“Hey,” Draven said kneeling down to my level and half leaning over me as his hand was still at my back. The feel of him touching me again was as if a live wire straight to my heart had been switched back on, jump starting it back to life.
“Hey,” I breathed making him smile.
“You good?” I nodded biting my damn lip again. He gave me a cheeky half smile and shocked me by taking my chin between his thumb and finger before giving it a playful, little shake then saying,
“You’re good.” He then stood up and shouted to Loz to bring me water and a bottle of what used to be my usual. I sat back up and gave his silent council a little embarrassed smile sending up a prayer that a certain someone was no longer at the table. I would have to remember to ask Sophia about that when we were next alone. What had happened to Aurora?
“It sure has been boring without you around, Keira.” Zagan said surprising us all…well everyone but Sophia that was. Draven frowned at him but he just shrugged his shoulders giving us a small glimpse of his pale eyes and tattooed scar underneath his hood. Sophia however beamed at him lovingly as though he was her hero for saying that.
“Then here’s to missed human entertainment.” I said raising my new bottle, forgetting about the water Loz had also placed before me. I then took a long swig letting the cold beer cool my burning throat and noticed over my bottle everyone else had raised their glasses too.
“Missed indeed.” I could have sworn that was what I heard Draven whisper over his own glass, the very one I had stupidly drank out of. Did he really say that or was I just imagining the words I secretly longed to hear?
“So, was it just a catch up?” I asked Draven.
“Something like that.” He answered after first needing to think about it. Sophia on the other hand snorted like I would have and once again she was having her name said in warning, this time though it was by her own partner Zagan.
“Alright, alright, I won’t mention anything about the fight.”
“What?” I shouted in response.
“Ooops.” Sophia said not looking sorry in the slightest.
“You had a fight with your dad…as in a fight, fight?” I asked and it was only when I put my hand on his folded arm that he looked away from Sophia but not before he said,
“We will be having words later, Sophia.” Then he turned to first look at my hand, making me quickly pull it away and then back down at my expectant face.
“We fought yes but it is not your concern.” Wow that stung, but I guess I now knew how he felt after what Alex had said to him.
“No…of course not.” I couldn’t help but keep the resentment out of my voice.
“Keira I didn’t…”
“Its fine, I mean you’re right…but, well I just hope you sorted it out with your dad.” He smiled at that.
“Let’s say that we came to a compromise.”
“That’s good to know.” I replied quietly, feeling shy again under his watchful gaze. This meeting was definitely going better than it had earlier that was for sure but still it felt weird. Like I was transported back in time, back to the beginning all over again and trying to find safe footing when it came to speaking with him. I was confused, I was intimidated, I was hot and bothered at being this close to him and I was angry that I was feeling any of these things at all. I always said that if I ever came across Draven again I would just act cool and play the emotionless ice queen. Well there went that plan out the window…Ha, me ice queen, what a joke. Yeah I think being caught in his chair, nearly knocking it to the floor and half choking to death was a sure way to burn that ice queen routine to cinders!
“So how’s the new job, Keira?” Sophia asked making Draven’s eyes widen for a moment.
“New job?” Ah so at least I now knew that like me, he hadn’t being keeping tabs on me via information provided by his siblings. Again I would be lying if I said that also didn’t sting but really, what did I expect? The guy had pretended to be dead and made sure every aspect of the life I had allowed to grow around me, thanks to his own seed planted, was dead too. That wasn’t ever going to be the actions of a man who also wanted to know about my wellbeing. Take last year for example, all those things that happened to me and where was he…where was his protection…it was dead by choice, that’s where it was!
“Yeah, life goes on Draven, did you really expect me not to get another job?” I snapped unable to help myself after these painful feelings I had just dug back up. He had the cheek to look taken aback by my snippy reply but then masked his features better than I could with a look of indifference.
“To be honest I gave it little thought considering the decision made to financially see to your future.” Oh no he didn’t! Was this guy nuts? I even heard Sophia and Vincent groan at the obvious mistake he just made by saying that shit.
I stood up quickly, this time not giving a shit about whether the chair made it or not. I took a threatening step towards him and poked him in the chest as I proceeded to give him a piece of my mind,
“Alright Daddy Warbucks, time to give you a little insight. See I don’t give a flying shit about your money, never have, never will! Although I bet the badgers loved it, oh and that guy I sent on holiday. So with that said I DO NOT appreciate you thinking you can buy me off and send me on my merry way so that what exactly…you can sleep better at night? How dare you! Who the Hell do you think you are you?!” I shouted up at him and continued poking him with every point made.
“Badgers…?”
“Yeah badgers, you know, nowty little buggers with stripy heads!” I said motioning with my hands as I got more animated and my Liverpool accent came through thicker.
“I know what a badger is, Keira now ‘nowty’ on the other hand…”
“It means angry, annoyed, irritated, fuming, livid, foot stomping mad…pretty much all the things I am right now!”
“Right, if you are quite finished shouting at me I will expla…”
“Oh no, I am not finished, not by a long shot you bast…!” I started shouting at him only to be interrupted just like I had done to him, only his way was far more effective.
“Alright, have it your way!” He said before bending suddenly and jamming his shoulder in my belly before hoisting me up and over his shoulder.
“Hey! What are you doing? Put me down right now!” I shouted bent over with my hair trailing down the back of his legs. I tried to push myself up, shamefully loving the fact I had to use his beautiful behind as leverage. I managed it for only a second or two before slipping on the smooth material of his suit trousers.
“You can’t do this, Draven!”
“I think you will find I am doing it just fine!” He snapped back as he continued to carry me to somewhere I couldn’t see.
“Are you guys just going to sit there or are you going to help me?!” I said looking sideways and upside down at Vincent and Sophia.
“Nope.”
“Nada.” They both said at the same time making me growl.
“Fine! Traitors!” At this I started to shake on Draven’s shoulder as he started to laugh. Bloody laugh! The audacity of this man knew no bounds!
“Come now, you really think either of them could stop me…have you forgotten all of your time with me already?” He asked still clearly amused. I tried to fold my arms in frustration but in the end I had to use my hands to brace myself as I just looked like one of those nodding bobble heads that was all the rage years ago.
“A girl can try,” I said acting bitchy but his continued laughter told me I didn’t quite pull it off. I huffed at the sound and listened to a pair of heavy doors opening. This was when I really started to panic. I started to tug on his shirt in desperation.
“No Draven…wait, just wait a minute!” He immediately stopped laughing on hearing my pleading.
“You’re fine”
“No! Where are you taking me…please…please don’t take me back there.” I said feeling myself losing it quickly.
“Keira, what i
s it...what’s wrong?” I heard another door being opened and my heart sank as I closed my eyes not wanting to see it again. I couldn’t. It would kill me! I felt him lower me down his front and another shiver shot through me.
“Keira, open your eyes.” He ordered gently and I dug my palms over my eyes and shook my head feeling the tears forming beneath them.
“Tell me what is it…? Talk to me.” I felt him reach up and try to pry my hands from my eyes and when I put up a resistance he simply pulled harder. My strength gave in knowing there was little point when up against someone like Draven. Still, I kept my eyes firmly shut.
“I don’t understand why you won’t…wait, what is it you said before we came in here…don’t take you back there…that’s what you said.” He was starting to piece it together and it suddenly felt like my heart was lodged firmly in my throat, ready to fall at his feet.
“Keira, where do you think you are?” He asked me this as though he was talking to an unstable mental person with a gun in her hand.
“Your bed chamber.” I whispered shamefully trying to pull my arms from his hold but it was useless. For long moments there was an overwhelming silence between us and I knew Draven was using this time to think about why I would feel this way about going back to that room. It was when I heard him exhale a heavy sigh that I knew the truth of the matter had hit him.
I was terrified at what going back in that room would do to me. Afterlife was one thing and seeing Draven in it another, these were all different levels of torture in their own right but that room…that room held all the good memories. There were no weighing scales of good and bad in that room. There was nothing to tip the balance enough for me to not be haunted for another ten months of beautiful and perfect moments of what I thought was pure love. And I had so long now been hanging on to a thin thread that was created of nothing but bitterness. It had to be if I was to survive each day.
I couldn’t think back to those days. I couldn’t think back to before those words. The most painful words to ever be spoken from the man you love.
“Keira, open your eyes and trust me.”
“But I don’t…not anymore.” I whispered again, only thankful that I couldn’t see the hurt I could have inflicted with my truthful words. I heard him clear his throat first before speaking again and his next words were hoarse and tense,
“That is something I have to accept due to my actions…I understand this but Keira, if you won’t trust me then trust in yourself.” He said and before I could ask what he meant he started to move me around the room and led me over to different pieces of furniture there.
I knew he expected me to feel the curves, textures and objects he placed my hands on but all I could feel was his solid presence at my back, his arms around me from behind and hands on top of mine with our fingers entwined as we touched each piece together.
“See…it’s all different,” he whispered soothingly at my ear making me quiver. My eyes flew open and I waited for them to focus.
“Your office.” I muttered and I felt him smile before moving from my neck.
“Yes.” I took in a deep relieved breath and felt my back brush against his chest from the movement. I had to get out of his hold and I had to do it right now before it got too much. If I thought that room would bombard me with painful memories then what was being in his arms again going to do to me in the long run? I tried to pull away and his hands quickly shackled my wrists.
“Wait! Not yet…just…just a little longer.” His desperate sounding request shocked me enough to gasp. He wanted to hold me longer!?
“Tell me.”
“Tell…tell you what?” I stuttered feeling him lean down to my neck once more.
“Tell me why you were so scared to go back there, Keira.”
“I…I…can’t.” I felt him rub his nose along my neck and inhale my skin, taking in my scent in deep breaths, hypnotising me and luring me further under his spell. Why hadn’t I remembered what it was like? Did I really forget about all those times back then when his spell would weave its way around my senses, moving and twisting them into doing his will? Where was my resistance now eh? It was blown to smithereens that’s where!
“Yes you can, just speak the words…just say the words I need to hear, Keira and I will release you from my arms.” It didn’t escape me that he never said the words ‘I will let you go’ and I couldn’t help but wonder why…why he worded it that way and why he ‘needed’ to hear the reasons why. Didn’t he already know?
“I couldn’t do it…I couldn’t see it again and not be…” I hesitated making him grip me harder to his unyielding frame.
“And not be…?” And with this he sealed my fate by whispering the last of the magic needed to get me to open up to him like a flower blooming at night. Magic spoken against my skin and once I felt his tongue momentarily make contact with my skin I knew I was lost.
“And not be…
….loved by you.”
Chapters 7
Truthful Trip Down Memory Lane
“Keira, I still…”
“NO!” I shouted, wrenching myself out of his arms and almost falling forward with the force of my actions. Draven tried to make a grab for me but I staggered forward, thankfully finding my footing before he needed to touch me again. I couldn’t listen to anything he had to say. I couldn’t take any more from this man, not when his words had already destroyed me once.
I couldn’t give him that power again…never again.
I felt so ashamed by what I had said and so angry at what I had been coerced into saying. Well, one thing was obvious and that was all this time apart had killed any resilience I once had to Draven’s power of manipulation.
I walked further away and held my arms protectively around myself, rubbing the thin sleeves of my cherry red dress wishing I was wearing something thicker. Something more protective from the touch I could still feel on my body from a pair of strong male hands I craved on my skin.
“Just…” I took a shuddering breath before I could carry on.
“Please… it’s all I ask, Draven.”
“Please what...? Not touch you, because I will never agree to that, Keira.” I turned round in shock at his words.
“You think you have the right after what you did?!”
“I know that I don’t but that doesn’t change what my soul knows.” I frowned at him from across the room and then shook my head in frustration.
“And that is?”
“That you are mine and always will be.” I sucked in a sharp breath and even staggered back a step as though he had just pulled a trigger.
“This can’t be happening.” I muttered in disbelief now really convinced this must be a dream. One of those dream scenarios we play over and over in our minds until at some point there’s the fear it will cross over into reality and leave you more confused than ever…like now.
“You doubt my sincerity in that statement?” He asked coming closer.
“Oh no, you stay there!” I said knowing if he touched me right now I would be a gonner!
“Answer my question.” He demanded getting angry…an anger he had absolutely no right to I might add.
“Screw you and your orders! You don’t bloody own me and you have no GODDAMN right to say that to me!”
“Keira.” He warned but again I held up my hand.
“If you’re gonna lecture me about cursing the Gods then save it! As far as I am concerned they hate me anyway so they can just go ahead and strike me down if they dare… but I am telling you now, they would bloody regret it ‘cos the way I have been feeling this past year I want to rip the fucking place apart!” I shouted, panting with my rant and shaking with my lack of control.
Draven’s eyes closed as if in pain and he ran both his hands through his hair that I’d only just noticed looked a little longer. Actually everything about him looked more unkempt than usual. His stubble was the longest I had ever seen it, close to becoming a full beard and he had darker circles under his ey
es as if he hadn’t slept in weeks. It was only his suit that was as impeccable as always.
He seemed to be fighting with himself as his chest heaved and his hands remained locked at the back of his neck. If anything he didn’t seem to be dealing with our situation any better than I was. I took a deep and calming breath, feeling bad for letting out my anger now that I saw how he was taking it. It was as though I held a whip in my hand and had just kept lashing out at him but really, what was he expecting from me…a loving and open arm reunion?
“Look, I…I think I should just go…”
“No!” He shouted and I was surprised to see a moment of panic cross his features as he looked back at me. He, like me, took a calming breath and continued,
“Please...stay.” He said these words as though he no longer gave a shit about pride and was not above begging me to stay. This for a man like Draven was monumental. After all he was a King and Kings beg to no man…but I wasn’t a man now was I.
“Alright.” As soon as I said the word his shoulders sagged and his tense body visibly relaxed.
“Thank you for staying, for I know I do not deserve it.” I bit my lip and nodded knowing I couldn’t say anything to that for more reasons than one. It was clear he knew he deserved my anger and in most ways had accepted it when my emotions had got the better of me. However, that didn’t mean I wanted to be intentionally cruel, no matter what he had put me through, I still didn’t feel right about hurting someone that I still cared for…would always care for.
“Will you sit with me?” He asked motioning to the teal velvet couch that I remembered seeing once in less than perfect condition. It was back when I was held captive by Lucius and Pip was once again performing her mumbo jumbo on me, sending me back here like a ghost. Draven had practically tore the place apart in his rage to get me back, which was just another memory that created more whys and buts. The lengths he went to back then and all for what, to just throw me away at the end of it all? It just didn’t make sense…
The Pentagram Child: Part 1 (Afterlife Saga Book 5) Page 8