Chapter 3 Masika #3
Brayden rose from his seat and stormed out of the room, severing Catherine with a poisonous glare before slamming the door closed behind him.
The others trickled out shortly after, whispering among themselves as they funneled into the corridor.
Masika knew her best chance at exiting the room undetected would be to wait for everybody to leave, but Catherine continued to linger.
Even once the last few members drifted out of the room, plunging them into silence, Catherine remained rooted behind her chair, a faraway look in her eyes.
Masika took a cautious step toward the meeting room door, hoping and praying that her cloaking enchantment would hold despite the anxiety coursing through her limbs. She took another step forward, hand outstretched, fingers trembling as she reached for the doorknob—
“It’s not polite to eavesdrop, little dove.”
Shit. Shit, shit, shit.
Well, she supposed there was no point in keeping the facade any longer. She dropped the cloaking enchantment, the haze of golden light vanishing with a flicker.
Catherine’s eyes met hers, not a hint of surprise in her expression.
Masika let out an exasperated breath.
“What the hell are you trying to find out there? What is this expedition about?”
Catherine smirked.
“Do I need to put locks on your door? Have a guard follow your every move?”
“Right.” Masika crossed her arms. “Deflecting. Shouldn’t be surprised, should I? You’re just as secretive as always.”
Catherine’s expression hardened as she took a step forward. When she spoke next, the teasing lilt in her voice had vanished, taking on that authoritative edge she’d put on during the meeting.
“You shouldn’t have been in here.”
“Why?” Masika shot back without hesitation. “What are you keeping from us?”
Catherine shrugged.
“Nothing.”
“Oh, don’t nothing me.” Masika scoffed. “I heard every word.” She stepped forward, unflinching beneath Catherine’s narrowed gaze. “So…answer the question.”
“We’re…” Catherine looked up at the ceiling, biting the inside of her cheek as she searched for the right words. “…looking for something. Something that has the potential to shift the tides of this war. That could save the afterlife.”
“What?”
Catherine cocked her head with a teasing grin.
“That’s classified.”
Masika blinked, cheeks burning with anger.
“You think this is funny?”
Catherine stepped closer, reaching a tentative hand out.
“Oh, come on—”
“You left me!” Masika bellowed. She hadn’t meant for the words to come tumbling out, but she couldn’t restrain herself. Not anymore. Not when the dormant pain had fully ruptured, bringing with it the unforgiving sting of old wounds.
Catherine’s hand dropped to her side, her mouth opening and closing in surprise.
“Ah.” She awkwardly shifted from one foot to the other. “So that’s what this is really about.”
“You could have talked to me about it,” Masika whispered, ashamed of her own desperation. “Given me a chance to reason with you. Dammit, Catherine…you could have at least tried to take me with you.”
Catherine’s face fell as Masika’s words echoed between them.
She stepped closer, close enough that an unwanted wisp of longing coiled around Masika’s stomach.
She could imagine that in another life, in another version of their story, she’d reach out and brush her fingertips against Catherine and destroy the space between them.
But not in this one. In this version, Masika remained motionless, her expression cold and controlled.
“Come on, little dove.” Catherine looked up at her with pleading eyes. “What will it take for you to forgive me?”
An idea sparked in Masika’s mind. Something wildly out of character. It would be a risk, but given the circumstances…one she was willing to make.
“Why?” Masika inched closer. With that single step, the space between them was nearly nonexistent, begging to be closed. Catherine must have sensed it, too. Her gaze darted between Masika’s eyes and lips. “Did you miss me?”
When Catherine spoke next, her voice was low and hoarse, a sound that Masika wanted to drink in.
“More than you know.”
“Is it difficult to see me again?” Masika reached her hand out, tentatively tucking a loose strand of hair behind Catherine’s ear.
The second Masika’s fingertips brushed the delicate skin of Catherine’s neck, Catherine’s eyes fluttered, a deep sigh escaping her lips.
“To be so close to me, yet…unable to have me?”
Catherine shut her eyes.
“It’s torture,” she whispered.
Masika let the moment linger, the anticipation building as Catherine leaned in closer, nearly melting in her palms. It was exactly what Masika wanted…what she had envisioned on so many lonely nights.
But then Masika stepped backward, snatching the moment away with a smug grin.
“Perfect,” she chirped, sauntering toward the door. “A few decades of agonizing torture, and we can call it even.” She glanced over her shoulder, delighted to see Catherine staring back at her, jaw slack. “See you around, Cat.”
On any other day, Masika might have felt a sting of remorse for her little performance. She might have even been tempted to follow through with it, unable to temper her desire to close the space between them. But she couldn’t dwell on any of that now…not when her plan had worked.
Because as Masika exited the room, victory swirling in her chest, Catherine was too stunned to notice the empty key ring dangling at her hip…and the key tucked within Masika’s palm.