The Pentagram Child: Part 1 (Afterlife Saga Book 5) (11 page)

“Keira, open your eyes and trust me.”

“But I don’t…
not anymore.”
I whispered again, only thankful that I couldn’t see the hurt I could have inflicted with my truthful words. I heard him clear his throat first before speaking again and his next words were hoarse and tense,

“That is something I have to accept due to my actions…I understand this but Keira, if you won’t trust me then trust in yourself.” He said and before I could ask what he meant he started to move me around the room and led me over to different pieces of furniture there.

I knew he expected me to feel the curves, textures and objects he placed my hands on but all I could feel was his solid presence at my back, his arms around me from behind and hands on top of mine with our fingers entwined as we touched each piece together.

“See…it’s all different,” he whispered soothingly at my ear making me quiver. My eyes flew open and I waited for them to focus.

“Your office.” I muttered and I felt him smile before moving from my neck.

“Yes.” I took in a deep relieved breath and felt my back brush against his chest from the movement. I had to get out of his hold and I had to do it right now before it got too much. If I thought that room would bombard me with painful memories then what was being in his arms again going to do to me in the long run? I tried to pull away and his hands quickly shackled my wrists.

“Wait! Not yet…just…just a little longer.” His desperate sounding request shocked me enough to gasp. He wanted to hold me longer!?

“Tell me.”

“Tell…tell you what?” I stuttered feeling him lean down to my neck once more.

“Tell me why you were so scared to go back there, Keira.”

“I…I…can’t.” I felt him rub his nose along my neck and inhale my skin, taking in my scent in deep breaths, hypnotising me and luring me further under his spell. Why hadn’t I remembered what it was like? Did I really forget about all those times back then when his spell would weave its way around my senses, moving and twisting them into doing his will? Where was my resistance now eh? It was blown to smithereens that’s where!

“Yes you can, just speak the words…just say the words I need to hear, Keira and I will release you from my arms.” It didn’t escape me that he never said the words ‘I will let you go’ and I couldn’t help but wonder why…why he worded it that way and why he ‘needed’ to hear the reasons why. Didn’t he already know?

“I couldn’t do it…I couldn’t see it again and not be…” I hesitated making him grip me harder to his unyielding frame.

“And not be…?” And with this he sealed my fate by whispering the last of the magic needed to get me to open up to him like a flower blooming at night. Magic spoken against my skin and once I felt his tongue momentarily make contact with my skin I knew I was lost.

“And not be…

….loved by you.”  

Chapters 7

Truthful Trip Down Memory Lane

“Keira, I still…”

“NO!” I shouted, wrenching myself out of his arms and almost falling forward with the force of my actions. Draven tried to make a grab for me but I staggered forward, thankfully finding my footing before he needed to touch me again. I couldn’t listen to anything he had to say. I couldn’t take any more from this man, not when his words had already destroyed me once.

I couldn’t give him that power again…
never again.
 

I felt so ashamed by what I had said and so angry at what I had been coerced into saying. Well, one thing was obvious and that was all this time apart had killed any resilience I once had to Draven’s power of manipulation.

I walked further away and held my arms protectively around myself, rubbing the thin sleeves of my cherry red dress wishing I was wearing something thicker. Something more protective from the touch I could still feel on my body from a pair of strong male hands I craved on my skin.

“Just…” I took a shuddering breath before I could carry on.

“Please… it’s all I ask, Draven.”

“Please what...? Not touch you, because I will never agree to that, Keira.” I turned round in shock at his words.

“You think you have the right after what you did?!”

“I know that I don’t but that doesn’t change what my soul knows.” I frowned at him from across the room and then shook my head in frustration.

“And that is?”

“That you are mine and always will be.” I sucked in a sharp breath and even staggered back a step as though he had just pulled a trigger.

“This can’t be happening.” I muttered in disbelief now really convinced this must be a dream. One of those dream scenarios we play over and over in our minds until at some point there’s the fear it will cross over into reality and leave you more confused than ever…like now.

“You doubt my sincerity in that statement?” He asked coming closer.

“Oh no, you stay there!” I said knowing if he touched me right now I would be a gonner!

“Answer my question.” He demanded getting angry…an anger he had absolutely no right to I might add.

“Screw you and your orders! You don’t bloody own me and you have no GODDAMN right to say that to me!”

“Keira.” He warned but again I held up my hand.

“If you’re gonna lecture me about cursing the Gods then save it! As far as I am concerned they hate me anyway so they can just go ahead and strike me down if they dare… but I am telling
you
now, they would bloody regret it ‘cos the way I have been feeling this past year I want to rip the fucking place apart!” I shouted, panting with my rant and shaking with my lack of control.

Draven’s eyes closed as if in pain and he ran both his hands through his hair that I’d only just noticed looked a little longer. Actually everything about him looked more unkempt than usual. His stubble was the longest I had ever seen it, close to becoming a full beard and he had darker circles under his eyes as if he hadn’t slept in weeks. It was only his suit that was as impeccable as always.

He seemed to be fighting with himself as his chest heaved and his hands remained locked at the back of his neck. If anything he didn’t seem to be dealing with our situation any better than I was. I took a deep and calming breath, feeling bad for letting out my anger now that I saw how he was taking it. It was as though I held a whip in my hand and had just kept lashing out at him but really, what was he expecting from me…a loving and open arm reunion?

“Look, I…I think I should just go…”

“No!” He shouted and I was surprised to see a moment of panic cross his features as he looked back at me. He, like me, took a calming breath and continued,

“Please
...stay.” He said these words as though he no longer gave a shit about pride and was not above begging me to stay. This for a man like Draven was monumental. After all he was a King and Kings beg to no man…but I wasn’t a man now was I.

“Alright.” As soon as I said the word his shoulders sagged and his tense body visibly relaxed.

“Thank you for staying, for I know I do not deserve it.” I bit my lip and nodded knowing I couldn’t say anything to that for more reasons than one. It was clear he knew he deserved my anger and in most ways had accepted it when my emotions had got the better of me. However, that didn’t mean I wanted to be intentionally cruel, no matter what he had put me through, I still didn’t feel right about hurting someone that I still cared for…would
always
care for.

“Will you sit with me?” He asked motioning to the teal velvet couch that I remembered seeing once in less than perfect condition. It was back when I was held captive by Lucius and Pip was once again performing her mumbo jumbo on me, sending me back here like a ghost. Draven had practically tore the place apart in his rage to get me back, which was just another memory that created more whys and buts. The lengths he went to back then and all for what, to just throw me away at the end of it all? It just didn’t make sense…

It never would make sense!

We sat down and thankfully Draven kept some reasonable space between us, knowing now how much I needed it.

“Tell me about your job?” He asked making me snort in disbelief.

“You’re kiddin’ right?” I said referring to such a mundane question after what had just happened between us. He just shrugged his shoulders and then gave me a small laugh before saying,

“Well I think it’s a safer subject…unless you’re about to tell me you’re now working as a Demon hunter or even worse, for Lucius!” He said looking at me sideways, smirking. I laughed trying to hold back another snort and failed.

“Well he did offer me a job as his personal masseuse.”

“He what!?” Draven shouted and I smirked back at him before assuring him with,

“Teasing,” making him relax again.

“Not funny.” He warned even though he was smiling again.

“Ah come on…it was a little.” I said nudging his shoulder and my heart couldn’t help but soar when his smile grew into a full blown grin.

“Ah don’t tell me, the new job you have is as a comedian.” He teased, nudging me back.

“What, you don’t think I could be? I’m funny!” I said pretending to be offended. He straightened his face but he still couldn’t keep the humour from showing by the cute creases by his eyes, as he leaned in and whispered,

“Hate to tell you this sweetheart but you are more goofy cute than funny.” I shrieked dramatically as my mouth formed an ‘o’ and slapped his muscle bound arm for effect.

“You lie!” I hissed not wanting this teasing to ever end. He then nearly stopped my heart as for the first time in what felt like forever he graced me with that trademark bad boy grin of his before leaning into me again and saying,

“I lie.” To which we both burst out laughing.

“Well it just so happens that I have repented my wicked ways by becoming a very respected pillar of the community, therefore giving up my life of sin working for the
Prince
of Lust…” I said waggling my eyebrows at him when calling him ‘Prince’

“Nice.” He said laughing at my dramatic pause or from what I called him.

“…and I have become a Librarian.” The look on Draven’s face was priceless as he nearly choked.

“You’ve what?!”

“It’s true, they were hiring at the Library next to Wakewood Hall so I applied.” Draven took all this in and I watched in fascination as his face changed with an emotion I couldn’t describe as it was one I hadn’t seen on him before. If I was to guess though I would say he looked uncomfortable and I had no clue why.

“Draven are you…blushing?” I asked in shock as he had indeed turned slightly red on his cheeks.

“Of course not.” He denied shifting his weight on the seat. I couldn’t help but giggle at the sight and proceeded to tease him further…what can I say, it was just too good an opportunity!

“You so are! Oh my God, it’s the cutest thing…” I got so excited I got up on my knees on the couch and then said in a deep voice with a pretend microphone in my hand,

“This just in, Dominic Draven, Master of the Universe has been witnessed blushing like a girl with her knickers showing and…” I tried to carry on but Draven quickly made a grab for me and I found myself giggling once more into his hand that he held over my mouth. He leant down to my ear and whispered,

“One more word and I will have to punish you.” His eyes were bright with delight as they stared down into mine and I couldn’t stop laughing into his hand. He lifted his other hand in warning, hovering it over my side and I wrestled to get away from him in excited panic. His hand kept coming closer and closer, clearly enjoying me squirming and it was only then that I realised I was nearly fully beneath him. Unfortunately this was also the time when reality kicked in and I realised we weren’t back over a year ago when this playfulness was the norm. No, I knew I should put a stop to this but oh God how I wanted this to never end.

“Do you surrender?” He asked just before his fingertips were about to make contact with my sensitive sides and begin his tickling torture. I nodded frantically making his grin deepen and when they touched me I screamed out in laughter. He then stopped just as quickly to say,

“Sorry what was that?” Turning his ear to the side and listening to where he still had his hand over my mouth.

“I mmm said yeesss” I mumbled out.

“Nope, sorry didn’t get that.” He said and then went to tickle me again. I scrunched up my face waiting for it and when he burst out laughing I opened one eye a crack to see him staring down at me with a soft look in his eyes…oh and they were also ringed with purple. Shit, but I knew what that meant. Draven was getting turned on.

I decided enough was enough before it went too far and from that one look alone, I would say we had crossed that line at the first round of teasing. So to get him to release me I licked his palm, shocking him enough to pull back.

“That was a sneaky trick.” He said shaking his head slightly as if trying to get rid of some inappropriate thought. 

“When means must.” I said straightening up and smoothing back my loose hair that had gone crazy in the fight.

“So are you gonna tell me what you were blushing about?” He raised one single eyebrow at me and Jesus if it wasn’t one of the sexiest sights alive!

“I don’t know, do you want to be writhing beneath me again?” He countered and soon I was blushing scarlet. Was it just me or did the air get thick in here damn fast?

“Now who’s blushing?” He stated and was soon staring at my bottom lip held captive by my teeth.

“Draven, I don’t think we should…”

“So tell me, exactly how exciting is life as a librarian?” He said interrupting me and I knew he did it on purpose. Well if he wanted to change the subject first then I was happy to comply.