The Dark Side Of Fate by Karima Sa'ad Usman

78 First day of The Games

~Tamia~

I could not believe the wealth of information Dominic had locked in his heart.

I could see Sylvester's disbelief too.

Dominic's erratic behaviour made a lot of sense. It was an outlet for his trauma.

"Why did you go to war for him?" I asked because I could not hold my tongue.

"Because Devin laid claim on my brother's seat. I couldn't have it. I did not try to kill Devin because he killed our father. I was trying to protect you, Sylvester. Everything I have done is to protect you. I believed everything Larry told me about you being unable to lead and might fall victim to our enemies soon because you will be a point of target. I thought if you stepped down and I took over, they would focus on me. When I got set up, I realised I was wrong and that Larry was a bastard hence why I do not talk to him anymore," He said and then looked at me.

"I did not trust your intentions, Tamia. I hated that you had blinded my brother. When I heard you were affiliated with Devin, I began to suspect Devin had sent you to do a job in the north. That was why I did what I did. But you proved yourself, and now you carry a Volkov in you, and I have seen you stand by my brother through thick and thin. There is no way all this will be pretence. I have watched you. I thought you might sneak off to see Devin. I know you met him in Brighton, an informant told me, and I was ready to laugh at Sylvester when you did not return, but you proved everyone wrong. I do not know what transpired between you two that left him broken, but you came home. That was enough for me to know you had nothing to hide," He said and bowed.

"I am sorry we had a rough start, and I cannot promise you I will be pleasant because I know I can be annoying, but I will never work against you or my brother," He assured me, and I smiled at him. I was glad I told Sylvester the truth about Devin. If not, I would have been in trouble now.

"So now that my brother has rejected his fated for your sake, I hope you won't leave him if you ever find yours," he said with worry and concern in his eyes. I could genuinely see why Stephanie was protective of him. He loved to a fault, and he had a large heart.

"She already rejected her fated for me, Dominic. She did it before she even found out she was pregnant," Sylvester told him, and I felt heat rise to my cheek.

"What? Who was it?" He asked.

"Devin Corrigan," He said, and Dominic cursed.

"Fuck fuck fuck!!" He said, looking at me.

"Was that what happened in Brighton?" He asked me, and I nodded.

"Oh fuck! How did you do it, Tamia? You left that man a broken shell. My informant said he cried." Dominic said, and I felt sorry for Devin.

"You did not have to. All you had to do was leave with him, and yet you took the jet back to the north and came back to my brother," he said, and I was speechless.

"Thank you," He said with a breathy voice.

"Thank you for choosing Sylvester. It means a lot," he said, and Sylvester touched his hand.

"No one should know this," Sylvester told him, and Dominic nodded.

"My lips are sealed." He said, "at least that is something I am good at," he added, and we laughed.

As morbid as the joke was, we laughed.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

"I guess I will see you at the games. We will all be staying in the house in Lucland," He said, and Sylvester nodded.

Dominic left us, and it felt like I was still holding my breath.

"I can't believe it. He knew Alissa," I said, and Sylvester was silent. He was stunned.

I could understand his shock. Stephanie never went into detail about the things she endured. She was light about it. I could understand. Witnessing the event had broken Dominic; she might not have wanted Sylvester to be broken too.

"There is no need to tell your mother you know what happened," I told him, and Sylvester wiped away a lone tear he had lost a battle to.

I hugged him to calm him down.

It wasn't easy to find out that most of the things he believed in were lies.

"We will get through everything together, my love. You have me," I said and hugged him tightly.

He wrapped his arms around me and breathed in my scent.

When he did that, I realised he had a different scent.

He smelled of Cedar and Cypress. It was calming, and I breathed him in. It was a sweet scent.

"Cedar, mmmm," I said, and he gently broke the hug.

"What is that?" He asked.

"Your scent since we woke up," I said, and his eyes widened.

"Yours is of Citrus peels," he said, and I was shocked that we had distinct scents instead of our normal, natural scent enhanced by our body wash and lotions.

"We will be late," I said, not wanting us to read meanings into our discovery.

We arrived outside, and the Limo was waiting. We got inside, and I could see Avery was a bit annoyed.

"We have been waiting for thirty minutes," She complained, and I smiled at her.

"You are lucky we didn't make you wait longer," I teased, and everyone laughed because it implied Sylvester and I was making love while they waited.

We left for Lucland in high spirits. I could not wait to see what would happen to Kyle and Max on the field. It would be awesome.

We got to the venue.

Since the games were yet to begin, everyone was lined outside the gate that led to the lands.

The red carpet was rolled out for us as we exited the Limo. Dominic and Glenda had already arrived, and I could swear I saw murder in the woman's eyes when she looked at me, but I ignored it. The council members were there too, and Vino smiled and waved at me. I waved back.

Dominic gave a welcome speech and cut the ribbon, and everyone cheered, and we entered the gate.

I was expecting a stadium or an arena. It had both and had other fields too.

People were to go to the area where they played their preferred sports. I wondered where we would play Croquet, but I knew it would be fun. There were mini carts that were made available for us to

move about the place to watch sports.

I was sure Sylvester must have organised it because of Linda and me. I could see it in his eyes, so I did not bother asking so I didn't make Avery unhappy.

We went to the polo field, and the list of teams was rolled out on the table.

The western Polo strikers were going against the Eastern Bulls. I checked the player's list, and it wasn't Leo's team.

Southern Sharks were going against Northern Bears. I checked the list and did not see Devin's name.

There were three other southern teams.

"There had been a last-minute adjustment to the matches," I heard the commentator announce, and I wondered why that was.

We went to sit in our booth, which was cosy and had shade.

"Theo went to ensure they put our team against Leo's Team," Sylvester said, and I realised Theo was going to give Linda her wish and beat the crap out of Kyle on the field. This was going to be hard to see.

The first match began, and we watched from our booth. Sylvester's game would take place the next day, so all we were doing was observing.

Theo returned grinning from ear to ear.

"What happened?" Marcel asked him.

"Our friends said they are amateurs for polo and wanted out because it won't be a fair match. It was clear they did not know how this worked because they forgot that it only meant they were to add another sport to the list so they would have a chance of winning something, in case they lost in the game they claim to be amateurs in. I kindly signed them up for rugby," Theo said with a wicked grin.

"And I signed us up for rugby too. We will get them in polo and in rugby," he said, and Marcel laughed with anticipation and likewise Sylvester. They were not going to play to win. They were going to play to kick their arses. I felt sorry for Leo.

The day was eventful. Western strikers won against the eastern bulls, and the southern sharks won against the Northern bears.

The winners would move to the next round, while the losers would play another game to get a chance at winning. If they lose, they are out completely. We moved from the polo section to watch the rugby, and we enjoyed the match. I could only imagine what would happen to Kyle and Max. I was sure by now they would know our men were after them because Theo had deliberately signed them up for rugby to get a go at them.

The day ended, and we returned to the duplex.

Linda continued talking about how some people would get their arses whooped, and the funny part was that Theo humoured her.

They looked like teenagers, and it was cute.

Who would have thought that they would be so good together? I was happy for Linda. She wasn't the same drunken depressed woman I knew in the east. She was a different person, and she radiated.

We arrived at the house, and I was famished.

This would be the first night we would have dinner with Stephanie and Dominic. I wasn't worried because we had bonded at different points. It wouldn't be difficult and awkward as it was in the beginning.

Sylvester and I showered quickly. My tummy was growling, and I hoped they would have enough food. I began to suspect I might have more than one baby growing inside me with the rate I was eating.

We arrived at the table, and everyone was there, including Glenda.

I could not forget that Susan had mentioned her name, and it seemed the bitch was the one that encouraged Susan to try to take my man.

I sat down and looked at her sternly. I wanted to see the bitch try to antagonise me.

I was a lady of the north. There was no debating it. It was best she watched herself where I was concerned.

Dinner was fun. We ate, and those that could drink drank while Linda and I were subject to Juice. Stephanie also made sure Avery drank Juice. She said she should not expose her body to harmful chemicals since they are trying to have a baby.

It wasn't long before Glenda crossed the line. She was drunk, but it was no excuse.

"You are one heartless bastard!" she said, looking at Sylvester, and the table was silent.

"How can you sit here and pretend everything is okay? My cousin is at home in pain, and here you are, enjoying your sleep. I knew the Volkovs were heartless, but.." She said, and Dominic interrupted her.

"Watch it, Glenda. He might be my brother, but he is lord; I can't help you if you overstep," he warned her, and she laughed.

"You think I care?" She said and then looked at Sylvester.

"Throw me into prison, do what you like, but I will speak the truth.

"She waited for you, Sylvester. She kept herself for you, hoping you would get back together one day. She loved you," She said in tears.

"No one asked her to, Glenda. She left me." Sylvester said calmly, humouring her, and Glenda started laughing.

"You believe that?" Glenda said and looked at me.

"You would pick someone's wife, a bloody leftover, over your first love," She said, and Dominic almost slapped her, but Stephanie stopped him.

"Don't hit her because of your brother." She said to him, and I could understand why. It would have been a huge mistake on his part. But his misty eyes said it all; he was only trying to shut her up, so Sylvester won't do anything to her.

"She was forced to leave; Your father did not think.." She said, and Stephanie tried to shut her up.

"No! he needs to know the truth, so he can understand what he threw away," she said in tears.

"Your father felt she wasn't Lady material because we were middle-class merchants, so he threatened my father to make sure she walked away. That was why Uncle Nikolay took her with him to the south, far away from your father's reach. He took her to the only place the Wolf Lord dared not go to. Where he had no power, and they remained there.

She was forced to leave you. That letter was written under duress. I was there. So do not feel smug and proud that you left her writhing in pain on the floor in the presence of everyone. You humiliated a woman that loved you deeply," She said, and Sylvester started laughing.

"Your cousin should accept the rejection and move on. I am not interested. My father has been dead for five years; she could have returned in those years. I do not want her anymore, Glenda. The feeling isn't there anymore. I cannot force it to return because my father scared her off," Sylvester said to her gently.

"The feelings are there. She is your fated, yet you rejected her because of that woman. That piece of.." She said, and Avery slapped her.

Glenda was in shock.

"I believe you can make your point without insulting my friend. My friend might be patient and slow to anger, but I am not. You can plead your cousin's case, but don't you dare insult my friend, or I will beat you up. Trust me, I have a lot of rage bottled up for it," she said, and she meant it. Glenda was in shock. She did not see it coming, but Avery meant it.

"I won't punish you, Glenda, for disrespecting my mate and me. I won't punish you because of Dominic, but if you dare try this again, I will not hesitate to have you dealt with it. This is also the last time you will eat with us. I do not want to hear of Susan or anything that has to do with her again. Tell her to accept the rejection if you care for her so much. Nothing can ever happen between us. I have moved on and found true love; she should do the same, too," Sylvester said, and Glenda was in shock.

Avery had hit her hard because there was blood in her mouth. A tiny bit sipped out. She used a napkin to wipe it and looked at Dominic to do something, but it was awkward for the man. Marcel was above him. He dared not insult Avery.

His eyes pleaded with her to be calm, and honestly, I believed he was better off without her, I could see why he got involved with the women in the harem. The girl was toxic.