The Two Kings (Afterlife Saga) (78 page)

“I see. You did the right thing Dom but now it’s
time for you to leave us...we have work to do
!
”
I couldn’t help gulp and shot Draven a panicked look but with a smirk
,
he crossed the room and kissed me.

“You left me no
other
choice love
.
” He whispered in my ear before leaving the room.

“It’
s not that bad…no really. I
am
just
a bit indecisive this morning.” S
he didn’t buy it and with a lie
told so badly I wasn’t surprised.

“
So this has nothing to do with the bitch
that is showing up today then?
” Ok
,
so she had me there
,
but what was it in this place, had some article gone out in th
e ‘Demon/ Angel weekly’?

“It’s ok, really. Jealously is a completely natural emotion, and one that my kind usually finds great pleasure in feeding from. It’s a shame really that we can’t feed from you, with your mood I would be full up till lunch!” I didn’t laugh unlike she did and I can imagine it was due to my hacked off expression that she found amusement in.

“I’m only kidding. Jeez you
are
up
tight this morning. No wonder my brother called me.”
She turned her attention to the clothes in front of her and with one hand running along the fabrics
and
the other rested on her shoulder like she was posing for a photo shoot.

“So what are we going for here…All out “I’m better than you” sexy or seductively casual?” Umm none of the above! I didn’t say that because she was already pulling clothes of
f
the rack like a woman possessed.

“I dunno…I kind of just want to look…umm” I didn’t know how to carry on without sounding pathetic but it was clear she was waiting, so I continued and said the words with my head hung down and my eyes finding the fleurs-de-lis that patterned the thick lush carpet.

“Like I deserve your brother
.
”

“Oh Keira, anyone to doubt that is a fool and un-deserving of your attention. This girl sounds she needs some Demon arse kicking therapy
, would her head look good mounted on a wall?
” This made me laugh
in a nervous, God I hope she isn’t serious kind of way but
I was soon feeling better. I could just picture
Hilary
’s
face when meeting Sophia for the first time
…actually it was the only thing I was looking forward to about her stay
ing
here.

By the time Sophia had finished
,
I felt like a giant Barbie doll. I was now stood looking at myself in the full length mirror feeling a little r
ed faced. I had on a light grey
sweater dress with a cowl neck and wide ribbing. It was so soft to the skin I couldn’t stop feeling the sleeves. It was teamed up with a pair of tight, black leggings and black boots that added to my height. Sophia handed me a hooded coat with
an
absolutely feminine charm
. It was black also and tied at the waist with a belt in the same material. It fell to my knees with a slight flare and
when I put it on it fit like it was made to measure.

“You look lovely, so much so my brother might buy me a TVR Cerbera
.
” I gave her one of my “you’re so spoilt” looks but she just laughed.

“That’s a car…right?”    

“Keira it’s not just a car, it’s so much more. The feeling you get when you reach speeds up to 240 miles per hour...it’s like you’re flying!”

“But you can fly! And what is it with you and your brother with
speed anyway?” I rolle
d my eyes having only ever done
the speed limit my entire life, well I wasn’t so sure about what speed I was doing last night but that had been different. Which brought me back to last night’s horrors and why I hadn’t yet told Draven about them? I couldn’t understand it, every time something weird happened it was like my mind would come up with its own ideas on how to deal with it and telling Draven wasn’t even an option.
I had asked Draven last night, after the wild, untamed makeup sex where Ragnar was last night. But was utterly
taken
back to find that he had been watching me all night. This had left me beyond confused and was just about to
explain how I never saw him when my mind crashed into a red light. I was at a blank and couldn’t bring myself to speak about last night. Why did this keep happening? What was wrong with me and more importantly if Ragnar had been there last night, then why did last night go so horribly wrong? The blood red window message, the glowing eyes in the darkness stalking me like some forest monster ready for its next feed and last of all, the car following me back to Afterlife?

Sophia’s voice brought me back round to the now and the next set of horrors that awaited me.

“My brother has a
TVR Sagaris
in purple, you know. Has he taken you i
n it yet?
” My mind was everywhere and no
where all at once.
I could feel Sophia’s mind trying to invade my thoughts. The feeling brought me round and I quickly shut myself off, leaving her staring at me with a curious eye.

“Sorry
,
what was the question?” I blinked a few times and came back to the conversation.

“Keira
,
are you alr
ight?” She knew something was wrong
but thankfully I had something else to blame it on.

“Yeah sure
, I mean I’m stressing
‘
cause of my cousin coming but apart from that
, I’m just dandy
.
” I could tell she wasn’t buying it and I wondered how much of my thoughts she had seen before I closed shop. I decided to distract her with another question.

“So I know you and Draven have loads of cars but what about Vincent?”

“Ah
,
now Vincent prefers bikes but me… well…a helmet does nothing for a girl’s hair!” I laughed at her comment and hoped it was enough of a deterrent for her to drop her suspicious gaze.
The last thing I wanted was her taking her anxious concerns to Draven.

Draven was waiting by his desk and I knew from the look
,
that he had heard every word I had said. He stood up and was in front of me before I
had
time to blink. He took my hands in his and looked down at me with hurt in his dark eyes.

“How could anyone think that such a goddess could not be good enough, I am the one not worthy. You look enchanting.” I blushed and in sight of this he leaned down to my ear.

“The smell of your blood rushing to your cheeks drives me wild, take care or I will not let you go
.
” I smiled before I realised what he was saying.

“You’re not coming with me?” I said this with puppy eyes and looked up at him.

“Now Keira don’t look at me like that, you know I can deny you nothing but I have some things of importance to do before I can l
eave and I fear your sister can
not wait for you
.
”
I wanted to sulk but I knew I would only be making him feel guilty for something he obviously couldn’t help. Then I had an idea.

“Ok
,
but
couldn’t Sophia come with me instead?”

“I…” She was about to agree but her brother spoke over her.

“Sophia is needed here
,” h
e said sternly and then shot her a look like he was communicating something to her mind, something he didn’t want me knowing. My sudden fears from earlier came back and I worried that he had heard more than our conversation in the dressing room.
I only noticed her nod before leaving the room.

“Is everything alright?” I asked and my voice brought me back his attention.

“Yes but of course. I am sorry I am letting you take on this hell cat alone but I will be along shortly…I promise
.
” The promise he made ended on my lips and I sighed with delight. He placed one hand on the small of my back and the other ran up my neck and in my hair. We started to get lost in each other’s touch until the sound of Abba filled the air and I swore under my breath, which just so happened to still be in his mouth at the time.

“I would appreciate
it if
you refrain from cursing when I kiss you or you will start to give me a complex
.
” He teased me.

“That will
be
my sister then
.
”

“Then you
’d
better go before I get to
o
carried away and tie you up.”

“That’s not a bad idea. Maybe you co
uld answer it and tell her that.
” He smiled showing all his teeth and the gesture made his face light up in a way that made my knees weak.

“Are you not going to answer that?”

“Na, she will just think I’m driving
.
”

“Umm… no she won’t” He said filled with confidence.

“And why not?”

“Because I have arranged for a car to take you home…don’t look at me like
that
Keira, it is simply so that I can pick you up later myself
.
” I finished rolling my eyes and imagined the look on Hilary’s face when Draven turned up in something little and sporty.

“Ok but on one condition…” He raised one eyebrow
and said
,

“Which would be?”

“That you turn up in the
Aston
.
”

Out
at
the front of the building
,
a car was waiting for
me
as
Draven had said there would be. Ragnar was there waiting for me by a
ch
a
uffe
u
r driven car which I ha
d no idea of
the make.
I had to admit I had missed the sight of my big bodyguard and a relief washed over me knowing I had him with me once again.
It looked like he was trying to hide a smile as I grinned at him.

“So you
’
r
e
back?” I asked as I stepped through the car door he was holding open for me.
I also took notice that printed o
n the leather
seats was Maybach
. I had never heard of this car make before but the luxur
y inside told me
not only
of
it
s exclusivity and wealth but also how fitting it was for royalty.  

“I wasn’t aware I was missing
.
” He mocked in his heavy accented voice.

“Last night?” I prompted but I
had to wait for his answer as he was near bending his body in two just to fit in the car. I felt the suspension drop and I was tempted to ask how much he weighed.
He frowned at me for a moment but didn’t answer. He looked like he was deep in thought, as though looking for the answer himself. I decided to let
it go quickly.

There were too many questions rolling round in my head to focus on just one idea. The rest of the way was travelled in silence, which didn’t help my nerves at finding my dreaded cousin at my destination. I fiddled nervously with the matching grey gloves Sophia had handed to me and then played with a
loose strand of hair that Draven had tucked behind my ear before kissing me one last time
,
while saying his goodbyes.

I decided to wear my hair off my neck and it was now securely twisted up and held by a heavy metal clip. I had noted tired eyes in the morning and thought of the bluish tint that had been there but when I had looked in the mirror in the dressing room they had gone. I put it down to the hot shower and blushing around Draven. To tell the truth
,
my skin had been amazing lately and I was starting to think happiness was the key. What else could it be? It wasn’t only my skin either, it was everything…my hair
was softer, my nails were shin
y and strong, even my eyelashes looked longer.

Ragnar cleared his throat and it made me look up to the sight of my house coming into view. I sighed and noticed the curtain move. It must have been Libby watching out for me like a hawk. I let my shoulders slump down and suddenly my legs fel
t like they were filled with
liquid
le
a
d
flowing freely through my veins
. My body was reacting to the task at hand
,
given
it didn’t want to see her as much as my brain did.