The Pentagram Child: Part 1 (Afterlife Saga Book 5) (41 page)

“Keira, say yes to me and do it now.” I took note of the obvious need coating his words and gave him what he asked.

“Yes.” As soon as my answer passed my lips he visibly relaxed and planted a soft kiss on my forehead. Then whispered,

“Good girl”

“Good girl…good girl…
Good girl?”
I kept repeating this back to myself over and over again once back in my room. I walked the length of the suite that much I was surprised there wasn’t track marks left in the carpet. I was so stupid!

“Stupid, Keira!” I said smacking my forehead and remembering that kiss placed softly there. I obviously couldn’t be trusted to make these types of decisions on my own, not when a half-naked God stood before me…I mean he was dripping wet for Christ sake!

“Oh come on!” I shouted up at the Fates, now remembering the sight. I looked at the clock on the wall that kept taunting me that time was getting on. I knew I needed to be ready for Alex by 8:30 but I cared little for getting ready. I was just trying to think about the ten minutes I had until Draven didn’t find my hand in his. What would it mean? What would it
truly mean?
Would that be it for us?

“Oh God!” I said thinking if I asked hard enough in my head then someone would take this decision from me. I couldn’t do this, it was too much.

“It’s too much.” I said repeating my mind out loud. Nine minutes…oh no, now eight minutes. After staring at the clock for nearly another minute I then jumped when the phone rang. Oh God, was it him?

“Hello?”
I said on a whisper too scared to know.

“Catherine it’s me, I am so sorry to have to do this to you but…”

“You’re cancelling?” I asked quickly interrupting.

“Yes, I am sorry but work came up and…” He never got to finish. I looked up at the clock seeing I had seven minutes. This was it. This was my sign. So I dropped the phone mid Alex explaining, no longer caring about anything but those seven minutes.

I just ran out of the door with nothing but my heart pounding.

“At least it still beats.” I said to no-one but myself knowing this was the truest thing I had said out loud. Because that was my answer. My heart was still beating and it wasn’t for the man on the phone but for the man waiting for me.

The man waiting for my hand.

“Oh come on you stupid son of a bit…” I never finished because I saw the lift was stuck on 3 and I was running out of time.

“Oh sod it!” I then saw the sign for the stairs and ran. I shot through the door as if I was being chased and jumped the last steps every time there was a landing. I used the railing to swing my body round quicker hoping I could get there in time.

“Seven minutes.” I said as I saw the numbers to the floors going down but not quick enough.

“Five”

“Four”

“Three”

“Shit!”

“One, finally!” I shouted as I burst through the door. I ran blindly around a corner until the lobby opened up in front of me. I was panting, I was a mess and I felt like crying because I couldn’t see Draven anywhere…

“No.”
I whispered feeling the pain of crushing disappointment start to invade my senses. Then I heard it, the most amazing name in all the world just because hearing it meant the beautiful flower of hope could now bloom.

“Keira?” I turned round and saw the most perfect man stood there. He didn’t need to say anything else. Not one thing. Not one single thing.

Because right now actions spoke louder than any words ever could have.

He held out his hand to me and I…

Took it. 

Chapter 27

I Miss Your Wings

“Oh Hell no! No, no way…not doing that again!” I said shaking my head enough that my plait snaked around me like a rope.

“Keira, come now, it’s not that bad.” Draven tried to reason with me but I just kept shaking my head.

“This coming from the man with wings… yeah right, give me a break!” There was no way, absolutely no way I was getting on a helicopter again, no matter how shiny, sleek and expensive it looked. I heard Vincent laugh behind me and my head shot round to give him the evil eye. He held up his hands in surrender but did so still laughing, the gorgeous bastard!

“Keira it takes three hours to get from Milan to Venice by car but only just over an hour by chopper.” I growled at this and then said,

“Fine I will take the train and meet you there.” Then I turned to walk away only I didn’t get far. Draven grabbed me from behind and started laughing in my hair.

“Come with me, I need the company.” He teased.

“You have Vincent and Sophia for that, I am sure they can keep you entertained.” I said trying not to let the feel of his arms around me keep me from being strong on this matter.

“Now, now, little bird, you know there is only one divine creature I want entertaining me on a flight.” Ok so now not only did I have his arms around me to contend with but now I had the sexy lure of his voice whispering in my ear. Damn men!

“I am not getting on that thing.” I said as sternly as I could with Draven now rubbing my belly in soothing circles.

“You are.”

“Why, did your dad call and tell you it’s snowing in Hell?” At this he burst out laughing and I felt his head fall back.

“Alright my Keira, you are going to listen to me now and hear the depth of my words when I tell you this…” He leaned down further and this time I felt his lips graze my neck before they touched my ear. I knew what he was doing and damn him it was working but when he spoke next, it went from working to bloody worked!

“…do you think I would let anything happen to you? Do you think you would be in any danger nestled safely in my arms because that is where you will be and that is where you will stay…
I won’t let you go.”

“You’d better not let me go.” I said vulnerably repeating his words.

“I won’t let you go…
ever.”
He said and his words sounded thick with emotion. He also said this at the same time as giving my body a protective squeeze as if proving his words with actions. I wanted so badly to believe that there was a deeper meaning to the way he said that but I wouldn’t fully let my mind travel that path of hope quite yet.

“Okay.”
I said softly and as soon as I did I yelped in surprise when Draven scooped me up into his arms and carried me to the waiting helicopter.

“I didn’t mean like right from this second.” I said laughing nervously the closer we got.

“I did.” He said grinning.

“Oh God.” I moaned as he walked us across the heli pad and ducked us both under the fast moving blades to the open door. I tried not to notice the details but I found myself scanning the body of the thing, suddenly wishing I was an engineer and able to detect problems on sight.

“Well there looks to be no leaks, that’s a good sign at least.” I said using humour to hide my nerves. I wasn’t surprised that Draven could hear me over the loud noise of the engine.

“Trust me, sweetheart.” Draven said stepping up effortlessly into the small cabin. It only had four seats, two that faced each other and Vincent and Sophia were already sat next to each other across from us.

“Oh dear, she looks a little pale.” Sophia said looking worried.

“Actually I think I might be sick!” I shouted and started struggling in Draven’s hold.

“Calm yourself, you won’t be sick.” He said placing one hand over my stomach and the other over the column of my throat. I don’t know what he was doing exactly but the tingles that started tickling my skin and the warmth that spread out under his palm started to make me feel less nauseous.

“There, do you feel better?” I nodded the little I could with still being held immobile in his hold. It was as if he let go of me for a second then I would bolt out of the door.

“She will have to be strapped in a seat before we take off.” One of the pilots said before closing the door making Draven growl.

“As you can see she is now seated.” Vincent said moving a hand in front of the pilot’s face reminding me of a Jedi.

“Oh, my mistake.” He said before slamming the door.

“I can’t do this!” I shouted but Draven just pulled me closer and cooed in my ear.

“Ssshh, love, I have got you.”
I settled but only slightly because I kept jolting in his hold with all the different noises that were going on around us.

“Come here.” Draven ordered softly but he was obviously getting agitated at seeing me so scared. He cradled the back of my head and pulled my face to his neck, keeping me there.

“Right, now I want you to listen carefully to my voice, are you listening Keira?” He asked, his voice becoming a gentle hum, lulling me deeper and deeper into his care.

“Yes.” I murmured into his neck.

“Good girl…now close your eyes.”

“Draven?”

“Close. Your. Eyes.” He said more firmly this time making me do what I was told.

“Now the noises around you are going to fade into something else.”

“Something else?” I asked quietly.

“Yes sweetheart, they are going to sound like the rain hitting your bedroom window. You’re sat at home on your bed with a book in hand and it’s your favourite one, Jane Eyre.”

“You know that?” I asked surprised and I heard Sophia giggle at the fact that I obviously wasn’t playing Draven’s game properly.

“I do. Now concentrate on where I am taking you, Keira.”

“Sorry…AHHH!” I shouted out when I felt the movement of us lifting.

“It’s not working, I can feel her fear.” Vincent said and I wanted to shout ‘Well durr genius I’m terrified!’, however I was too busy with
being
terrified to do anything but shake in Draven’s hold.

“Yes thank you Vince, I gathered as much.” Draven snapped.

“Please, can I get out now?” I asked whimpering the higher we went.

“No love, just listen…”

“It’s not working.” Sophia said interrupting her brother making him growl again.

“Right! Keira, you are going to let me into your mind.”

“No, I can’t, I…”

“Now Keira!” He shouted and I caved. I instantly let down my guards and felt him swoop on in there. He entered my mind in such a way, it was like trying to fend off a stampede of wild horses. It made me feel fuzzy as if drunk for a few seconds before I heard Draven whisper sweetly,

“Open your eyes.” I did as he asked, happy that he no longer shouted at me. I opened my eyes and saw my old bedroom as it first was at Libby’s. The bedroom where I first fell under Draven’s spell and was now back to doing so once again.

I was being carried over to my bed and the sight hit me like a memory shaped sledge hammer. I remembered the nights like this and the times when I believed my life couldn’t be or ever get any more perfect. Because being in the arms of the man that you love and feeling that same love projected back at you was like nothing else in the world. Being carried to the bed knowing that love would only spread out like wild fire the second our bodies connected was the stuff dreams were really made of.

Draven lay me down so gently it was almost as if he was worried I would crumble away like dust.

“Are you going to sleep for me, my precious girl?” He asked and looking up into his eyes was like finding the meaning of life written there. It was like finding your purpose for being born. Like finding out that nothing else mattered but having those eyes looking down at me now. So of course I said,

“I will do anything for you.” This made those perfect dark eyes glow before he had to close them, as if savouring a deeper feeling within him my words had put there.

“Then sleep and find peace in my arms…I will protect you,
always.”

“Yes.” I mumbled already feeling the weight of exhaustion seep into me, coming at me from what seemed like nowhere. But it wasn’t coming at me from nowhere at all, it was all Draven. So before I could let this moment pass, I placed a limp hand at the back of his neck and used the last of my strength to pull his head closer to mine. He came to me willingly and there I gave him the unguarded truth with four words,

“I miss your wings.” 

I woke up not in my own bed like my mind was prepared for but in another lavish hotel room. I looked around the masculine space and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I was surrounded by solid wood furniture that was dark and very Draven, which quickly informed me I hadn’t been put in my own room. This thought had me squirming under the satin plum coloured sheet that had been placed over me. In fact the more I looked around the less and less this actually looked like a hotel but more like an actual home.

“Oh dear.” I said out loud thinking I was in so much trouble, as once again being back in Draven’s bed, what other words were there.

“You’re awake.” My eyes quickly found my trouble at the door grinning at me. I must have looked dwarfed in the space, sat up in another one of his monster sized beds. And what was it with four posters for him anyway…probably an old fashioned thing.

“Old fashioned uh?” He said causing my mouth to drop.

“You have woken an open book, sweetheart.” He informed me with a small smile that at least looked somewhat coy.

“Well I guess I should thank your mumbo jumbo this time.” I said stretching my arms out and yawning.

“You know you really do have the most flattering ways of describing my talents.” He teased making me grin.

“Yep, that’s me!” I said in reply and bounced out of bed. Then I walked up to him, reached on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek before saying,

“Thanks for making me pass out handsome, but can you feed me now?” To which he laughed.

“I think I could do that…” He said but then leaned down closer to my face and finished with,