Page 135 of The Book Reader
“Your dream daemon would not last a second with me, but please. Call him.” His voice is menacing as he moves to sit down in a chair, crossing his legs and gesturing to the door. “Well?” he grins at me.
“What do you want?” I snap, ignoring his comment. I try to keep my nerves calm; that’s what you’re supposed to do when faced with a rabid dog after all. It makes them less likely to attack.
I don’t want Gaelan to get hurt fighting Drake.
“A rabid dog? Interesting thought,” he says, sounding indifferent. I don’t answer. I’m sick and tired of this man and his mind-reading shit.
“You know what I want, Arianna, and I know you have found it. I can see the evidence plain as day.” His eyes run over the marks on my arms and face. “I’m just trying to work out why you have not handed it over to me,” he drawls, his eyes narrowing.
“It’s mine,” I say, my markings flash on my body as a wave of fierce possession wraps around me. Drake just laughs.
“Do you not remember what I said?” In a flash, he erupts from the chair, wrapping his hand around my neck and squeezing it tight.
Lexus growls in my head. Drake’s mask of rage shifts into something resembling bewilderment, his eyes darting back and forth between mine, as though he can hear it too. “I remember,” I rasp out. “I’ve decided not to care.” I place my hand on his chest and whisper,“Retro” Back.
My magic rushes out of my hand like a spark and hits Drake in the chest. He flies back, crashing into the wall, leaving a formidable dent in the smashed bricks. “The book is mine,” I snarl. “If you need my help, then you can fucking ask nicely for it,” I add in a shout.
Drake stands slowly, grinning as he gets to his feet. “You have a daemon? That’s new.” He brushes brick dust from hisshirt, then moves towards me again. “Learn your powers, Book Reader. You are going to need them.” I pull in a shaky breath as he shimmers away, leaving me exasperated. He sounds as if he knows a great deal more than we do.
That scares me even more.
“Rose?” I jump as Gaelan rushes into the room, daggers drawn and eyes glowing bright blue. “Are you okay? I felt your fear, and—” his eyes scan the room, and he frowns at the dent in Lucy’s wall. “Rose?”
I shake my head. “I’m fine. Lucy isn’t here, so I’m just leaving her a note.” I say as nonchalantly as I can, walking over to her desk and pulling out a.
“Hitch?” Mekhi shouts my name. “What the fuck was that bang?” He bursts in, wielding a hairbrush and a mirror in his hands, looking ready to bash someone over the head with it. Gaelan laughs, and I shake my head.
“It was nothing. I tripped,” I tell them. I don’t want them to worry. If Mekhi finds out that Drake has been here, he is going to move out. If I tell Gaelan, I will never be able to leave the castle ever again.
I will tell Gaelan, though, just not yet.
Folding the note over, I leave it on the bed for Lucy. When I turn, Mekhi is glaring at Gaelan, which is adorable since Gaelan looks completely unfazed by it. He pats Mekhi on the back. “I’ll look after her brother, don’t you worry,” he says.
Mekhi chews his bottom lip, then waves the hairbrush in his face. “You had better, if I find out you let this bitch Macy anywhere near her, you’ll have me to worry about. I’ll give that perfect hair of yours a perm and bleach the ends, understand?” he gives Gaelan a pointed look. The threat falls on deaf ears. Gaelan holds his hand out for Mekhi to take, then pulls him in close, giving him one of those man hugs and patting him on the back.
“She is my mate, Mekhi; I would die before I see any harm come to her,” he says, pulling back. “You have my word.”
Mekhi nods, then his eyes lock with mine. “Isn’t it enough that this man is fine as fuck? Why does he smell so good, too?” He says with a grin.
I smile. “I know, right?”
Gaelan chuckles. “I’m still in the room,” he exclaims.
“We know,” Mekhi and I say at the same time, then share a laugh.
Mekhi comes over and gives me one last hug. “I’m going out, so I don’t have to be here aloneagain.Plus, you don’t need to seethisperfect face covered in tears.” He looks down into my face. “You are going to smash this Hitch. Remember that.” He grins, then turns and heads to the door. He gives Gaelan one last lingering look before he walks out. Emotions tug in my chest, making tears roll down my cheeks.
Gaelan pulls me close, wiping them away with his thumbs. “As soon as this is all over, we will come back,” he says.
“Why don’t I believe you? I feel like this is never going to be over.” I wrap my arms around him and hold him tight. There seems to be too many enemies at our throats, and if the prophecy is true, I am the only one who can do anything about it.
Chapter 48
ARIANNA
It’s been a couple of weeks since I said goodbye to Mekhi. The first few days, he tested out the bond I gave him; he kept touching it, and Gaelan would shimmer me topside to find Mekhi either drunk on too many ‘tinis or asking my opinion about which shoes to wear, or if the new guy Charlie he’d had a one-night stand with was worth another go. I’d understood why Gaelan was getting frustrated.
Mekhi is my bestie; we’re both finding it hard being away from each other.
