14. Lea
14
LEA
“ G reat work today everyone. I know we had a lot of meetings to get through, but you managed to stick it out. I'm going to dismiss you all early so that you have time to get ready for the festival. I hope to see everyone there. Or not. It's important that you attend and remember that you are representing the Ransom Company. Please be on your best behavior, and don't draw any unsavory attention,” Jax explained to his slew of assistants who stood next to me, including the new girl who had only begun a few days ago.
That's right, I totally forgot about the Lunair Goddess Festival! I think it'll be best if I sit this one out, though.
Everyone thanked Jax before filing out of his office.
I tried to follow behind them but Jax had other plans. “Miss Mirth, can you stay back for a second?”
Damn.
I turned, forcing a smile across my face. “Of course, what can I help you?—?”
He launched out of his chair and marched over to me, catching me completely off guard. And even more so when he grabbed onto my hips and looked me in the eyes. Through it all, I stood surprisingly still even though I would much rather have preferred to scratch his eyes out.
“How are you feeling? Did you recover fully? I have more medicine if you need it.”
I hadn't expected this, his sudden closeness churned my stomach. But I had to keep playing the part.
I swept my fingers through my hair, smoothing it behind an ear, and smiled. “I'm fine, really. Thank you for taking such good care of me. I know I caused you a lot of trouble.”
“Don't worry about it. I imagine you'll prove very useful to me in the future. I couldn't afford to lose you.” His fingers grazed up my face until his palm cupped my jaw. He pressed his body against mine and I could feel the swell of excitement within him. “Tell me, why were you down there in the first place? I saved your life. I think I at least deserve an explanation.”
Cold sweat dripped down my spine as I was caught off guard by his questioning. “I sensed strange magic coming from the closet and went to investigate.”
“I see, and why would you do that?” He urged for more information.
Keep a cool head or else he’ll suspect me, and everything would have been for nothing.
“Because… I was worried another potion company was spying on us, or trying to steal your ideas. I thought for sure that the magic door would lead me to the culprits. I thought I could discover who they were…to protect you. I didn’t ever think it would lead me to somewhere else within this company, and that you knew about it… I’m sorry,” I breathed, fluttering my lashes down to appear as innocent as possible.”
Does he believe me? What do I do if he doesn’t?
“You were that worried about me that you would step through an enchantment without knowing where it would take you?” His voice was soft, almost a whisper.
I snapped my head up, confused. Did it really work?
“Of course I would. You’re my employer?—”
Without warning, he pressed his lips to mine before I could finish my sentence. His hand snaked around my waist, pulling me closer against him, and my stomach curled up into knots.
No! I don’t want this!
I scrunched my face, but I didn’t push him away.
Lea was revolted by the kiss, but Emma knew she could use it to her advantage.
I relaxed into the kiss and even leaned forward to give the illusion that I wanted more.
I’m going to destroy you, you bastard.
Finally, he pulled away, and I was able to breathe again.
“Why do you smell so divine?” he huffed hotly against my face, his green eyes hooded and dark with desire.
“I'm not sure what you mean. I always smell this way. Perhaps it's because you want me so badly,” I smirked, knowing I was slowly wrapping him around my little finger.
He lunged for my mouth again, his kiss more hungry and demanding this time. It took all the willpower I possessed not to push him away from me.
I forced my body to relax, and let myself succumb to the sensation of his lips moving on mine. Before I knew it, I couldn’t stop the tingles of heat from trickling down my spine.
I moved my face away from his, exposing my neck. I would rather have him kiss anywhere other than my mouth. It reminded me too much of how desperately I used to long for his lips on me like this.
His hands began exploring me, feeling every curve through my robe.
The passion built up between us, and if I ignored the fact that it was him, I could even have brought myself to let go and give myself to him completely.
Both my hands traveled up to his head, my fingers raking through his hair. I let my nails scrape along his scalp, drawing a guttural groan from deep within his throat. But out of nowhere, my hands formed into fists around his locks, and I yanked his mouth away from my neck.
He looked shocked and disoriented, which I answered with a sly tilt to my lips.
“Not so fast there.” I gathered myself once more, stepping away from him, and sauntering my way to the door. “I have work I still need to finish up before the festival. Let’s continue this another time?”
Power flooded through me as I succeeded making it seem as if walking out of his office wasn’t particularly hard for me.
If everyone is leaving early, it's a perfect time for me to sneak down into Facility B again.
I focused on the small clinking vial hidden in my sleeve. I could feel the liquid rolling around in the bottle. It was as if it was trying to break through the very glass keeping it contained.
This has to be the most volatile potion I've ever made. I can't wait to see the damage it does to the Ransoms’ reputation.
“Emma!” a familiar voice called to me almost immediately after exiting Jax’s office.
I turned to see Kiyan running toward me.
Kiyan, the proverbial wrench in my plans, I thought before plastering a wide smile on my face.
“Goodness, Kiyan. I haven’t seen you since—” I stopped myself, not wanting to remind either of us of the events of that day. If I’d thought the whole ordeal had been scary, then I was sure a young man like Kiyan would think the situation was traumatizing. “Well, it’s nice to see you. Are you here for something?”
“Yeah, you , of course!” he laughed. “I wanted to make sure you were alright. I was surprised when I heard that Jax didn’t fire you…or did anything else, for that matter.” He frowned, and his shoulders seemed to shiver at the thought. “I vouched for you as much as I could.”
Jax had assured me that he had merely sent the kid home with a warning after the incident, and commanded him to lie low for a while, but I’d honestly thought I probably wouldn’t see him back here again after what he’d witnessed down there because of me. I felt horrible for getting him involved, but there was nothing to be done about that now.
“You did? But, Kiyan, you shouldn’t have made more trouble for yourself,” I reprimanded, but my smile was actually genuine this time.
“Between the two of us, you were the one in real trouble. I know that, but my family can be… severe when something doesn’t go their way.”
And here I thought he had no clue about his family’s less-than-savory reputation. It would appear he was considerably more percipient than I’d given him credit for.
They might have tried to keep him in the dark, but that hadn’t stopped him from hearing what other people were saying about the Ransoms.
“In any case, I appreciate your help, Kiyan.” I placed my hand on his back and began guiding him away from Jax’s office. “I wonder what I did to deserve a good person like you in my corner?”
“I think it’s reversed,” he chuckled, hiding a slight blush as he shrugged off the compliment. “Why are you here so late, anyway? Everyone else has already gone home to get ready for the festival tonight.” Kiyan changed the subject at the drop of a hat. It was probably for the best.
“I just had some stuff to finish up here. I was going to head home in a bit.” I glanced over his shoulder at the janitorial closet at the end of the hallway.
I guess I'll have to sabotage the potions another day. I can't do anything with Kiyan here.
“Home? Why does it sound like you're not going to the festival?” He gathered my attention with his deeply green and innocent eyes.
“Oh, uh—I wasn’t planning on it. As you can imagine, I'm not exactly in a partying kind of mood.” I tried to wriggle my way out of it, but I could tell by the look on his face he wasn't about to let me off the hook so easily.
“You can't not go to the Lunair Goddess Festival. What kind of werewolf are you?” He seemed to enter a state of panic at the thought of me not going. “Come on, you have to go. It'll be fun. We can hang out and eat a ton of food and pray together. Perhaps, if we're lucky, we'll even get an appearance from Lunaira herself.” Kiyan was practically jumping out of his skin trying to convince me to go.
I took in a deep breath and held it. There was no point in disappointing him. It wasn't like I had anything important going on tonight. “Fine, I'll make an appearance.”
He fist-pumped the air and let out a whoop. “Now the festival will be a lot more fun with you there!”
“Why would you want to hang out with an old lady like me at a festival, anyway?” I poked fun at myself.
“I've never felt like I related to anyone in my life before, but you’re always so kind to me. And sometimes, I even feel like you're more like family than my actual ones are…” His eyes dropped to the floor as we reached the front doors of the building.
But as I looked up, I realized that he hadn’t been kidding earlier when he’d said there wasn’t anyone in the building anymore.
Even the lobby looked like a desolate island.
“I'm sure that's not true, Kiyan. It's difficult at your age to be close to your parents, but I'm sure they love you very much.” I attempted to reassure him, but it seemed to only make him feel more isolated. “I'm very flattered that you see me in such a light. If I could choose my family, I would have loved for you to be a part of it, too.”
His eyes lighted up as he gave me a soft smile. “Thank you for that, Emma.”
I went home and changed into my festival clothing, which consisted of a long, bright red and flowy robe made entirely out of silk.
The color and luxurious fabric were far more eye-catching than I liked.
I had gotten so used to blending into the background, that I’d forgotten what it was like to stand out. I turned around, looking at the outfit in the mirror.
I feel…beautiful.
As soon as I was ready, I left my apartment and found Kiyan waiting outside for me, wearing different clothes now, too. “Did you rush home, change, and come back here to wait for me?” I couldn't help but laugh at him. “It would’ve been much easier if you’d just gone on ahead to the festival and let us meet up there again.”
“I wanted to make sure you got there safely.” He gave me a pouty look before rolling his eyes.
“No need to get upset, I'm sorry for teasing you.” I held up my hands with my palms facing him. “Let's go. I don't want you to miss out on anything.”
He slowly inched out of his pouty demeanor as we made our way to the festival, and chatted away. In no time at all, we reached the entrance.
Woah, I've never seen such extravagance before!
The front gates were decorated with thousands of night flowers and Lunair bell vines.
The air smelled sickly sweet from the flowers and slightly bitter from the vines. Beyond that, a thick appetizing scent masked everything else.
Even from here, I could smell what each stand was cooking, and my stomach was rumbling to try them all.
It wouldn't hurt anyone to actually enjoy myself for a night!
People were filing in, but it was still too early to be crowded.
If I was looking for anyone of note, now would be the time to find them, but who would I be looking for? Perhaps Zane, but he would be with his family. It would be best not to interfere with his life more than I already had.
I doubt Mairy would like very much that a woman she didn't know was conversing with her husband. Mair… I wish I could talk to her as well. I miss our long conversations. I wonder how she would react if she knew I was still alive.
I wondered how she’d reacted when she had heard of my death.
I shook the thoughts out of my head and tried to focus on something else. My eyes scanned my surroundings, checking for any possible threats.
I nearly relaxed into myself. That was until I saw the Ransoms. It wasn't just Jax and Chika. I was prepared to confront them, but Omara was there as well…which meant?—
Everything good and light I was feeling up until now, shifted to heaviness.
It was like a boulder had been dropped onto my lungs. I couldn’t breathe.
He's here as well. Diesel.
My bottom lip quivered, but I tried to contain myself, but abject fear had overtaken my system.
Jax was the first person to look over and see me. He gave me a bright smile and waved me over to him.
No, please. I don't want to have to confront him right now. I thought I was ready, but I'm not! Maybe I can pretend I didn't see him.
“Emma! Kiyan! We’re over here!” Jax shouted from across the way, and Kiyan waved in response.
I turned to Kiyan so suddenly that I actually startled him. “I think I could use a drink first. How about I catch up with you guys later?”
Kiyan frowned. “Are you sure? I don't mind waiting for you?”
“Don't worry about me! Go spend time with your family. I'll be there before you know it.” I managed to manipulate him into leaving my side.
Thank Lunaira!
I turned around, saw a large group of people heading into the festival, and wiggled my way into the middle of the crowd. But I couldn’t move along with it for too long, for I ran head-first into someone.
The force of the collision was enough to knock me off balance. “Gah!” I shouted as I began falling backward. I shut my eyes, preparing to hit the ground, but instead, I was floating, hanging in the air diagonally. “What the?—?”
I looked up, instantly recognizing the man standing before me, holding me by my arms.
His dark brown eyes held my gaze with a vengeance as he squinted at me almost menacingly. “What’re the odds? We meet again it seems.”
“Emory?” I uttered his name as he helped me to stand up straight again.
The crowds of people moved around us like a quick stream parting because it had no choice; there was a big and steadfast rock in their way.
“In the flesh. I have to say, I'm rather surprised you're here tonight. I thought you’d have more important things to do.” Emory smirked as if he knew something—as if he knew me better than was possible from our two, now three, short encounters.
“Excuse me, but I'm a werewolf. How do you expect me to miss the festival of my patron goddess? You're the one who doesn't have to be here.” My brows furrowed and my arms crossed, letting him know I was not one to be taken lightly.
He chuckled at me with a small shake of his head before continuing. “What I mean is, I thought you would have been too busy destroying the people who imprisoned you to attend this festival.”
My blood ran ice cold.
My heart skipped a beat.
I was still for a moment as I tried to collect myself.
“I have no idea what you're talking about, Emory Blake.” I stepped into him, shoving my sharp elbow into his ribs threateningly.
He hardly even batted an eye. If anything, he seemed more amused than ever. He leaned down, bringing his face to mine and tilting his head to the side. “You can lie to everyone. Your fake boyfriend, your pretend friends, but you can’t lie to me… Lea Nadir.”
My mouth ran so dry that I couldn't respond to him even if I wanted to. In truth, I didn't have anything even resembling a response. I had been found out. I had no idea how he knew who I was, but he did.
Then he held his hand in front of my face, and without warning, opened it palm up and blew onto it. Purple dust exploded in my face.
I quickly squeezed my eyes closed, but I could feel the graininess of it inside my lids. I’d reacted too late. I quickly wiped my face clean and looked up at him angrily.
“There she is, the true face of the woman I know. I was right,” he whispered so that no one else could overhear.
Did he somehow undo the potion I took for my disguise?
“What have you done?” I panicked, trying to hide my face with my hands. “I have to get out of here!”
I looked around, but there was nowhere I could go. There were too many people everywhere. If the wrong person saw me, I would be put to death quicker than I could plead my case.
“Relax. Do you really think I would put you in danger? The powder will wear off in a handful of seconds.” Emory seemed so nonchalant about it, but I was utterly confused and fear-stricken.
I was so focused on avoiding being exposed, that I didn't stop to think how Emory knew me from my past. He certainly didn’t look familiar to me, though he’d made it sound like we had been acquaintances at some point in the past.
I glanced around at the sea of unfamiliar faces, counting down the seconds until my disguise would return.
Then my eyes locked with someone in the distance.
Zane!
His face went pale, and his jaw dropped.
Quickly, I looked away and ducked behind the crowd, hoping he would think he’d only just imagined seeing me, a ghost, a figment of his imagination, and not come over to investigate.
“Dammit!” I raised my sleeve next to my face like a curtain, my eyes darting up to Emory. “If you didn't want me to get caught, you have a funny way of showing it, you big oaf!”
Emory looked over his shoulder and must have seen Zane approaching us because he looked back at me, and did something I never could’ve seen coming.
He grabbed either side of my face, and with eyes filled with adoration, he leaned down and pressed his mouth to mine.
“What are you—?” I punched him in the chest, trying to get him to move away, but he only held on tighter. I then realized what he was doing.
He was just trying to buy me time, hiding my face until my disguise reverted back. I stopped fighting it, and actually…
Hey…this actually feels nice…
Whoever this Emory Blake was, he was a really good kisser.
Without realizing it, I leaned into the kiss more, wanting to soak up the feeling.
There was nothing tainted about this kiss.
I didn't have to pretend I was Emma kissing someone else.
This man, for whatever reason, knew exactly who I truly was.
His fingers moved to the back of my head, tangling in my hair and pulling me closer.
A burning heat clawed its way into my core.
I wanted more.
Hold me tighter…
Emory was suddenly yanked away from me, and I opened my eyes to see Zane pulling Emory back with a tight fist bundled in the guy’s shirt.
Zane quickly looked at me, eyes wide with anger and hope, scanning my face for something.
I had no idea whether the powder's effects had dissolved by now or not, but I still gave him a look of bewildered outrage.
Who is he seeing? Emma or Lea?
His shoulders relaxed, and his whole demeanor deflated. “I'm so sorry. I thought you were someone else. You looked just like—” He looked like he was about to be terribly sick, but he was quick to right himself. “Please accept my deepest apologies, Emma.”
Zane backed away into the crowd, keeping eye contact with me as he did so. If I knew Zane as well as I thought I did, he wasn't about to leave this be so easily. If he had the slightest inkling that I was still alive, he wouldn’t rest until he found out the truth.
“That was a close one. Sorry about that, Lea.” Emory turned back to me and smiled.
“My name is Emma. Don't call me anything else.” The feeling of his lips, his touch, his body pressed against mine, still lingered, but the rage boiling in my blood saw those good sensations pushed to the back of my mind.
I turned to walk away from him, but his words stopped me.
“I wonder if that's really what you want. Don't you miss being seen as the person you are? Or did you forget altogether who that is?” he whispered into my ear.
The rush of his breath caused the stray hairs to tickle my neck as they brushed against the sensitive skin there.
I glanced over my shoulder, and shot him a look that would make most men back the hell off. Though, I doubted he was that sort of man.
“If you're ever tired of pretending to be someone you’re not, you know where to find me.” Emory was still wearing a self-satisfied smirk, even as he bowed his head at me before walking away.
Who is Emory Blake, and how does he know who I am?
The last thing I wanted now was to still hang around this festival. This had been a bad idea from the start.
Maybe I should just go home. No one would notice.
Then I remembered, I still had the vial of the sabotage potion on me. I had transferred it into these robes on the occasion I would get the chance to sneak back into Facility B.
On the night of the festival, the coast will be clearer than ever…