Page 31 of Deadmen's Queen

“I think it’s missing. Shit. I must have dropped it in one of the shops. I’m so fucking stupid!”

“Oh no, Paige. Any idea which one? It was so busy today. You don’t think someone’s taken it?”

“It’s possible. With the crowds, I might not have felt someone take it out of my bag. I was sure it was in the front pocket.”

My dismay must have shown clearly on my face, because Kate reached out and took my hand.

“Hey, Paige. It’s just a phone, babe. Don’t sweat it.”

“No, but my mum bought it, and I’ll have to call her in an hour…” I pulled my hand back from Kate, scrabbling through my bag, panic flaring in my chest. She’d be so angry, so very angry. Where the hell was it? I had to find it.

“Paige. Paige!”

I didn’t listen, and slid down onto my knees on the floor, starting to tip out the shopping bags onto the floor next to our table, desperate to find it. Panic had taken over and I couldn’t think about anything else except finding my phone.

“Paige.” A different voice this time, one louder, harder. I blinked and looked up. Bast was standing there and he didn’t look happy. “I’ve been trying to call you all afternoon. I didn’t know where you were.”

“I need to find my phone,” I said, and tipped out the next bag. My movements were frantic, and I knew my hands were shaking, but they didn’t understand. If I didn’t find that phone, if she couldn’t call me, she might come here, and she’d be so angry with me. My chest tightened, and I struggled to draw a breath.

“Paige, stop.” Bast leaned down and lifted my body off the floor, sitting down and pulling me into his lap. I fought to get away, pushing at him.

“No! I need to find my phone. I can't lose it. She’ll be so mad…”

“Paige, I have your phone,” Bast said gently. I stilled, my heart still racing.

“What?”

“Here.” He slipped his hand into his pocket and passed it to me. “You left it on the console table this afternoon when you went out. I’ve been trying to call you for the last two hours, but it was on silent. I saw it as soon as I got home and came to find out.”

I took the phone from him, checking it quickly. Six missed calls from his number. No one else had called. The panic subsided a little. Bast must have sensed it, because he pulled me into his chest, wrapping his arms around me and holding me tightly.

“You’re shaking,” he murmured. “Breathe, Paige. Just breathe.”

I gulped down a couple of breaths, then looked up at him.

“You’re mad at me.”

“Yes, I am. You’ve got a dangerous psycho following you, and you didn’t even take your phone. You don’t answer your phone, what the hell am I supposed to think?”

“I’m so sorry, I must have put it down when I answered the door for Kate and forgotten to pick it up. I’m so so sorry.” The shaking grew worse again as I looked up at him, and I twisted my fingers together to try and stop it.

“Paige, calm down. I am angry but I am not going to hurt you. You’re panicking and you need to calm down. Breathe.” He pulled me closer, laying my head on his chest, and stroking my hair. I sucked in a few more breaths, trying to do as he said.

“That’s it princess, breathe. You’re safe. No one is going to hurt you. I’m angry because I was worried about you. You need to be more careful. But I know you’re safe now. No harm done.”

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered against his chest.

“It was a careless mistake, you didn’t do it on purpose. And now you know never to do it again. Lesson learned.”

Feeling calmer than before, I allowed myself a moment to relax in his arms - something that was becoming increasingly comforting to me. This man, who was so outwardly tough and ruthless, showed me a softer side that felt like a safe haven amidst the harsh realities of my life.

“I'll be more careful next time,” I vowed, my words coming out shaky from the after-effects of the panic. Bast gave a small nod, his fingers gently combing through my hair.

“Good. We can't let our guard down, not even for a moment. Understand?” His voice was stern, yet there was an underlying warmth that soothed me.

I nodded, exhaling deeply. The last bit of tension left my body and I sagged against him.

“Good girl,” he said. “Now, seeing as I’m here, I was hoping you might agree to going to dinner with me? If Kate doesn’t mind me stealing you?”

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