away and walked into the dining room.

"Technically, I poisoned myself and kissed him," I answered, hearing her growl and something slammed on her side of the line.

"Stop being a smartass for once! That man tied himself up so you can get your anger out and you-"

"Valrun." I stopped her in a calm demeanor, knowing she didn't understand the situation that well. "Before he came along, I was emotionless and sane. When I met him, everything I kept within came out in waves. I felt sorrow, horror, and pain. You don't understand because you have never had someone bring out su-"

"Don't you dare! My beloved died on the battlefield! I felt much more-"

"I won't argue with you. You've yet to meet your mate, so don't try to understand me and my decision." I tell her calmly, feeling her fuming on the other side of the call.

"I will find you. I am going to help Proximo get to you." She promises me when I chuckled and placed the apple on the table.

"I will await you both then." I pulled away, ending the call not allowing her to figure out where I was. Though she knew where I was, I needed to get ahead start and head to my next job.

I had no time to sit around anymore.

"My dear. You're leaving, aren't you?" Claus asks me holding two cups of coffee when I smiled and took the cup he offered to me.

"I'm afraid so, my mafia. I have some unfinished business and then I have some more jobs to do." I admit to him with a small sigh.

"I will miss you, dear. However, I hope you can rest a little bit until you leave. It may be the last time you rest without worry in a long time." Claus tells me as I nodded and sipped on the creamy coffee.

"You're right. I should stay until tonight. Then I'll rest for now." I placed the cup down and reached over to grasp his arm. "Thank you for everything, Claus. I really appreciate it." He smiled sweetly, despite the fact that he was mafia.

"You're welcome, Hrudra. I know it is hard to live this life. Having allies is something everyone needs." He confesses, completely understanding me before I nod and patted his arm.

"I will go rest then. See you later." With that said, I left the dining room and went towards the guest room I'd been staying in. Once the door was closed, I slumped against the door and pressed my head against the door.

I couldn't get the look of betrayal and hurt on his face. That wasn't even considering how the poison was affecting him, I wasn't going to lie. I felt horrible about what I'd done however I needed to distance myself not only from him but from everything he promised.

He promised a lovely life, emotions, things I never wanted, and even caused my memories to resurface. How could I, Hrudra the cold beast, stay with him when he's going to tear down the fear I instilled in those I've encountered?

I told him that I'd torture him the whole time he was with me, yet I felt that I had tortured myself. We've been gone from Kho and her mate for nearly three weeks and I've been poisoned, bitten, killed, buried, encountered Mira and so much more that had yet to come.

All I know was that I had to continue with what I was doing, I was more than capable to take on jobs by myself despite loving being with a group. Valrun was joining and helping Proximo heal and get to me.

Though I didn't like her speaking against me, I couldn't blame her for acting in such a way. She lost someone dear to her and she's trying to get us together, yet I wished that she didn't get involved with us.

However, I will forgive her and continue on my own until she stops this retaliation against me and my single life. It's the only thing I could do without going crazy.

Focusing back into my surroundings, I stood up before shuffling over to the bed and dropping down on it. I closed my eyes, feeling like sleeping for days but knowing I couldn't without being found.

I will leave in a few hours after some sleep and a shower. Then, I will start my battle with not only the demon and Valrun but with myself.