Part 26 (1/2)

After I was nicely wrapped in lush white fluffy towels, I walked back into the room to find it wasn't as empty as I had left it. A Draven of the shorter variety smiled sweetly at me and I shrieked in response to find Sophia sprawled out on the bed playing idly with the edge of one of the fringed pillows.

”You scared me half to death!” I screeched but I was met by a cool look of knowing.

”I doubt that, giving the colour of your cheeks.”

”Sorry?”

”The dead don't blush Keira dear. Anyway, did you enjoy my pleasure dome?” The cool look of knowing turned quickly to smugness garnished with a slice of demon. I decided to play dumb, evidently something I seemed to be good at.

”I'm sure that I don't know what you're talking about.” It would have helped if I could look her in the eye when I lied but come on, that was never going to happen. She laughed making me turn from the opposite direction and when met by those amused dark eyes I just shrugged my shoulders.

”Oh come now, don't play coy with me sister, besides this bed hasn't been slept in and my rose petal floor had been crushed to a pulp!”

”NO it wasn't, it was fine this morning!” I said in defence but she had been expecting it and pointed at me, shouting, ”HA, got ya!”

”Grow up!” I said in a way that I would have to Libby but with Sophia, it was like having a naughty sister watching my every move.

”I do try,” she replied sarcastically, ”but it's hard when you're immortal.” I flashed her an un-amused eye roll but when it turned to a smile and we both laughed. Draven was right, it was utterly useless trying to stay mad at Sophia. Like telling off a puppy for peeing in your favourite shoes and then resisting cuddling it when its starts to cry for attention. Not that I was calling Sophia a dog, more like a tiger cub. Cute as a b.u.t.ton but with one swipe could take your face off!

As graceful as a dancer from Swan Lake, Sophia dismounted the bed and followed me into my new dressing room. There she stood by watching as I scanned my wall full of clothes but every time I went to grab something, she made a sound that reminded me of the TV game show Family Fortunes, the noise they made when you got an answer wrong.

”Ok, my fas.h.i.+on muse, what would you have me wear?” I asked as I folded my arms and took a step back. She floated ahead of me and picked out a tight pair of stretch jeans in black and a charcoal grey tunic top with big bell shaped sleeves and pretty, light pink flowers around the bottom. It had a big roll neck and it looked warm and inviting. It was just a shame that it wasn't me.

”That's lovely but I doubt Draven would want me wearing something like that just to meet Justin.” She whipped her head round like it was attached to an elastic band.

”You're meeting with Justin today?” She looked shocked with the idea and once again I found myself shrugging my shoulders.

”So what?” I said pulling out a pair of faded blue jeans down off the rack and grabbed a plain black T-s.h.i.+rt with long sleeves. I turned round to get some underwear out of the drawers and when I saw Sophia now sat on top of the large dresser island, it startled me. Her short dainty legs hung down like she was sat on a giant's doorstep.

”Sophia what are you...”

”I'm helping!” She started and her foot reached down for the lower drawer and pulled it open with the slightest flick of her ankle.

”Knickers?” She wore the cheekiest of grins and I couldn't help but laugh.

”What? That's what you call them in England isn't it?”

”Yeah....sometimes. So what was with the face... don't look at me like that, you know what I mean... when I mentioned Justin?”

”Nothing major, just answered a few questions for me, that's all.” She jumped down and landed lightly on her feet like a cat on a tin roof...soundless and flawless.

”Ok, so what's that supposed to mean?” She walked past me now and was leaving out of the door, when she stopped and flung her perfect curls over one shoulder before answering me.

”Just that it explains why Dom was in such a foul mood last night, I guess he didn't want this day to arrive. After all, it's not every day a prince lets his princess go out on a date with a pauper!.... See you tonight Keira dear.” And with that she left making me want to throw something at the door behind her! In the end all I did was shout ”IT ISN'T A DATE!”

After a quick change and a scribbled goodbye note to Draven I grabbed the outfit that Sophia had picked out before running for the door. I was still stuffing it into my bag whilst half running down the corridor, when I b.u.mped into someone with a solid chest, which incidentally knocked me down.

”Ouch!” I said as my b.u.t.t cheeks slapped on the cold stone floor.

”Keira!” Vincent's astonished voice filled the air and then quickly memories of us last night filled my mind. I started to mumble out words of apology, at least that's what I thought they were. I usually just start talking when I was nervous and while my mind was busy on other things, I was never sure what new trouble I was getting myself in with speaking.

He started to laugh as he helped me up and when my stockinged feet slipped on the floor, he was fast as lightening catching me again. The feel of his arm tightly wound around my waist was like setting off a firecracker in my stomach. He leaned down to my face and for a second my heart stopped, I thought he was going to kiss me. But if that was true then why was I closing my eyes instead of pus.h.i.+ng him away.

”Are you steady?” He whispered and this seemed to break the spell. My eyes flew open and all I managed was a nod. It appeared he was quite reluctant to let me go but after minutes of silence his hand left my side. He looked down at my feet and another low laugh came from deep beneath his chest.

”Perhaps you should think about shoes, after all, it is raining outside.” Then it happened...I snorted out a laugh! If I didn't want to die of shame before, then now was a contender! His eyes widened making them look like crystal blue lakes that could have commanded the winter skies. His lips curved into an angelic smile at the new sound he had witnessed and I bent down to pick up my shoes that had dropped from my bag. I kicked my feet into them just so I didn't have to look into his alluring eyes. It was powerful enough to feel them burning into my every move.

”You seem in a hurry.”

”Umm, yeah, I guess. Just errands and stuff, my sister is a bit hopeless when it comes to cooking and she wanted me to cook today, while Justin's staying.” As soon as the name was out of my mouth, I wanted to slip again and, this time, bash my head against the hundred year old stone.

”Ah, Justin. I must say, I haven't heard that name spoken in a faltering tone yet.” Speaking like this you could tell he was Draven's brother alright! I couldn't help but say what I thought.

”Oh, not you too! G.o.d what is it with the Dravens and paranoia. You all sound the same! Anyone would think I was running off to marry the b.l.o.o.d.y guy!” He was trying to hide his grin from my little outburst but he was as lousy at it as his brother. At least with Sophia you knew where you stood.

”Is it not the right of a man to protect his woman, even from evils they cannot see?”

”Evil?” At this I laughed. ”Oh come on, he's a family friend, what could he possibly want but friends.h.i.+p with his brother's, wife's sister...you don't understand!” Ok did that come out right? Why did I say that?

”Umm yes... what indeed? I'm sorry I pried... after all, I know nothing about a situation like that, being non human and all.” It was the first time I had seen him look hurt and his eyes turned to ice that looked ready to crack. He gave me a nod goodbye and turned but as he made his way down the hall he spoke one last time.

”Ragnar is waiting for you.”

I wanted to smack myself on the side of the head for being so tactless. What was I thinking!

On the drive home I didn't say one word to Ragnar until I pulled up the drive and cut the engine. Over the last week Ragnar and I had become unlikely friends but after Draven had not only apologized to him but also commended him on thinking solely of me that night in the Temple, we had created an understanding.

I realized the real reasons behind his reluctance to have me under his guard. I reminded him of the daughter he couldn't save. Draven on the other hand had made a ruthless decision making Ragnar my guardian, he knew that if he had these feeling that he would lay his life down to protect me. I hadn't been too pleased to hear this at the time but in Draven's eyes, he knew the best way to protect those that are dear to him.

”d.a.m.n IT!” I shouted and hit the steering wheel with both palms. I had been stewing over what I had said to Vincent and what a complete idiot I had been. Ragnar looked over to me like I had lost my mind but in my current state I didn't care and luckily he didn't care enough to ask, or maybe he was just scared to. Ok, so not likely!

When I got in doors I was just glad to hear that Justin wasn't there. He and Frank had gone on a boy's day out that consisted of fis.h.i.+ng and drinking beer. I think it was more Frank's idea because the way Libby described it, Justin had been reluctant to leave the house this morning. He had asked about my whereabouts and when my sister had told him, he had looked...well... disappointed. This is all according to Libby, who loves nothing more than a good drama, even when there's none to tell.

I decided to work some more on my report after hanging up the outfit Sophia had picked. I don't know why I had changed my mind but something in me had just snapped. They were all making a big fuss about me escorting Justin to the club...which was all it was ...ESCORTING! NOT DATING! I said to myself over and over.

I decided that I would make an effort tonight, if not for Draven then for myself. I knew deep down that I wasn't really angry at them, it was myself that I was upset with. I should have just nodded and kept my big mouth shut.

I tried to concentrate on my work but that las.h.i.+ng rain against my window was sending me into a daze. I was thinking about all that had happened in the past few weeks and how since me and Draven had become an item, my life really wasn't going to be the same again. I know that sounds like a daft statement but forgetting all the Demon and Angel stuff, this relations.h.i.+p was it for me. Draven would be the last man I would ever love or more like, would I be the last woman Draven would ever love? After all, he was going to outlive me.

”NO! Don't do this” I said out loud. I sat at my window seat trying desperately not to think about the real nightmares haunting me...my real fears. They weren't only the ones that wanted to hurt me, they were the ones that would indefinitely hurt me. Like Draven's face when I started to get older. Could he still love me then? And if so, we would have to hide away our love.

After a certain while n.o.body would be able to see us together. For one, Draven wouldn't age and two, I would just look like the sad granny that bagged herself a toy boy or worse, people would think I was his grandmother! Urgh gross! The thought had me near gagging. Thankfully Libby had knocked on my door to save me from myself.

It didn't take too much to get my mind occupied on other things and after Libby had finished with telling me about every client at work and moved on to what morning sickness was like, I was very close to forgetting my others worries. I was however grateful to her for leaving this last part until I had fully finished the sandwich she had brought up for me.

The day pa.s.sed too quickly and as the night approached I was starting to dread the evening even more. RJ had called to check it was still on and that brought comfort to know that I wasn't going to be alone in this. The whole gang was meeting us and if I was lucky I could just palm Justin off with RJ, who let's face it, didn't exactly mind any male company. I started to get ready when I heard Frank and Justin come in and Frank's usual first question was about food...after Libby's health of course.