Chapter 11

Standing as patiently as she could beside Donovan, Ryan wondered how she ever believed he was a decent person that she could fall in love with. She ground her teeth, mad at herself for letting her fall under his spell of the charismatic charm he oozed while in front of others. Unfortunately, she couldn't do much at the moment because it would mean death for her family and friends.

Even with the change to a sea witch, she knew nothing about her powers to actually use them. All she kept getting were snid bits of futures that were giving her a headache and every now and then she would wince when those flashes came and went – which were either positive, negative or a mixed signal of both. She wished she knew what it meant. What they meant.

Ryan stared at Donovan's profile as he talked to some of his so called friend and wondered.

She wondered if he actually had any friends that weren't interested in his money.

She wondered if anyone actually love him. Not his connections, not his impressive gene pool. Just him.

She wondered if he just relaxed on the couch and watched football or played pool with a bunch of friends.

Did he even relax?

Ryan doubted it.

What did she ever see in him? He was overly stuffy, ever so proper except behind closed doors. He wanted a submissive trophy wife to cater to his every whim. He was proud, conceited, and flaunted the fact that his father was a Senator and came from old money. He never lifted a manicured hand to do actual work. She had a feeling that if she had stayed with him, he would cheat repeatedly and their sex – if they ever had sex – would most likely be boring.

She didn't want boring sex.

She wanted outstanding, mind blowing, end of the world sex.

Add in an early grave for his abusive nature. And viola.

What did I ever see in him? She thought with disgust. She glanced around the room and stopped on a paled hair boy. With the briefest nod of the head at her, he disappeared into the crowd. She waited a few minutes, continuing with her scan when a remark brought her back to reality. "Donovan what is that wretched thing on her arm?" Andromeda stated in disgust. Ryan glared at her under hooded eyes. Pretty and petite Andromeda stood attached to a man who definitely did not go their school, with a hand laid daintily across her lips she looked at Ryan in horror.

Oinseach.

Sighing, "Ryan decided to mar her skin with the marks of a whore." Donovan stated with repugnance.

Andromeda date spoke up, "Well Donovan, there are technologies now that would remove them from her skin for good."

"Excuse me; I'm going to get a drink. Please continue with degradation without me. Cábúnach's." She walked past them, snagged a drink from a wandering bar tender and escaped to the patio. She shivered from the cooling air, down her drink in one gulp. Leaning against the cold iron of the railing she looked out across the grounds hoping this night would end quickly so she could finally give Donovan the ass kicking he deserved. She shivered again.

No sooner had she done so was a jacket placed over her shoulder. Musky and masculine she immediately knew who was behind her. "Reid."

"No matter how lost you look, you're still breath taking." Slowly she faced him. He looked dashing in his suit, even with the tie askew and his eyes shadowed by his hair. She reached to straighten his tie automatically, which had them both pause, then he broke the silence. "I never took you for a tattoo type of girl, and I can't say that I made a bad choice in that dress."

"It was you?" He nodded and laughed lightly, pleased she was shocked, but her eyes sparkled with delight giving him an indication that she liked it.

"I'm not the asshole you think I am Ryan." He cupped her cheek. "And I can't get you out of my head. You're like a damn toxin." He dipped his head low.

"Reid – about what happened the other nig—" His lips brushed hers, once, twice, and a final third time before he stood straight again.

"You know, you should never kiss another man's girlfriend." Ryan stared at Donovan over Reid's shoulder, with arm smugly crossed over his chest he looked like the snake he was. Her eyes narrowed at him, felt Reid tens before he turned around, planting himself in front of her. "That's cute. But no matter what you do Garwin you won't win. You won't own her. Come here Ryan."

It was spoken as a command but this night it was where it all ended. She shook her head no.

"Ryan, come here."

"She's not a piece of livestock Donovan. And if I can help it you will never get close to her again." Reid stated confidently. He was tired of this piece of shit coming in and wrecking everything. So tired of his one track thinking that just because he had money meant everything, and anyone, belonged to him. Proud of Ryan for standing up for herself, he was going to make sure that she continued to do so with a little help.

"She's mine." He stated matter of factly. In his disillusioned mind Ryan truly did belong to him. Because of their history, because of what Chase Collins had promised him. "You may have a trust fund Garwin, but you're nothing but a bum posed as a gentleman, just like your father. You'll never amount to anything." Reid clenched his fists to the point he felt nails cut into skin. But, he thought about the truth, and how Donovan truly didn't know a thing about his family or where he came from. But when Donovan's maniacal eyes focused in on Ryan he felt the rage rise within him. "And you, my dear, dear Ryan, you're nothing but a common girl, you could never survive without me. But, this fish thing could prove useful, I think."

Reid stepped forward, only to be stopped by a hand on his arm. "Don't" she simply stated. She walked in front of him, planting herself firmly between two men when Ryan heard him gasp. Throwing a look over her shoulder she simply said. "I'll explain later." Then turning her pent up fury on the man-boy that stood in front of her she finally spoke years of built up frustration and hate to her abuser. "And you." She pointed a finger at him. "You I've had more than enough of. You came into my life charming and sweet, and me not knowing that you were simply digging your claws into my skin hoping I would cave to your needs. You expected thing, things that I was never willing to give you. And I let you continue. I didn't walk away, I didn't do anything, I just let you abuse me physically, mentally, and emotionally." She let out a heartless laugh. "Not any more. Damn the consequences, not any more. I will not be some fucking experiment so you can continue to fill your bank account after your father cuts you off.

I don't fucking belong to you. I never did. I let you nearly break my spirit, and you were really close thanks to Chase. But thanks to my friends, I've begun to mend. I won't let you abuse me any long Donovan Elijah O'Conner, nor will I allow anyone else."

He stood there, speechless. "You dare –"

"Yes Donovan, I dare."

He walked to her, gripped her arms, and shook her violently that Ryan thought her brain would surely become dislodged. "After everything I've done for you? Given you?" He seethed.

She got in his face, oh this felt good, she thought and let her anger swim. "What exactly have you done? Or given?" She yelled. "Bruises, concussions, fractures? You've given me nothing but pain after the first month of dating you. The only thing I thank you for is showing me who you truly are. A gentleman on the outside, but a complete and utter asshole through and through." Her skin felt alive, the hairs on her arms stood on point, and she felt the electrical surge course through her body. She didn't understand it, but she accepted it. She forced her way out of his grasp, taking a step back. "I want you out of my life Donovan, for good."

Reid smiled behind her, grinning like a kid on Christmas, his eyes challenging as they met Donovan's. He couldn't be more proud of her, than in this moment. He rest a hand on her shoulder and felt it surge with energy, that it made him remove it immediately. She turned to give him a reassuring smile and held out her hand. When he took it, it was warm to the touch. The wind began to blow bring the scent of the ocean to her. Donovan and Reid wouldn't understand the significance but she knew it was her grandma-ma with whatever power she had left her whispers amongst the current. And what they said to her gave her promise.

She smiled at Reid as they began to walk away to escape the party, when Donovan grabbed her arms and yanked her back. A moment later he yowled with pain, letting her go he looked at his hands and saw in the light they were welted, as though they were burned by fired. "That the hell did you do to me." He yelled.

"I'm a sea witch, Donovan. More powerful than you'll ever be. I don't want you touching me so much like an eel I shocked you." She gave him a hard smile. "Do it again, and I'll give you more than a few welts on your hands." She began walking again. When Reid caught up with her she sagged against him, her skin cool again, turning to face him she began apologizing profusely when he could only shut her up by kissing her. In reality he had no reason to be mad at her, as much as wanted to be, he knew she did what she did for the safety of every one.

So he held his hand out and when she took it without hesitation was a sign to him. A good one. "We'll figure it out." They were almost in the forest when she went pitching forward, shaking her head to clear it when she saw Reid sprawled on the floor next to her. She pushed herself up to check on him, when a heavy weight came crashing down on her, crying out she fell flat. Again she pushed herself up to check on Reid, this time she was able to feel the back of his head slick and warm, and the smell of copper hitting her senses. Her head wrenched back painfully that she whimpered and a voice whispered to her "I told you, if I can't have you, then no one could."

This time she let the anger pulsate though her and throwing her elbow back, she was satisfied that it seemed to connect with his body somewhere. She pushed herself to her feet, holding her head as it and her body screamed in agony. She spit the dirt out of her mouth. "You're a coward." She seethed and let herself enjoy a small victory as she saw his nose was bleeding. Not so perfect now, she thought. "You always were, because you have to resort to violence to get your way; because you have push women around to show how powerful you are." She spoke through clench teeth, and thought they would break if she tightened her jaw any more. "I am not a piece of livestock."

"I'll kill you." He screamed.

"Then kill me." She dared, they stood face to face now, so close they nearly touched. "But be a fucking man about it."

He was quick, she gave him credit that his fingers wrapped around her neck and squeezed. "Oh I will." At first she was shocked, and could honestly say she wasn't expecting this. Yet, she reflected as she struggled against him, she wasn't surprised. "Man enough for you darling?" He kept taunting her, telling her that if she was so powerful she should use them to save herself. She struggled against and dug her nails into the back of his hands, clawed at his arms, his face, anywhere to try and get him to let go.

With a crazed look in his eyes Donovan's hold only tightened, like a boa constrictor waiting to devour his prey.