Chapter 47 #2
I place my hands on his arms and turn him to face the mirror, then open his shirt wider to show him the mark. “What do you think?” I am slightly worried that a permanent mark on his skin might upset him.
His eyes flick down to the gold feather on his chest, right by where his heart would be. He studies it for a while, shifting this way and that, and pouting at the mirror a few times, as if he were in some fashion show. I bite my lip to keep from laughing.
“Oh, Hitch, baby girl, you gave me a tat without the pain.” He laughs, then touches it, and I feel the touch on my hand like a light caress.
“Anytime that you need me, touch it and I will be able to feel you.” I reach my hand to rub over the mark on my hand, and Mekhi smiles.
“Oh girl, I feel it like,” he pauses, mulling over his words.
“Like a tingle over my heart.” He smiles softly at me, then turns to face me.
“You’re going to be okay, Hitch. You’ve always been a badass.
I knew that the first day we met. This Macy bitch got nothing on my girl,” he says, all serious now.
He reaches forward and touches my cheek.
“I hope so.” My doubts cloud my voice slightly. “I’m going to miss you,” I say, the words catching in my throat. Since we’ve met, we have never spent much time away from each other. This man is my family. Mekhi pulls me into his arms and hugs me tight.
“I will fucking miss you more.”
I can hear the tears in his voice. We both hold each other for a bit longer. The reality of what is coming hits me hard, making me squeeze him tighter.
The prophecy.
Macy.
Tate.
The Blood Bringer.
All things that are now my reality. I just hope they come for me one at a time; I’m not ready for all of them at once.
Pulling back, I smile up at Mekhi. “You need anything, and I mean anything, touch the mark and I’ll come.”
He nods at me. “I will always need you, Hitch.” He smiles sadly, then steps back from me. “Now go before I smudge my eyeliner,” he sasses, sniffs his tears away, then kisses my cheek one last time.
I leave his room and head for Lucy’s. Mekhi said she was out, but I can’t go without leaving her a note or something.
I knock on the door first to be sure. When there is no answer, I slowly push it open.
Her room is white with splashes of pink everywhere, a little smaller than mine.
Her bed is situated in the middle of the room, covered with pillows and stuffed teddies.
Her curtains are wide open, giving her the best view of the front garden.
I walk over to the window and look down, my eyes locking instantly on a set of yellow and red flashing eyes.
They narrow, an evil glint in them making me step back. Drake is staring up at Lucy’s window.
He was staring up at me.
“Well, isn’t this a surprise?” I hear from behind me, his dark voice making me jump.
I turn and see him standing by the door, dressed in a black suit, his long blonde hair up in a bun at the nape of his neck.
He keeps his hands in his pockets. Drake glowers at me, blocking my way out, his eyes glowing full red.
He shouldn’t be able to get into the house; the wards are entirely in place.
Drake offers me a knowing grin as he shakes his head. “The wards at the cottage were so much stronger than the ones here; it takes more than a weak spell to keep me out,” he smirks at me. I had forgotten he could read my mind.
I’m going to have to use the book to protect the house more. This spell was cast before I got my book, so it’s going to be weaker.
I have no idea what kind of daemon Drake is; he is powerful.
“Gaelan is downstairs. He’ll kill you if he sees you here,” I say, trying to sound like I mean it, like I’m not scared. Drake chuckles darkly.
“Your dream daemon would not last a second with me, but please. Call him.” His voice is menacing as he moves to sit down in a chair, crossing his legs and gesturing to the door. “Well?” he grins at me.
“What do you want?” I snap, ignoring his comment. I try to keep my nerves calm; that’s what you’re supposed to do when faced with a rabid dog after all. It makes them less likely to attack.
I don’t want Gaelan to get hurt fighting Drake.
“A rabid dog? Interesting thought,” he says, sounding indifferent. I don’t answer. I’m sick and tired of this man and his mind-reading shit.
“You know what I want, Arianna, and I know you have found it. I can see the evidence plain as day.” His eyes run over the marks on my arms and face. “I’m just trying to work out why you have not handed it over to me,” he drawls, his eyes narrowing.
“It’s mine,” I say, my markings flash on my body as a wave of fierce possession wraps around me. Drake just laughs.
“Do you not remember what I said?” In a flash, he erupts from the chair, wrapping his hand around my neck and squeezing it tight.
Lexus growls in my head. Drake’s mask of rage shifts into something resembling bewilderment, his eyes darting back and forth between mine, as though he can hear it too. “I remember,” I rasp out. “I’ve decided not to care.” I place my hand on his chest and whisper, “Retro” Back.
My magic rushes out of my hand like a spark and hits Drake in the chest. He flies back, crashing into the wall, leaving a formidable dent in the smashed bricks. “The book is mine,” I snarl. “If you need my help, then you can fucking ask nicely for it,” I add in a shout.
Drake stands slowly, grinning as he gets to his feet.
“You have a daemon? That’s new.” He brushes brick dust from his shirt, then moves towards me again.
“Learn your powers, Book Reader. You are going to need them.” I pull in a shaky breath as he shimmers away, leaving me exasperated.
He sounds as if he knows a great deal more than we do.
That scares me even more.
“Rose?” I jump as Gaelan rushes into the room, daggers drawn and eyes glowing bright blue. “Are you okay? I felt your fear, and—” his eyes scan the room, and he frowns at the dent in Lucy’s wall. “Rose?”
I shake my head. “I’m fine. Lucy isn’t here, so I’m just leaving her a note.” I say as nonchalantly as I can, walking over to her desk and pulling out a.
“Hitch?” Mekhi shouts my name. “What the fuck was that bang?” He bursts in, wielding a hairbrush and a mirror in his hands, looking ready to bash someone over the head with it. Gaelan laughs, and I shake my head.
“It was nothing. I tripped,” I tell them. I don’t want them to worry. If Mekhi finds out that Drake has been here, he is going to move out. If I tell Gaelan, I will never be able to leave the castle ever again.
I will tell Gaelan, though, just not yet.
Folding the note over, I leave it on the bed for Lucy. When I turn, Mekhi is glaring at Gaelan, which is adorable since Gaelan looks completely unfazed by it. He pats Mekhi on the back. “I’ll look after her brother, don’t you worry,” he says.
Mekhi chews his bottom lip, then waves the hairbrush in his face.
“You had better, if I find out you let this bitch Macy anywhere near her, you’ll have me to worry about.
I’ll give that perfect hair of yours a perm and bleach the ends, understand?
” he gives Gaelan a pointed look. The threat falls on deaf ears.
Gaelan holds his hand out for Mekhi to take, then pulls him in close, giving him one of those man hugs and patting him on the back.
“She is my mate, Mekhi; I would die before I see any harm come to her,” he says, pulling back. “You have my word.”
Mekhi nods, then his eyes lock with mine. “Isn’t it enough that this man is fine as fuck? Why does he smell so good, too?” He says with a grin.
I smile. “I know, right?”
Gaelan chuckles. “I’m still in the room,” he exclaims.
“We know,” Mekhi and I say at the same time, then share a laugh.
Mekhi comes over and gives me one last hug.
“I’m going out, so I don’t have to be here alone again.
Plus, you don’t need to see this perfect face covered in tears.
” He looks down into my face. “You are going to smash this Hitch. Remember that.” He grins, then turns and heads to the door.
He gives Gaelan one last lingering look before he walks out.
Emotions tug in my chest, making tears roll down my cheeks.
Gaelan pulls me close, wiping them away with his thumbs. “As soon as this is all over, we will come back,” he says.
“Why don’t I believe you? I feel like this is never going to be over.” I wrap my arms around him and hold him tight. There seems to be too many enemies at our throats, and if the prophecy is true, I am the only one who can do anything about it.