Choosing Theo: The Clecanian Series Book 1 Victoria Aveline (the giving tree read aloud TXT) 📖

take her advice. He stripped down to his underclothes and began to run barefoot through the forest. Pumping his arms and legs as fast as he could.

He had no idea how far he’d run before his legs gave out under him.

***

What the hell had gotten into him? After leaving Theo, Jade retreated to her room, making sure not to run in case he lost control.

She’d never seen him like that before, and it scared her. He’d been livid. Overcome with rage. For a moment, she’d thought he was going to ignore her objections and take her right there in front of the house. She shivered. Jade knew he’d barely stopped himself from doing just that.

She could understand him being angry. Hell, she’d been pissed just talking to a woman who’d slept with him in the past, but his reaction was extreme.

Cebo sat alert at her feet. He could sense something was wrong. The hound hadn’t settled since she’d come through the door.

He couldn’t have meant the things he’d said. He wouldn’t actually lock her away. Would he? Her heart broke, because she knew if he tried to do that, she’d have to leave him.

Something had happened to him tonight, but it was an isolated incident. She argued to herself that his reaction was made worse by his bad mood leading up to The Gathering and the inappropriate behavior of that asshole, Xoris.

She crossed to the window, peering out into the black night, searching for him. He’d set off running about an hour ago, and she had no idea when he would be back.

Jade was sure that when he finally did come back, his mind would be clear and he’d beg her forgiveness. But could she forgive that outburst? Logically, she knew his anger tonight was an extreme red flag, and she felt pathetic for wanting to stay with him anyway. The truth was she loved him.

She heard the front door open and close. Glancing to the bedroom door, Jade waited for Theo to enter with his head hung low.

Her body tensed when Cebo began to growl savagely. She took a few steps away. The door swung open, and standing before her with a cruel smile was Nedas, the burly guard who’d watched her those first few days.

Cebo snarled viciously at Nedas and lunged. Jade’s scream caught in her throat as Nedas grabbed Cebo by the scruff and threw him hard against the wall.

She looked on in horror at Cebo’s limp body. Nedas cackled and then lunged for her. She dodged him, shrieking and bolting for the door. Within seconds, his hand was over her mouth and his arm was wrapped around her arms and waist like a metal band. He lifted her and began carrying her out of the house.

She kicked and jerked in his arms, but he barely reacted, hefting her body easily.

Jade screamed into his hand and he squeezed her ribs hard, stealing the breath from her lungs. When she saw a dark floating vehicle just ahead, she began thrashing. If he got her in there and took her away, Theo would never find her.

Nedas shoved her roughly into the cab of the vehicle, and she let out a blood-curdling shriek just as the door closed.

He backhanded her across the face. “Shut up! The walls are soundproof, and I don’t want to hear your screaming the whole way.”

Her vision went black for a moment and she almost passed out. She struggled to sit upright in her seat. “Why are you doing this?”

Nedas sat back and watched her try and fail to remain vertical. “I’m under orders.”

“From who? To do what?” The side of her face throbbed and she clutched it tightly.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

Managing to peer at him with both eyes, she pleaded, “Just let me go. You don’t have to do this.”

He smiled deviously at her. “Are you going to ask me to let you go nicely this time?”

She could almost feel his slimy gaze roam over her. She scowled at him.

“That’s what I thought.” He chuckled. “It wouldn’t change my mind even if you did. The boss says he’ll give me a turn with you when he’s finished anyway.”

Jade spat, “You’re disgusting.”

Nedas’ smile faded and, in a tone, dripping with venom, he said, “If I were you, I’d be a little nicer to me. How you treat me now is directly related to how I’m going to treat you later.” His grin returned. “You think I’m bad? I’m nothing compared to Xoris.”

Chapter 34

By the time Theo made his way back to the driveway of his house, he was wracked with guilt. All the anger he’d felt earlier was still present but as he’d run himself to exhaustion, other details from the night had returned to him. When Xoris had reached for her initially, she’d pulled away.

Pacing in front of his door, Theo tried to figure out how he was going to apologize to Jade. His chest felt like it was going to rip apart, but he knew what he had to do.

He swore loudly when a vehicle almost barreled into him. Zikas and Asivva rushed out of the vehicle without noticing him and were on their way to his door when he yelled, “You need to be more careful with those things. You almost hit me!”

As they turned to look at him, their faces lit up and they shared excited glances with one another. “We need to speak with you immediately,” Zikas said.

“Can it wait? I’ve had a rough night,” Theo mumbled glancing at Jade’s illuminated window.

Better go and get this over with. Tonight, he’d gone too far. He’d threatened to lock her away, and in the moment, he’d meant it. Something was happening to him, and Jade didn’t deserve to be a victim of his unexplainable mood swings. He had to leave her. He didn’t know how he’d stay away, but somehow, he would.

“Asivva, look!” Zikas said pointing up at Theo. “They’re changed even now.”

Asivva stepped in front of him, blocking his way.