Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Everyone gasps and Heather snorts out a laugh. Mum opens and closes her mouth a few times. I have rendered her speechless. This might have been the best thing I have ever done in my life. Or the worst!
Mum, seemingly no longer interested in the conversation, fiddles with the corner of the colouring book.
The strange expression on her face makes me feel guilty.
No doubt her brain is going a hundred miles a second.
I cringe. Psychological warfare is her thing, and I am sure she will get me back, and oh boy, it will be a doozy.
I gulp. It is the first time I have acted on the naughty voice in my head and… it felt amazing.
Which, of course, is very, very bad.
So now I have the overwhelming need to get the hell out of here before the shock wears off and she screams.
Uh-oh.
“I, erm, have lots of things left to do today,” I say, as I jump up off the sofa like my bottom is on fire.
I can’t even look at Owen in case he thinks I behaved like a brat.
“I am sure you also need some time for yourselves. Larry?” My voice is slightly squeaky.
Larry appears at my side with a bright smile.
Run-run-run! My head screams as I quickly introduce him to my coven.
“This is my friend, Larry. He is the heart of the hotel.”
If Larry could blush, I am sure his freaked face would be rosy red. He beams a smile at me, and I smile a shaky one back.
“I will get everyone settled, mistress,” he says with a clap of his hands.
Jodie mouths the word mistress at me. I roll my eyes and shake my head. I quickly turn to Owen and grab his hand, tugging the huge hellhound to his feet.
“…we have a wonderful pool, and the leisure centre is divine…” Larry continues. His red hair glows from a strip of sunlight that beams through the window.
My mum lifts her head, and my heart misses a beat.
The last thing I hear as I fold the air around us is Diane’s shocked voice. “Whoa. Did she just Step?”
“You Step, huh?” Owen asks when we arrive in my living room. I smile and look at my feet, suddenly shy. I should have asked him first instead of just grabbing him and running. “That’s pretty cool.”
“Yeah, it happened when the dryads came. It almost scared the poop out of me.”
Owen grins. “Are you going to explain the dryad story?”
“You heard that, huh? Yeah, I will. It was horrible and sad… But first, I want to say sorry about beaming you out of there without asking and also thank you for… for you know… I am sorry about my mu—”
“It doesn’t matter,” Owen interrupts and wraps his arm around me.
“She loves you.” I want to deny his words, but I can’t.
I know she loves me. It’s just hard to believe it sometimes.
The hellhound hugs me to his chest and kisses the top of my head.
Between us, Daisy licks my face. Her barbed tongue takes what I’m sure is a tongue’s width of the skin off my cheek. Ouch and ew.
Thanks for that, Daisy.
“I didn’t want to interfere too much, as I know they are your coven. I hope you don’t think I overstepped.”
“No, no, of course not.” I can’t help feeling all warm and squidgy. “You were amazing. It was nice to have you in my corner.” Someone who genuinely cares. Although my sister’s outrage on my behalf was a big surprise.
Yeah, he’s amazing until he sees what you are really like, the nasty voice pipes up. What if that is true? What if he leaves?
I cannot control what Owen feels or does. All I can do is be me and if I am not good enough, well, it was not meant to be.
“Talk about amazing. I had to bite my tongue and channel nine hundred years of military training to stop myself from laughing when you slapped down those crayons and that colouring book.” Owen guffaws. I huff out a mortified laugh at his expression. “That was priceless.”
“It was mean,” I whine. “She’s going to kill me.”
“Worth it.” Owen’s eyes sparkle with mirth and we both grin at each other.
I drop my head and giggle into his chest. “Nah, she will not kill you. I think she was quite proud of you. It was an epic comeback.” I shake my head, then lean back in his arms and take him in.
The poor man looks exhausted. I sweep my thumb across his cheek.
“You’re not going to lick it first?” he asks.
I giggle again and comically widen my eyes. “I can’t believe she rubbed her spit on my face. When is that ever a good idea?” Owen smiles down at me.
My laughter fades and I bite my lip. He almost died a few hours ago. And after all that trauma, he then gets roped into my coven mess.
“When did you last sleep?”
“A while,” he grumbles.
“Let’s get you settled. Maybe you can have a few hours to catch up.”
“No, it’s okay. I can wait until tonight.
” Daisy, who is snuggled up against his chest, yawns, and Owen catches her movement and automatically yawns back.
He sheepishly rubs his face. “Perhaps a few hours might do me some good. What about your coven?” He doesn’t want to leave me alone. My heart puffs.
“Larry has got them, and I promise to keep out of their way while you sleep. Okay?” I reassure him.
“Okay,” the hellhound says gruffly.
“Right then, well, let’s get you to bed.” My horrified eyes shoot to his. Oh crap. “Urm… I mean, show you to your room, on your own to, urm, sleep.” I close my eyes. Oh, for crying out loud. Shut up, Tuesday.
Owen chuckles.
I really need to leave.
I show Owen into one of the spare bedrooms. Daisy wiggles out of his arms and throws herself down onto the bed.
I stand awkwardly as I watch him remove all his weapons from magic only knows where.
He’s wearing trousers and a shirt you would think he wouldn’t be able to hide anything in, but they just keep appearing.
It’s as if he is carrying enough weapons for ten men.
I run a finger across the hilt of a pretty but sharp-looking silver knife. “Silver,” I mumble. I think I’ve seen enough silver for today, especially when I was pulling it out of him, dragging it particle by particle out of his bloodstream. I still can’t believe I did that.
“Yes, it’s a throwing blade.”
“Why do you carry silver? Doesn’t it make you tired? Why would you use a weapon that could also hurt you?” The hellhound pulls out another two blades. They clink against the bedside table.
“Over the years, I’ve become immune to some of silver’s effects.” He gently pulls me into his body and his arms wrap around my waist.
I could get used to him holding me. I’m not a tactile person, but I think being in his arms is now my favourite place to be. The fabric of his shirt rustles as he leans down and oh so gently kisses my neck.
My heart slams in my chest and I shiver.
“Oh,” I say eloquently.
“Every weapon can be used against you”—kiss—“no matter what metal it is made from”—kiss. Oh, my… He makes a good point about the weapons. My skin is on fire, and I want nothing more than to spin around and jump his bones. Climb him like a tree. Tackle him onto the bed…
I cough to clear my throat. “I will leave you to sleep.” I reluctantly slip away from his arms. “Come on, Daisy.” I wiggle my fingers at the sleepy dragonette, but she turns her nose up at me and snuggles more into the duvet.
“It’s okay. She can nap with me.”
“Are you sure?” Owen nods. Wow, that is sweet. “Okay. Well, I will get out of your hair and see you both soon.”
I smile. The sexy, beautiful hellhound unbuckles his belt and smiles back at me.
Bloody hell.