Kieran clapped a hand on his shoulder and quickly removed it, remembering his hate for touch too long. “No problem, we will see you when you get back.”
As the door shut behind us, Kieran grabbed me and pulled me towards the bathrooms, the only place you can speak freely without anyone listening in. He checked all the stalls, then locked the door, turning towards me with a scowl.
“What’s your problem?”
“What?”
“Ronan, don’t act dumb, all the way through that meeting, your leg was shaking like you just snorted a line of espresso beans. I know that twitch. You're nervous.”
No, I can't tell him.
I can’t put him at risk.
“Maybe I had ten cups of espresso this morning.” He gave me a deadpan look.
“We all know you like your girly fancy shit.” True, it’s delicious, and I’m man enough to love that shit and admit it.
Someone started banging against the door and shouting through it. I walked over, and Kieran stopped me. “If you’re in trouble, you need to let me know. So, I can help.” I nodded once and unlocked the door.
“I know.” Then I walked out the door, ready to head to my Cherry and try to sort this shit out before we both end up dead.
Chapter 8
RAVENA
Ronan hasn’t been around today, and perhaps that's for the best. He has been visiting me all week, tidying up the place to make it feel more like home, which was very thoughtful of him. He helped me with tasks that I struggled with due to my arm, which thankfully has healed. This included assisting me into the bath; ever the gentleman, he didn’t look. Not that I was self-conscious, but it made me feel comfortable allowing him in a little more.
Maybe it was for the best that he didn’t show his face. He’s too handsome for his own good, too charming, and worst of all, he makes me forget that I don’t trust people—that I can’t trust people. Letting anyone in is dangerous for them.
I also can’t afford to have another weakness, but God, I hated being alone.
Malrik has been gone for a while now, and I actually miss his weird, crazy ways. Blood mages don’t really belong anywhere; a lot of them travel in the shadows to different realms. He has been sending me messages, letters that would appear beside my bed, each accompanied by a souvenir from the vampires he has killed.
He was sweet in his own messed-up kind of way, but maybe I’m just as bad because he doesn’t scare me.
All my cuts and bruises were healed, but I still wore the sling, even if it’s not broken, it’s still tender. I felt significantly betterthanks to whatever concoction Ronan has been slipping in my soup.
Outside, a blizzard raged, transforming the world into a winter wonderland. The snow blanketed everything, sparkling like a sea of diamonds under the pale light, and the skies were clear, casting a soft glow over the landscape. Xarothar was curled up in his den, blissfully asleep, oblivious to the chaos outside. He’s been doing that a lot lately, telling me it’s needed to become a true dragon.
Whatever that means.
I managed to expand his den for him to fit and keep him protected from the storms we would be having. I still have no idea how I am supposed to keep him a secret. We can’t go anywhere else because he would have to fly, and he would be spotted immediately. This was such a mess; everything was a mess, and just thinking about it all gave me a headache. Having a normal life is just a dream for me; just surviving had been hard enough, but now I needed to figure out how to save us both.
I wish my mother were here.
Taking a breath, I sank deeper into my bath, which was full of bubbles that smelt like vanilla and coconut, thanks to my elemental magic, and for the moment, I allowed myself to relax and forget about the chaos that was my whole life. I had just finished reading one of my favourite stories, which had left me a little flustered, my thoughts immediately wandering to both Malrik and Ronan. I was seriously sexually frustrated, and all I had were my fingers when all I truly wanted were them.
Tossing my book to the floor with a huff, I stood up slowly.
“Well, aren’t you a vision?” A sultry voice came from the doorway, making me jump up, surprised I didn’t fall, and my magic released a gust of wind from me.
“Raven, are you okay?”
I looked at the doorway to find Malrik standing there with that irritating sexy arse smirk on his face. His shoulder-length, deep black hair shimmered with hints of blue; it was that dark, and tousled just enough to give him that effortless, rugged look. His red eyes roamed over me, lingering on every inch of my exposed skin.
“Fuck, little witch, you look delicious,” he purred as he stepped into the room.
At that moment, I remembered that I was completely naked apart from some of the bubbles that clung to my body and the sling. The scars across my chest and the bite mark on my shoulder were on full display.
