Chapter 6: Rebekah smiled sweetly at Eerikki,

"I was on the mainland," she said pushing her knee against his leg. Eerikki evaluated her with cold gray eyes. They were flat like a river stone, his aristocratic face in a composed mask.

"Then explain why," his gaze flicks Vor, who takes a deep gulp of her wine staring openly at him unabashed, "She was pretending to be you."

The others ate slowly, eyes towards their plates, Rebekah struggled to not look at Zayne, who stood nearby, his fists clenched tightly. Baldor would keep him in line, hopefully.

"And why Blaine and August could not find you anywhere?" he trailed off when Rebekah took his hand, eyebrows coming together.

"Eerikki, are you trying to assume that I ran?" his lips pursed at her words, she brushed her lips on the back of his knuckles giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.

"If I had run, why would I have come back?" she did not flinch when his hand wrenched from her hold, snatching her throat, pulling her face inches from his.

Rebekah heard Baldor clear the servants from the room, knowing Zayne probably stepped forward to intervene. "Don't patronize me Rebekah." he squeezed her jaw tightly, but she refused to react. That only fueled him. She stared with eyebrows raised until he let her go, "Arne, give me your report." Eerikki said in a calm town, pulling away from Rebekah, rolling his shoulders. He listened intently as the table gave reports of the day, eating slowly and listening closely. Rebekah glanced at Vor who was pouring herself another glass of wine. It was going to be a long night.

Earlier that day when she had left Zayne with Vor and had gone to see Addeline she knew it would be a long night. Addeline took care to cleanse Rebekah of all of the smells of where she had been. Bathing her in the hot spring, then a milk bath to follow, telling her of all the things that had been happening while she was gone.

Eerikki had no idea how long she had been gone, just that she was gone. Vor had fooled him long enough, but when he tried to become intimate with her she folded, not that Rebekah blamed her. Addeline advised them both to be as aloof as possible.

"How interesting that he is your soulet. We did not see that coming." Addeline had said while brushing her long hair to keep it straight and shiny, just as Eerikki liked it. Rebekah chewed her lip, "It's just a mess." Addeline clicked her tongue, "You of all people know that everything is the way it is supposed to be and will end up how it should be." Rebekah squeezed her eyes shut. Hating this analogy, but knowing it was true.

Now she watched Eerikki speak with the others, and wondered what tonight had in store for her. Because right now, this was how it needed to be right now. The night passed in its usual flow, being away changed nothing. They ate, Eerikki got his report discussing everything about the day. They dispersed to do their assignments for the evening, while Eerikki decided what he and she would do for the remainder of the night.

He sat her down on the couch pulling her feet into his lap, his eyes poring over her.

"I cannot believe I fell for Vor's cheap imitation of you." he rubbed her feet sniffing at the thought.

"Don't insult Vor's talent, we both know her work is spot on." Rebekah smiles keeping her chin raised, fingers folded contrite in her lap. Eerikki continued to knead the muscles in her feet, a thoughtful expression on his face, "Did you try and run?"

Rebekah only laughed in response, "If I had why on earth would I have come back?" she challenged eyebrow quirked. "It was very sudden," he murmured. Rebekah decided to go with her original plan because aloof was not working.

She could see the anger boiling beneath the surface, the tight curl of his fingers almost hurting her.

No one was safe from his untethered rage, like a toddler with no boundaries.

"It didn't take. And I was upset. I just needed to clear my head. I should have been more open with you." Rebekah whispered, Eerikki's fingers stopping, he looked at her with a look of realization.

"You aren't pregnant." he started to massage her other foot, calculating, "No," she confirmed remaining calm on the outside. Rebekah knew she would never be pregnant with him because he was completely infertile. A cost of immortality. A cost he was not aware of because Addeline was not bound to tell him.

Rebekah had just reached sexual maturity, they've been "trying" for about six months now. Before she left she gave a facade as if she may be with a child. For this very reason. "Silly girl." he scoffed, pulling her forward into his chest. As if he was a sweet and doting husband, who loved and cared for her. Kissing the top of her head he said in an almost threatening tone "Come to me next time." Or else. It wasn't said. But the threat was there. Eerikki pushed her back and pressed his mouth to hers sickeningly making her stomach turn, "Let's not give up now then."