AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The fact I was so close to being forced back to Drekavac keeps my panic alive. I want to push it away and be reassured that I’m safe. It’s nearly impossible to push away the feeling of dread that has seeped into my mind.
Sam helps me pull on one of his shirts and a pair of sweatpants that I have to tie and roll to fit me. When I’m warm and dry I finally start to come back to myself.
Every ounce of dread, fear, panic, and doubt that flared up, slowly gives way to one single emotion. Anger. I won’t let him affect me, and this can’t go on. I turn to Sam with focused eyes and he seems relieved.
“Tonight, we will rest and calm down. Tomorrow, we find a binding spell and we end this evil fucker,” I say in a determined voice.
“I like the sound of that,” Sam agrees, pulling me down into his warm embrace. I feel safe and reassured in his arms, refusing to think of the task ahead, and instead thinking of how lucky I am to have these guys. The only thing I know for sure is that I am going to make Drekavac suffer.
ChapterSeventeen
Luz
The next morning I wake up alone in Sam’s bed. I lay there for a few minutes and try to process the demon attack. Zoey obviously had a hand in helping them get in here, but she couldn’t have brought them through that easily, right? Unlessthatwas the real purpose of draining the souls of their energy. If Drekavac absorbed enough of it, then maybe he was able to sneak past the city’s wards.
We have to find a solution still. Thea, Councilor Brent, and I had been searching the library, but we kept hitting dead ends. After yesterday’s events we no longer had time to spend looking. We needed answers… now.
I eventually drag myself out of bed and take a long shower. I’m not quite ready to face Liam after what happened yesterday. Realistically I know he didn’t mean to be an ass, but the truth is, he was.
When I can’t justify taking any longer, I force myself to get out of the shower. It’s ridiculous how long I’m taking but even getting dressed takes forever.Avoidance at its finest.
When I finally walk out into their living room, I get a good look at it for the first time. Every time I’ve been here things have been too chaotic to truly appreciate it.
The room is huge and open, and though it’s white, they’ve kept it from being cold and sterile. Three separate gaming setups are on three of the walls. It looks exactly like mine, but with comfy chairs. The fourth wall has another TV, with a huge sectional facing it. Random artwork lines the walls, from paintings to movie posters. The floor has huge fluffy blue rugs that add brightness to the room and colorful pillows line the sectional. I love the homey feel of it all.
An archway leads into a huge kitchen and dining area that I can’t wait to get a better look at. There are four doors off of the living room, two of which I assume are the other guys’ rooms. The place is humongous and so much nicer than my apartment downstairs.
No one is in the common area so I stop gawking at their huge place and walk off to find the others. I step through the archway and try not to drool at the gray and white kitchen with shiny appliances.
My distraction is short lived as I spot the guys, or two of them at least, and Thea. They’re gathered around the dining room table, waiting for me to join them. They were talking quietly until I walked in but now it feels like an intervention of sorts.
Nerves tangle in my stomach as I take a seat next to Thea, even though there is an open chair between Liam and Mason. It feels wrong to be upset with Liam, but I’m still hurt. Until he apologizes and owns his bullshit, I’m not going to just let it go.
“Morning!” Thea says happily. I give her a small smile and grab a muffin from the tray in the middle of the table.
“Can I talk to you, Luz?” Liam asks softly. I look up into his eyes that are pleading with me. Part of me–the petty part–wants to say no, but after everything we’ve all been through together, I simply take a deep breath and nod. I throw my uneaten muffin back on the tray before I stand up to face him. He leads me back into the living room and through one of the doors.
Liam’s room is like him, cheerful and welcoming. His white walls make the pops of oranges and yellows stand out. More artwork fills the walls and a huge mural of a beach rests above the bed that really brings the whole room together.
I sit on the edge of his bed and look at the floor. Confrontations aren’t my thing, but this one is something I can’t avoid like a coward.
“You can’t even look at me?” His voice is pained and I start to feel bad. With a shaky breath, I look up at him, letting him see the hurt in my eyes. “I’m so sorry, babe. I was just so shocked that it was more of a knee-jerk reaction. It wasn’t that I truly thought you were a liar.”
“Yet you held her like my words would hurther. She brought demons into my room, said how much she hated reapers, and offered me up to my enemy on a silver platter. I washalfwayto Drekavac, for him to do god knows what with me, and one of the people who is supposed to care about me is more upset by the fact I accused another reaper of being corrupt. Do you not see how fucked up that is?” My voice is full of frustration and the sting of betrayal, but I somehow keep myself from yelling, knowing it won’t help the situation.
“Fuck,” he says, sinking down to his knees in front of me. “I never meant to disrespect you like that. I’m an idiot and I’m so fucking sorry, Luz.” His voice cracks for a second before he composes himself. “I can’t lose you. You mean everything to me and I clearly suck at this boyfriend thing, but I’ll never stop trying to prove to you that I’m worthy of you.”
“Hey, nobody said anything about losing me,” I reassured him. “I can be angry without planning to run from this.”
His face visibly relaxes at my words and he finally starts to look more like himself. I feel slightly bad that he beat himself up so badly, but he had to know how hurt I was. Hiding emotions from each other and not talking when things go south won’t help us in the long run. I care way too much about them to let that happen.
“I was just really surprised. It didn’t take away from how worried I was about you, but I did a shit job of showing it. Are you feeling better today?” he asks softly.
“I am, actually. They pulled me out just in time. What happened to Zoey?” I say her name in a disgusted tone that has him flinching.
“She’s being held in the council chambers. They want you there as soon as you can make it.” He stands up, offering his hand to help me up.
Liam stares into my eyes with an intense expression I don’t have a name for. He slowly leans forward and presses his soft lips to mine. His kiss is full of passion and tells me without words everything he’s feeling.
