The Two Kings (Afterlife Saga) (23 page)

“Well
,
Draven wants you to go you
up
stairs after your shift
.
” He said trying to look busy and impartial. I nodded before
leaving but my body not only
hurt, it was now filled with dread. The last thing I wanted was an argument with Draven about today’s disapproving Keira act! So I did something very out of character. I walked out from around the bar and continued until I got to the double doors that le
d outside to the car park. I kne
w it was wrong and rude but I just couldn’t stand the rest of the evening pretending everyth
ing was fine, when
all I wanted to do was crawl up in bed and cry from pain. Why is it that if you don’t take tablets straight away
,
then it doesn
’t ever seem to go or even fade?
It just felt like a t
h
orn bush was growing inside my uterus!

I saw my car in its usual parking space and got out my keys ready to stick in the lock. I looked about expecti
ng to find Ragnar but he was no
where and suddenly I felt a bit vulnerable. This was stupid now
,
I was getting dependant on having a bodyguard to feel safe. I took a moment to lean my head on the metal frame to cool my burning head before unlocking the door to the driver’s side. It had taken me a while to get used to driving this side of the road and for ages I would go to the wrong side of the car, which when I looked up
, had happened again.

I was losing it!

Then hands came out from behind me making me jump and scream out. They slammed the door shut before I could get in. I stared at the window knowing it was Draven beh
ind me and as soon as I inhaled
in his perfect scent
,
I felt some of the pain ease. I wouldn’t turn round to look at him because I knew I would meet his temper. I felt him lean down to my ear and his lips touched my skin making me shudder.

“Why are you leaving me Keira
?
” His voice was steady as if
he was using a lot of control not to get angry. I took in a deep breath and turned round to face him hoping that the dim light from the few lamps around wouldn’t show my sickly skin. I was expecting to find hard features but as soon as he saw me his eyes went wide and his hand came to my face. He ran the back of two fingers down my cheek and then looked worried.

“You are very hot
and also pale...
are you
un
well?” Oh great
,
now I had to lie to the Master of detection.

“I’m fine, it was just hot in there
.
” I said looking down so he couldn’t see
my eyes lie. I was a dead give
away when I looked them in the face.

“Then please tell me, why is it you think you can drive home in the passenger seat?” He said in a smug tone and one trying to hide humour.

“I said I am fine
!
”

“Then answer my question, why were you leaving me?” He asked softly making his hand cold and putting it to my burning face. It felt amazing! I closed my eyes and let his cold skin sooth me before answering him.

“Because I didn’t want to argue with you
.
” I said looking him up and down. God, now
he
looked HOT! He was wearing a black pin striped suit with a waistcoat but with no tie. His hair was styled back and he had shaven the stubble off, making him look very smart and above all
,
sexy as hell. I bit my lip and tried to concentrate on keeping a steady rhythm in my chest. I expected this would make him angry
,
so when I saw him
smiling at me I was shocked and confused.

“And that’s the reason you were going to go and say nothing?” His voice invaded my mind and I let it because with every word out of that delicious mouth
, it
was making
my
pain fade. I felt a bit ashamed that this was what I was going to do and lowered my face without answering but he took my guilty face as confirmation. He bent his knees to look under where my face was hidden.

“I’m sorry
.
” Was all I could say and he pulled me to him for an embrace. I let his stron
g arms hold me to him and I trie
d to swallow the pain I had down below.

“Keira
,
there is no need for you to apologise. If you would like to leave then you are free to go but I would like
you to have protection at least,” h
e said
but I got the impression this wa
s something he didn’t want. So I quickly said
,

“I don’t want to leave you, I just didn’t want you to get angry at me for today
.
” He frowned down at me but I just rested my head on his chest because I didn’t like it when he frowned.

“Why would I get angry at you? Just because I am used to getting my own way it doesn’t mean I will take it out on you
,
when I don’t
.
” So this whole time I had been worrying for nothing! I was such a fool.

“Come back inside and join me, I have missed you
.
” He said this before his lips were placed to mine for a very passionate kiss. While he devoured my taste his hands felt for my skin pulling up my black top at the sides. I coul
d feel the night air hit my cold flesh
and mixed with the heat from his hands it was like the two elements were fighting against each other. For one long blissful moment I forgot all about the pain.

When he had finished
,
he picked me up into his arms and walked around the side of the building out of sight from the front entrance. Thank God because if he had walked
back
in the club with me like this I would have died with shame!

“Where are you taking me?” I asked
,
trying to look behind his huge shoulders that were blocking my view.

“Upstairs to the VIP
.
” He said but I knew this wasn’t going to be the conventional way. He looked down at me and smirked
as he made his way around to the side of the building.

“Close your eyes
.
” He said and he bent his knees slightly before launching us
both upwards. Thankfully this wa
s when I closed my eyes. I felt us land and opened my eyes to find we were on the balcony outside the VIP area.

“Well that was quicker
!
” I said trying to pretend I hadn’t been as terrified as I had. However he just laughed heartily. He placed me down gently before taking my hand in his and leading me out through the glass doors. He looked happy
,
so I didn’t want to burst his bubble by telling him I really wasn’t up for sitting at his table. But off we went anyway and as usual
,
we got every Demon/
Angel eye in the place staring at us. Draven never cared about this
and led me proudly to my seat
. There we were met
by the same council members who
were always at his table.

Ragnar was standing guard as we approached and for the first time he nodded to me and grinned after he did with Draven. I was shocked considering the last thing I had said to him was calling him a jerk. They all stood when the
y
saw their Master was back and with an empty seat by his side he let me sit first. I had a feeling this was the ultimate sign of respect.

I sat and in turn everyone nodded to me. Takeshi was back and had fully recovered from Lucius’s mental attack
. He wore his usual Japanese rob
e but this one was plain
black apart from
the purple Dragon he had embroidered on his back. Z
agan was next to him and looked
as scary as ever. I had never seen him in anything but his long b
l
ack hood that hid most of his face. His long straight white blonde hair hung down and I think he was Sophia’s bodyguard but I wasn’t sure if there wasn’t something more going on with them both
,
as they seem
ed
to flirt
with each other
a lot. On the other side was
Celina and of course the breath
taking Aurora. She was wearing a black dress that was cut across the chest showing a shameful amount of bust, even if she did have her hair down to cover it. I tri
ed not to look but she caught my expression
and smiled like an evil cat!

Draven’s eyes didn’t leave mine though
,
so I didn’t care. Besides
,
I was in
to
o
much pain to care. Sophia looked happy to see me but as soon as she saw my pale face she knew something was wrong but I just shook my head slightly to warn her not to say anything. I was lucky because Draven missed it, while speaking with his brother. Vincent had nodded to me and I think I blushed but don’t think it was visible from my ill looking skin. It had been the first time I had seen him since kissing him. I had said sorry that night but when I got the next opportuni
ty I should really say it again and
again,
many times over.

Sophia kept eyeing me carefully but she was
true to my cause and kept quiet,
but then I had a thought, I wondered if she could ge
t me some tablets or at least some
more supplies because if I was staying the night
,
then I really needed more. But how was I going to ask without Draven knowing.

“Keira what would you like to drink?” Draven squeezed my hand bringing me back round from thinking of a way to talk to Sophia.

“Umm
,
just min
eral water please
.
” I replied and
Draven looked concerned with my plain choice but when I didn’t convey the reasons he allowed Loz, the waitress to get my drink
. I was caught between trying
not
to show my discomfort
and answer
the
questions I was being asked. Then I decided I would try something new.

“Sophia can you hear me, in your head I mean?”
I asked this through my mind and I felt a bit stupid for trying but when she turned at looked at me I was hopeful. She winked when nobody was looking. Great! Well t
his was a start. So I continued,

“Ok right
,
I am going to try something, can you talk to me in my mind if I let you in?”
I waited for a slight response and when Zagan stopped gazing at her she nodded the tiniest amount. So the next thing was for me to try and let her in but I wasn’t quite sure how I even blocked them out to begin with. I let my mind wander and opened it up to my side where Sophia sat but this was worse than useless! So I tried another technique, I relaxed my mind and instead of pushing things out I let everything in, I opened up to the noises around me and listened for anything more. I could hear the hum of conversations behind me and the buzz of humans below. Then some glasses being put
down, someone laughed behind us…
Then it hit me I could here Sophia saying over and over

“
Hello
....HELLO....
can you hear me yet?”
I had to try and not giggle but it was so funny because it was her voice but it wa
s in my head! It was weird and amusing
at the same time.

“Ok
,
I can hear you, can you still hear me?”

“Yes I can
.
”
I had to bit
e
my lip to stop myself from smiling but when my water was put in front of me I had a reason to smile so I did, as I thanked Loz.

“
This is cool
!
”
I said and she just raised her eyes at me before smiling.

“Ok
,
so what’s wro
ng with you because no offense
but you look like shit!
”
She even sounded concerned in my mind and this was quite a surreal moment as I had never felt someone else’s voice in my head before.

“It’s the time of the month and I’m
in pain, but don’t tell Draven
‘
cause I don’t want him to fuss and worry
.
”
She couldn’t hide her frown but nobody was looking at us.

“Keira he will find out sooner or later and my guessing is it will be the first. You need to explain you are not well and need to go to bed, you look exhausted!”

“No
,
please don’t say anything, not yet but I do need your help
.
”
She rolled her eyes and then looked down as if to
say
yes.