Chapter 18 #3
“The function of its magic has to be to protect,” I mumbled to myself while staring at the book. “The only way to find out what magic it contains is to open the damn book.”
Two pairs of supernatural, scrutinizing eyes studied me intently.
I flopped my butt on the couch and sighed. “Magic is not inherently good or evil but reflects the user's intent. It’s a witch book, most likely. The symbol. The magic. So it could be dark or light magic. But not many witches are left in the human realm.”
Over the years, humans have had an uneasy relationship with magic, only tolerating its practice or condemning it.
The bittersweet aroma of coffee hit my nose, and my gaze traveled to Torin. He stood with his back to the stove, watching me over the rim of his mug.
“I really don’t like the title of your book, sweetheart. Banished souls? And what does it mean?” Hayden paused. “I hate to agree with the Alpha, but what if the book has dark magic? Dark magic is banned, of course. But who knows?”
He took his previous seat and turned his back to Torin.
I shook my head. “It can’t be. I feel the magic. And its beneficence.”
“Maybe it’s a trap of your enemies,” Hayden said, trying to play the devil’s advocate, but it wasn’t helping me now.
“I don’t have enemies. Until you two showed up.”
Hayden chuckled, and I finally noticed he had put a shirt on, thank goodness.
“Well, sweetheart, regardless, now that the vampires have caught on to your location, they’ll report it to the vampire Queen. She won’t miss the chance to capture or hurt the werewolf King’s daughter. You have more enemies by association than you think.”
I huffed an annoyed puff of hot air and sprang to my feet. I placed the book back in my bag again.
“We’re not going anywhere with this conversation. I’ll sleep on it so I don’t make a rash decision. Are you two happy now?” I darted my gaze between the men to get confirmation that I’d be left alone.
Torin took another long sip of his coffee.
“The princess needs to rest, so…” Hayden swung himself around on the barstool, now facing Torin.
“I agree, she does,” Torin said, washing his mug at the sink. “I’m sleeping here.”
Hayden’s gaze fell on me. His lips parted slightly as if he had harsh words for Torin, but my bodyguard shut his mouth to let me handle it.
“I only have one bedroom where I sleep. So you guys can share the couch and spoon if you’d like.” I shrugged.
Hayden started grumbling about how Dad had sent him, and his job was to protect me, while Torin didn’t take his eyes off me. I massaged the side of my head and groaned. Exhaustion took me over. I only wanted to be by myself.
The Alpha’s eyes softened, and the amber was so alluring that it urged me to pop up off the couch, cross toward him, and touch his face.
I didn’t.
“We’re all going to my apartment. It’s a two-bedroom, so it’d be enough space for all of us,” Torin said.
“All of us?” I blinked. “I mean…”
“Yes, sweetheart. I’m invited too,” Hayden said. “The Alpha knows I’ll report him immediately to the King if he stands in my way to be next to you.”
Torin’s jaw muscle twitched, but he remained silent.
I had no energy left to discuss further arrangements, so I just walked to the front door, holding my bag, and waited for the men to catch up.
Torin’s driver took me and the Alpha while Hayden drove his rental car. After the short drive, we arrived at the apartment.
At first, I thought Torin stayed in London in a penthouse or some other luxurious space, but the apartment we walked into was kind of…normal. No private elevators. No marble floors or expensive decor.
Although my life standard was modest now, I grew up surrounded by luxury that my parents liked to indulge in. Torin certainly had the means to afford grandiose stuff, but he didn’t, pleasantly surprising me.
The layout of the apartment was very similar to Lisa’s. Torin’s forestry scent was strong in the first bedroom I walked into. The king-size bed was made, but the pillows and the bed sheet had wrinkles.
As I headed deeper into the room, I felt no guilt for entering Torin’s closet to pry. He only had the suit he wore at the fundraiser and several pairs of jeans and shirts folded on the top shelf. Since he didn’t travel to London with much, did it mean he was leaving soon?
Emerging from his bedroom, I faced the two men. “You two can take the bedrooms, and I’ll crash on the couch to have unlimited access to Netflix.”
Falling asleep distracted by a mindless movie sounded so good right now.
Torin growled at me, and I blew out a breath.
“You didn’t just growl at me, Alpha, did you?”
“It’s been a hell of a day, Princess. I’m asking you, nicely, not to push me anymore.”
I scoffed. “I didn’t know you could do nice.”
Hayden chuckled and flopped down onto the couch. Torin disappeared into the other bedroom and returned with a pillow and a blanket. He shoved them hard into Hayden’s chest.
“He’s sleeping on the couch, and you’re sleeping in that room.” Torin pointed to his bedroom, and my stomach fluttered. “I’ll take the other room.”
Hayden didn’t protest as if he had already anticipated Torin’s every move.
“No way,” I said.
While Hayden was unfolding his blanket, making himself comfy on the large couch, Torin flashed me his crimson eyes.
“I promise you there’ll be consequences, Princess.”
Just like he’d hauled me over his shoulder at the fundraiser. Or he could bite me—a thought that terrified me.
I shook my head. I would comply with his demanding request not because I was submitting but because Torin’s face looked tired and pained. I didn’t want to be his reason for another shift.
I stomped to his room and shut the door behind me.
“Arrogant and bossy jerk,” I muttered to myself.
“I heard that.” Torin’s deep voice came from the other side of the door.
“Good.”
At least his room had an en-suite bathroom. Torin wouldn’t mind if I made myself comfortable while using his things. After showering, I slipped into one of Torin’s oversized cotton shirts, the fabric hugging me with warmth like I was in a cocoon. My lips twisted up in a tired smile.
I dropped onto his bed. Sniffing the bedsheets like a creeper, I filled my lungs with everything Torin. I pulled the quilt to my neck and inhaled a long and heady forest scent. Torin’s fragrance evoked a feeling of comfort, security, and belonging.
Belonging? Shutting my eyes closed, I focused on the feeling—a gentle embrace from an invisible force whispering that I was a part of something. As if there was a place, purpose, or a person waiting for me but was out of reach.
Ignoring my thoughts, I turned on my side. My body relaxing, I succumbed to slumber.
I woke up in the morning, realizing I hadn’t gotten such a good night's sleep in a while. I stretched my arms overhead and listened intently, but no noises came from the living room.
I did my business in the bathroom and then stared at the single toothbrush and toothpaste in the cup holder.
Deciding that fresh breath was worth it, I picked up Torin’s toothbrush and squeezed some paste.
I should have been grossed out since I had never used anyone else’s toothbrush, even Tammy’s, but it was Torin’s.
I had white foam dripping in the sink and all over my mouth when Torin’s huge body appeared behind me. His eyes were set on me in the reflection of the mirror. I barely reached his pec muscles, and his broad shoulders completely hid me from the world behind him.
“What do you want?” I asked, and more foam slipped past my lips and dripped on his shirt. I spit out the rest and then looked at him again. “Oopsie?”
Torin smiled—like a genuine smile with white human teeth, no fangs.
“Cute,” he said and gave me a heated look. “I came for my toothbrush.”
I rinsed my mouth, washed his toothbrush, and put it back in the cup. “Are you mad?”
He chuckled but didn’t move or speak until I was done washing my face. “I’m not mad, Anna.”
The way he said my name had me squeezing my eyes shut. I immediately reopened them.
Torin’s gaze told me that he knew the effect he had on me. And I hated that he knew.
He stepped into me, and his body brushed against mine, leaving no distance between us.
“Don’t move,” he said in a low, sensual voice that enveloped me and vibrated against the skin of my back.
Goose bumps, the good kind, prickled on my arms as I watched Torin lean in. His head was so close to mine, and his eyes kept flashing crimson when he looked at me in the mirror.
His vampire side was fighting to emerge. Why did he play with fire? He could bite me as soon as he shifted. But besides his eyes, he displayed no other signs of transformation.
And why was I just standing here and not elbowing him hard in the stomach?
His glove-covered hands grasped my shoulders at the top as if he were afraid I wasn’t going to obey his demand to stay put. The tip of his nose touched the skin between my neck and shoulder, and he inhaled deeply.
I shivered.
The noise that escaped Torin’s throat sounded like a tortured moan of pleasure. His chest vibrated with a low growl, and my body heated. I squeezed my thighs and held my breath as Torin sniffed me again.
I closed my eyes, ordering my body not to get lost in the delicious waves of warmth and other sensations Torin drew out of me with his presence.
The next moment, I felt cold, and when I reopened my eyes, Torin was gone, and so was his toothbrush and paste. I let out a sigh of relief.
My new mission in life—make the Alpha leave London.
Dressed and ready to return to my apartment, I walked into the living room. Hayden was his usual chirpy self, smiling at me.
“The Alpha doesn’t have anything in his fridge, sweetheart. I’ll make you breakfast in your apartment,” Hayden said.
He placed the pillow and folded blanket on the side of the couch.
“It’s fine,” I said and cleared my throat. “After we get breakfast, I want the three of us to discuss what we’re going to do next.”
Torin walked into the living room then.
“And we’ll figure out how to open the book,” I added.
Hayden smiled and nodded.
Torin averted his gaze, and my heart dropped to my stomach. He had something else in mind, and he wasn’t sharing it. A bad feeling settled in my chest, spreading like wildfire over my body. Or was this feeling there because of Torin’s presence?
I couldn’t wait to eat a breakfast sandwich smothered with lots of cheese in my peaceful apartment. I imagined I would settle into my couch with a steaming mug of coffee after breakfast.
Preferably alone, but I knew that was wishful thinking.
My mates and I drove back to my apartment. Moments later, when we were climbing the stairs in my building, Torin and Hayden exchanged strange looks.
Hayden rushed ahead, and Torin grasped my hand and held me behind him, shielding me.
From what exactly?
When we got in front of my door, Hayden pushed the door open with his foot. “No one is inside,” he said in a low voice.
Torin pulled me into him. “Your apartment was broken into, Anna.”