Page 45 of Blue Embers
“Is that the reason for all the ladies?” Persephone said lightly, smiling as if she was teasing. “They’re routine?”
The fact that I hadn’t craved other women since meeting Persephone suddenly came to my attention. Looking at her made me feel as if other women were almost a nuisance.
“They’re safe,” I muttered.
“Draak don’t have a problem with safety,” she replied, disbelieving.
“Safe in a different way.”
“You’re not going to tell me that all those women are meaningless flings to keep you out of your own head, are you? That seems cliche.”
“And your coming to me to relieve the grief you feel for your sister isn’t cliche?”
The smile dropped from Persephone’s lips and I knew I’d shocked her. It was rude of me to say it, but the reality was clear. We’d both sought distraction with sexual indulgences. We’d both attempted to keep it mild and forgettable. I was failing to do that with Persephone and I was trying to read her to determine if perhaps she’d failed as well. That was a truly terrifying thought. Mutual affection was a risky thing, especially in a world where conflict was starting to rise again.
“None of this is normal for me,” Persephone defended. “If you have a problem with any of this, you shouldn’t have kissed me, but if I remember correctly, I’m the one that stopped it.”
“You’re also the one that started it,” I said.
She almost laughed, but only to pretend she wasn’t humiliated. The woman prided herself in her reserved professionalism, yet with me, her walls were paper thin and had already started tearing. Her discomfort made her rigid until she finally caught her breath and stepped away from the table, raising her chin high.
“I should go home,” she said. “I can’t really help here and I think I really need to be alone and actually face everything that’s happened. It’s not doing me any good to lean on you.”
She turned from me, walking briskly toward the stairs.
“You should stay,” I said, but she ignored my suggestion and started up the steps.
I listened to Persephone walk across the living room to the front door, wondering if it was smart to go after her. On the one hand, she could be in danger. I hated the idea of her being a target at any capacity. On the other hand, she and I hadn’t built a stable foundation for any kind of relationship. We’d complicated it and muddied it with our inconsistencies and I was starting to wonder if I should stay away, for both our sakes.
When I heard the front door close, I tensed. I listened carefully as she got into her car and started the engine. She was leaving. Soon she’d be out of range for me to feel her. I curled my fingers into fists, staring into nothingness as her car drove off and finally ventured beyond my ability to hear it. As soon as it did, my feet were moving toward the stairs. I walked into the living room where Malice was sitting up on the couch, brow arched with intrigue.
“Lover’s spat?” he asked.
I rolled my eyes, heading for the front door.
“I’ll be back soon,” I said.
“No complaints here,” Malice said as I exited.
I slipped into my car and pulled quickly out of the driveway, speeding down the road after Persephone. I slowed my pace after a while, trying to give myself time to think. Gods, she was heavy on my mind. It was an uncomfortable burden and one I hadn’t experienced in many years, but I knew its uneasy presence well. The thought of losing something I didn’t think I could bear to lose.
“Damn,” I hissed under my breath, rubbing the tension from my brow as I drove.
The trip went quickly. In no time, I found myself pulling up to Persephone’s house. Her car was parked in the driveway, but she’d only just arrived. Her lights were still on when I parked at the curb and turned off just as I stopped. I filled my lungs with a preparatory breath and killed the engine, stepping out onto the sidewalk as Persephone was heading for her front door. She was in a bit of a daze and only noticed me when I swung my door closed. Her gaze flew toward me. She paused mid-step with surprise.
“I told you to stay the night,” I said as I made long strides in her direction.
Defiant now, Persephone huffed and kept heading for the door.
“I can’t do this,” she waved her hand dismissively.
“It’s not safe for you right now.”
Persephone unlocked her door and stepped inside, swinging it closed behind her. Before it latched, I pushed it open and walked in after her, unable to stop myself. Persephone looked surprised and now a bit aggressive, her eyes wide.
“What are you doing?” she demanded.
“Someone killed your sister for information they wanted,” I explained. “You don’t think there’s a chance they might come for you, too?”
