Chapter 21 #2
“You have the right to feel that way, Princess,” he whispered and scooted over to me.
My insides warmed, knowing that he wouldn’t vamp out on me and we could sit next to each other without arguing.
Torin startled me when he plucked the pillow from my arms and placed it on his lap. He gently pulled my shoulders down, and I rested my head on the pillow.
But my body felt so tense and awkward.
“Relax, Princess. I’m not going to eat you…now,” he said and chuckled.
I scoffed. “That’s not even funny, Torin.”
I had the feeling Torin didn’t know what to do with me, but his attempt to lighten up my mood was cute.
I kicked off my shoes and adjusted my body to a more comfortable position. I turned my head and peered at Torin’s face. It appeared squarer and more masculine from this angle, and when he looked at me with soft amber eyes, I didn’t like the heat in his gaze.
“You’re beautiful when you cry,” he whispered.
A warm wave washed over me. The mate bond between us was so alive. It was so strong, as if Torin had some kind of hold over me. I knew it could ignite a fire within me that could consume me, and I wasn’t going to let that happen. I quickly turned back to my side and closed my eyes.
I’d fared well without him for five years. I could do another five.
I almost wanted him to vamp out on me, manhandle me, and fight me every step of the way—not because I was a masochist, but because it was easier to hate him. I didn’t like his gentle and soft side.
I inhaled deeply and filled my lungs with Torin’s scent of forest, pine, and fresh air. I shouldn’t have liked it so much.
He touched my head, but there was so much hesitation that it felt like a brush of a feather. I didn’t know what he was waiting for, but his touch turned firmer and surer after a moment.
He ran his fingers through my hair, and sometimes his gloved fingertips massaged my scalp. How would his touch feel without the gloves?
Despite all his wrongdoings, Torin was melting the icy, tall walls I’d once built around my heart with his gentle and kind side I’d never seen before.
With heavy eyelids, I allowed myself to stay close to Torin, just for now. My head relaxed further on the pillow, and Torin’s touch lulled me into slumber.
The next time I opened my eyes, I blinked a few times, and a mug with steaming coffee set on the small table appeared in my sight.
I sat up, and Torin gave me a gentle smile. His cold and hot behavior only gave me more tightness in my chest. I pulled on my boots and smoothed my hair down.
“Hey. I’m glad you took a quick nap,” Tammy said. “I made all the reservations. I’m catching a late-night flight to Milan today.”
Tammy’s words felt…off. My body felt off, too, like it didn’t belong to me, and I had no control over my emotions.
I wouldn’t mind going on vacation to Italy with my best friend, and now I regretted not doing it before the supernatural world came back for me. First, Lisa was taken away from me, and now Tammy.
My human friend and I would drift apart as I kept my distance, trying not to involve her in my supernatural drama.
Bitterness flooded my tongue. I let out a heavy sigh.
Instantly, Tammy sat on my other side and rested her arm over my shoulder, giving me a sideways hug.
“Everything will be okay. You’ll see,” she said.
Torin scooted to the side and stood. He took his coffee and sipped from it nearby.
“But how is it going to be okay when Lisa isn’t here anymore?” I asked.
My eyes filled with tears while my mind forced images of Lisa’s dead body to appear before my eyes. I placed my hands over my face and rubbed my eyes like that would stop the tears. I was an emotional mess, but the worst was that I kept breaking down in front of Torin.
This was the second time he’d seen me like this, and I didn’t like showing him my vulnerable side.
“Lisa died because of me, Tammy. I don’t know how I can live with that.”
“You’ll have to move past the guilt,” Tammy said in a low voice. “You can’t do that to yourself. Lisa didn’t have anyone, but since she found you, she was happy for the last seven years. You helped her simply by being around her.”
“Yeah.” I took a deep breath. The guilt piled up with the dead bodies. “Can you hand me my bag?”
Tammy grabbed it from the other end of the couch, and I pulled my phone out.
“Who are you calling?” she asked.
“Hayden. I forgot to tell him about the funeral arrangements.”
As I placed the phone against my ear, my gaze traveled to Torin automatically. He had his eyes narrowed at me over the rim of his mug.
“Sweetheart?” Hayden’s voice came on the line, and Torin’s frown deepened.
I averted my eyes.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I swallowed hard, hoping it’d make it easier to talk about Lisa. “I forgot to ask you something.”
“Anything.”
“We didn’t discuss funeral arrangements.
Lisa didn’t have any relatives, but she told me she wanted to be cremated and buried next to Ben at the Remembrance of Lifetime crematory.
I’ll cover the cost, whatever it is, Hayden.
Can you help me with the arrangements? Just tell me what you need when I see you today, okay? ”
“Don’t worry about that, sweetheart. I got it covered. Now tell me where you are.”
The thud of a mug hitting the glass surface of the coffee table made my body jerk. I glanced at Torin and frowned. He crossed his arms over his chest, and I sighed.
We were like fire and fire. Even if I had any flicker of hope that it would ever work between us, now I knew better.
“We’re at Tammy’s. She’s okay,” I said and smiled at her.
I could hear his smile, too. “Good.”
“And thank you, Hayden.”
“I wish you would rely on me more,” Hayden said, and I made sure not to look at Torin because I knew he had a grimace on his face.
“The paramedics and police are still here, so you can keep out for a little while. I’ll see you later,” he said.
After we hung up, Tammy suggested we go shopping in the mall for clothes since most of mine were destroyed. I needed a few pairs of jeans and some shirts.
Because my parents taught me their royal etiquette, although much of it didn’t stick with me, I asked Torin if he wanted to come along with us. I was trying to be nice to him. He agreed after giving me a “duh” look, and we were on our way.
Shopping with Tammy could be exhausting, but she made sure we didn’t visit every store. I liked that she was considerate of my mood. After an hour, we wandered to the food court, where Torin stood out among the humans and received curious glances.
While Tammy and I finished a burger each, Torin ate three. My soft stomach didn’t need more carbs, but Torin’s fries were right next to me. I stole one, then several more until I finished them all. When my fingers reached the bottom of the empty bag, I blinked and apologized.
He chuckled. “First my T-shirt. Then my toothbrush, and now my fries,” he said sarcastically.
I laughed. “Was that an attempt at a joke?”
He smiled at me in a way I hadn’t seen before, and a fluttery sensation started behind my rib cage. Ugh.
I cleared my throat. “Thank you for the therapy shopping session, Tammy.”
“We’ll keep in touch. Now I’m off to pack,” she said, winking at me.
After we left the mall and dropped Tammy off at her apartment, Torin walked through her building several times looking for anything unusual. If anyone was nearby watching her, he’d know. I breathed easier knowing my best friend would leave for vacation soon, and she wasn’t in any immediate danger.
Torin must have released his driver because he took over driving, and I finally let my body sink into the leather passenger seat.
“She’s not under threat right now,” he said. “The vacation will help.”
“That’s good.” I took a deep, satisfied breath. “Really good.”
Torin drove to the library.
I twisted my body to face him. “I know we need to talk about important stuff.”
For example, when was he leaving? I’d guess he wanted to discuss my safety since he claimed he was here to protect me.
And the book, too. I wanted to figure out how to open it so badly, but Torin was against it. Hence, I needed him to leave me alone.
“That’s right, Princess. We do have important stuff to discuss,” Torin said, but something in his voice knotted my stomach.
He glanced at me, crimson filling his eyes. “What is your relationship with your bodyguard?”
He stared back at the busy streets, but the leather of his gloves strained against his bulging knuckles, and the vein on the side of his neck popped dark blue.
I stumbled for words as dread crept through me, unable to answer his intimidating demands. If I could only have superpowers to flee a fast-moving car.
I wasn’t ready for that conversation.