Page 53 of Rejected Darkness

"Ugh, Bella, damnit," he groans, stepping further into the room and the bed. "Fine. You win this round, but you better stay on your side of the bed."

"Don't I always?" I laugh, pushing myself down further in the bed and settling on my side with my back facing where he is going to lie.

"No, you really don't," he laughs. I hear the movement of fabric, and then the bed jostles as he settles beside me. "Go to sleep, Bella. I got you, and I'll be here in the morning." With him beside me, I close my eyes and let sleep claim me. He will keep me safe and watch over me tonight so I can finally get some sleep.

Chapter 31

Arabella

Ugh, my head is absolutely killing me. I feel like complete death, and I have a feeling I will be spending all day in bed today trying to sleep this hangover away. It isn't often that I get drunk. The only time I've really been this drunk is when I've drunk alcohol infused with Fae magic. That was one hell of a time, and I knew I would never do it again. I'm pretty sure Warrick wanted to kill me that night, especially because I wouldn't shut up about how amazing I was feeling. I also may have shoved him into a fountain when he told me I wouldn't be feeling that great in the morning. It was well deserved.

Oh shit! Warrick!

Bolting up out of bed, I panic looking all around me to figure out where I am. I vaguely remember Warrick helping get me into bed and giving me pain meds, but I don't remember much else. I could have sworn he helped me back to my dorm, but looking around, I can tell this isn't my dorm at all. I have no idea where I am. Warrick would never leave me somewhere that I wouldn't be safe. That I know deep down in my heart, but I just wish I knew where he left me.

"Oh good, you're up," Warrick calls out, pulling my attention to the doorway of the bedroom where he is standing with atray in his hands. "You've been sleeping for over twelve hours. Your phone there," he nods toward my phone on the nightstand beside me. "Has been going off nonstop all morning. I don't know your passcode to be able to answer, but I did take a peek. Sorry, it couldn't be helped when it wouldn't shut up, and I was switching it to vibrate. The girls and Phoenix have been messaging you."

"Sorry," I blush, reaching to grab my phone and entering my passcode to unlock it. When I open the messages, I see he wasn't kidding. The girls have been blowing up my phone all morning, trying to get ahold of me and make sure I'm okay. Typing out a quick message in our group chat, I let them know that I'm okay was sleeping, and Warrick is taking care of me before I close that chat and move to the one with Phoenix. His texts are different. He wasn't necessarily asking where I was. He just said he hoped I had a good time and wanted to know what time I would be coming back so we could talk. I appreciate that he wasn't trying to rush me or that he didn't need to know about my every move. He trusted me, and that said more to me than anything.

"I made you breakfast. Don't worry. I didn't leave it to sit for a while; everything is freshly made. I figured you could use some food and more pain meds." He gently sits the tray of food over my legs and takes a step back. "I know you are probably feeling like trash. Feel free to crash here as long as you'd like. When you're ready, I'll help you get back to your dorm, or if you're more comfortable, you can have the girls bring your things here."

"That's really sweet of you, Warrick," I give him a soft smile. "Out of curiosity, do you know if any of those drinks I had last night had Fae magic in them? I feel the same way I did the last time I drank drinks with Fae magic. I know you paid my tab, so I wasn't sure if you happened to see what was on it."

"They don't serve drinks enhanced with Fae magic at Phantom's Pub," Warrick shakes his head and comes closer, reaching his hand out to touch my forehead. "Can I?"

I nod my consent, and then I feel his magic slipping through me. I knew what happened the second he told me Phantom's Pub doesn't serve Fae-enhanced drinks. I suspected it last night but never said it out loud. Now I'm realizing the mistake that was. I should have spoken up and told him when I realized it. I'm such an idiot. I know better than to be trusting of drinks. I guess I’m just so used to always having Warrick there to watch me that I didn't think to take precautions. I also just assumed it was safe because of the proximity to campus. I have definitely learned my lesson now.

"Bella," he states in almost a whisper, his voice filled with concern. "I think you were drugged. I can sense something foreign in your bloodstream. Were you not watching your drinks all night?"

I can already hear the lecture he is about to dive into now. "Don't leave your drink unattended. Always keep an eye on it," I answer, rolling my eyes. "I know the lecture, War," I groan.

"Since you feel like this, and I'm almost positive you'll remember for next time I'm going to save the lecture. I tried to use my magic to heal you, but it's going to take a little while for the drug to leave your system completely. I'm betting that's why you puked from the car ride. Usually, it takes you far too many drinks to count for you to get sick like that."

"I should have told you last night when I suspected it. Something felt off, and I suspected my drinks weren't what they should be, but I think I was terrified to say it out loud. I didn't want to worry you after you were already doing so much for me," my voice drops to under a whisper. Shame and guilt fill me as I stare down at the tray of food he prepped for me. My appetite is long gone now, and I feel disappointed.

"Hey, none of that," he states gently, placing his index finger under my chin and lifting his gaze to mine. "It wasn't your fault. None of it was your fault. The only person to blame is the asshole who spiked your drinks. I'll go to the pub later today and see if they have video footage. I doubt it, but it doesn't hurt to check."

"Really?" I smile slightly, feeling a small bit of lightness in me. He's still my friend, no, he's my mate, and we didn't lose that between us, even if I was afraid that we had. His actions last night and this morning tell me that.

"Really," he smiles back. "Now eat your food and rest up. Also, tell the girls they are welcome to come here because I know they are going to be blowing up your phone and you need to rest. But...," he looks at me pointedly. "But you have to rest while here. No, getting out of bed or off the couch got it?"

"You're going to let me move to the couch?" I ask jokingly as I pick up the fork and put some scrambled eggs on it.

"Yes, I'm going to let you move to the couch. You need to be comfortable until those drugs are out of your system." He lets go of my chin so I can start eating and heads to the door. "If you're okay here, then I'm going to head to the pub."

"Thank you, Warrick, for everything." I hold out my empty hand to him. "You have no idea how much it means to me that you've done all of this. I know we have a lot to talk about and work out, but this is a step in the right direction. When you're ready, I think I want to tell you everything."

I watch as he walks back over to me, grasps my hand, and leans down to place a soft kiss on my forehead. "Little One, I will do everything and anything to take care of you. I went about it the wrong way at the start of the week, and I will forever be sorry about that. You, Arabella, are so important to me. I will do whatever you need to make it up to you."

"No more hot and cold then," I answer firmly. "I can't do that again. You've never behaved like that with me, and it pissed meoff and then slightly scared me. I was worried you would turn into my dad. I can't and won't live that type of life."

"I know. The second you walked out that door, I knew I fucked up, and I knew you would think I was like your father. I was just terrified. I kept getting secondhand information, but I couldn't get ahold of you and figure out where you were. It was the first time I was truly afraid of what happened to you," he pauses and takes a deep breath. "You are my world, Arabella. You have always been my world. I fucked it up once. I will spend my life making it up to you."

"You know I believe that," I chuckle lightly. "But you know it won't be the first nor last time either of us fucks up. Time is on our side in some ways because we know each other so well, but we know each other as friends. Now it's time to get to know each other as mates. If you want that." I start to get shy and burrow back into the pillows behind me, afraid that he is going to think I'm jumping too soon. Maybe I am, but I'm saying what I feel. I don't want to keep doing this alone.

"Little One," he sighs, looking at me longingly. "I would like nothing more than to do that. You tell me when, and we will ask Talia how we can complete our mate bond while here."

"Okay," I squeak before I begin to fidget with my food, pushing what's remaining around on the plate. I want to do this but we have so much to talk about. He needs to know about Phoenix before agreeing to complete this mate bond with me. I make him feel trapped. He also needs to know about my weird power and the possible connection to Lucifer. There is still so much between us.

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