Mated to the Mad Lord-Chapter 148: Fiona’s Fate

"You seem interested!" Gina pointed out to Fiona, her sharp tone cutting through the music and chatter of the club. Fiona held her drink in her hand, her fingers absently tracing the rim of the glass, but her eyes were unmistakably focused on him. Her gaze lingered on the man seated across the room, his presence commanding without even trying.

"He looks good, doesn’t he?" Gina continued, her voice tinged with envy as she followed Fiona’s line of sight. "It’s already a shock that he chose this exact bar to be in!" She sighed in a dreamy tone, her lips curving into a small, wistful smile as her own eyes fixated on him.

Marina, seated just beside Gina, nodded her head vigorously, her curls bouncing as she kept sneaking quick, hopeful peeks toward the table where Lord William sat. His imposing figure was clad in an impeccably tailored black suit, his light brown eyes distant but sharp. The two men seated beside him spoke in hushed tones, their demeanor deferential. William’s attention, however, appeared to be elsewhere, his face unreadable as he swirled the liquid in his glass.

Fiona had just internally decided to ignore him and everything about him. As long as he himself hadn’t already noticed they were mates, there was no reason to acknowledge him. But as she resolved to dismiss the thought, she suddenly noticed the subtle shift in his posture. He jerked ever so slightly, his gaze lifting with precision to fix right on her. Fiona’s breath caught in her throat. His light brown eyes locked onto hers with an unsettling familiarity before he glanced away, a ghost of a smirk tugging at his lips.

"OH MY GOD! He looked at me!" Marina gasped, her face lighting up with visible shock as she clasped her hands together. Her excitement was palpable, her cheeks flushing as her gaze darted between Fiona and the man in question.

"...Are you blind? It was definitely me!" Gina snapped at Marina, her voice rising in agitation. Her sharp features twisted into a scowl, and her eyes gleamed with frustration. Marina stiffened, her smile turning frigid as her nails dug into the edge of the table.

"You drank too much! You need to sober up!" Marina hissed back, her annoyance barely concealed as she glared at Gina who was trying to make herself feel better by thinking such a man would ever look twice in her direction.

But Gina wasn’t also willing to back down as she glared back, "I could be twice as drunk and my eyesight would still be twice as good!" she snapped even as the tension between them increased as it became obvious that they were on the brink of breaking out into a fight.

Fiona remained silent, her expression calm but her mind whirling. She took another slow sip of her drink, savoring the burn of the liquor as it slid down her throat. ’He was definitely looking at me,’ she thought, a mixture of irritation and apprehension swirling in her chest.

Setting her drink down, she exhaled and straightened her back, smoothing out her dress and adjusting the shawl draped across her shoulders. Her arm no longer ached, but it was still stiff, a lingering reminder of earlier events.

"Give me a second," she told them, her tone clipped. Marina and Gina both froze, their mouths hanging open in disbelief.

"You’re not going over there, are you?" Marina asked, her voice tinged with a mix of awe and disbelief. Fiona ignored her, the corners of her lips twitching into a sardonic smile. She didn’t care for their opinions. Gina, however, wasn’t as composed.

"Just because your father also supports Lord William doesn’t mean you can have him!" Gina barked, her words laced with envy. Her eyes burned with resentment as Fiona turned on her heel, not bothering to dignify her outburst with a response. Her resolve hardened as she made her way across the room, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor.

The closer Fiona got, the more she expected his bodyguards to intercept her, but to her surprise, they parted like a well-rehearsed dance. Their movements were fluid, practiced, as if they had been anticipating her arrival. Fiona’s suspicion deepened. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

The two men who had been seated in front of Lord William rose from their chairs and bowed before stepping aside, their expressions unreadable. Lord William himself stood, his towering frame casting a shadow over her. His light brown eyes held a glimmer of amusement as he gestured toward the seat opposite him.

"I figured it wouldn’t take long for us to have a proper conversation," he said, his voice smooth and calm. His smile was disarming, but Fiona’s unease only grew.

She narrowed her eyes, annoyed by his composure. "There was no way you could have known I would come here today," she snapped, her voice laced with irritation. She crossed her arms, the movement stiff thanks to her healing limb. His smile widened ever so slightly, his gaze never leaving hers as he leaned back into his chair.

"I’ve been coming here for a while," he admitted, swirling his drink lazily. "I planned to be here tomorrow evening, just in case." His nonchalant tone only fueled Fiona’s irritation. She moved to stand, ready to end the conversation before it escalated further.

"I don’t know why you wanted to see me," she said, her voice cutting, "but I’ll still reject you before I leave here today." She forced the words out, knowing full well what they meant. Rejecting him would weaken her, but she was no stranger to sacrifice.

Lord William’s smile faltered for the briefest of moments before he composed himself. "Hmm," he hummed thoughtfully, his fingers tapping against the rim of his glass. "I was more surprised to find out that you were my mate. My first thought was to kill you," he said, his tone calm but carrying an undercurrent of danger.

Fiona froze, her breath hitching at his words. "Ki-kill me?" she stammered, a nervous smirk spreading across her lips. She leaned back in her chair, her golden eyes narrowing as she studied him. He was undeniably handsome, but his beauty was a deceptive mask for the predator beneath. His muscled frame and measured movements spoke of someone who could kill effortlessly.

"You couldn’t even if you wanted to," she finally said, her voice steady. "My father would have your head. Moreover, I don’t recall doing anything to you!"

Lord William chuckled softly, pouring himself another drink. He gestured for a server to bring a fresh glass, which he placed in front of her. He filled it to the brim before taking a long sip from his own cup. Fiona hesitated, watching him intently before taking a tentative sip from her glass.

"Yes, but shouldn’t the punishment of the father be given to that of the child?" he asked, his gaze piercing. "Did you think I willingly joined your father because it was something I wanted to do?"

Fiona’s brows furrowed in confusion. "Why did you?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine curiosity.

Lord William took another sip, his expression darkening. "Because he poisoned me," he said flatly. "And only your father has the cure."

Fiona’s eyes widened in shock. The revelation hit her like a physical blow, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words.

"Whatever you have with my father is your business!" she snapped, pushing herself to her feet. "I just came here to reject you!" She opened her mouth to utter the words that would sever their bond, but before she could speak, a piercing scream shattered the air.

She turned sharply, her heart pounding as she saw Marina, seated at their table, her head thrown back and her hands clutching her neck. Blood spilled through her fingers as her throat gaped open, her gasps growing weaker.

Gina fared no better. She fought her attackers with desperation, but one plunged a blade through her chest. Blood spattered as the knife twisted, silencing her struggles.

Fiona’s breath hitched. Chaos erupted around her as assailants moved from table to table, slaughtering the werewolves with brutal efficiency. Tables overturned, glass shattered, and panicked screams filled the air.

"Wha—the!" Fiona swore, stumbling back in horror. A muscled hand shot out, gripping her throat and lifting her off her feet. She clawed at the iron grip, but her strength was no match.

"We can’t have witnesses now, can we?" Lord William’s voice was calm, even as his hand tightened around her neck. Fiona’s vision blurred with fury and fear.

"You—you’ll pay for this!" she managed to grit out, her voice choked with rage, ignoring whatever feelings the bond within her stirred when it became obvious the kind of person she was dealing with She struggled with all her might, but her injured arm hung uselessly at her side.

William’s smile widened, his light-brown eyes glinting with dark amusement. He turned her toward the carnage unfolding in the bar.

"Me? I’ve already paid the price... I’m just here to collect," he whispered, his breath hot against her ear. Fiona’s heart pounded as she realized the goddess’s cruel sense of humor—binding her to a mate who wanted to kill her. ’...not if I kill him first!’ refusing to die by anyone’s hands but her own.