Page 28 of The Arbiter

“I do. I figure if we’re going to be cooped up in here, I may as well get to know you better,” I answer.

A devilish smile takes over her face. She adjusts herself in her seat, putting her back against the door, then crosses her arms. “If I didn’t know any better, Rite, I’d say you made up this stakeout just as an excuse to get close to me.”

I smirk. “No, but that’s not a bad idea. Seriously, though, how’d you get the idea?”

She runs a hand through her hair and starts playing with the ends. “I don’t really know how the idea came to me. I just remember waking up one day and realizing I didn’t want to have to separate myself from one side or the other. I wanted to be both Divine and Damned, and I wanted to be able to be around both at the same time. Though I do prefer the company of the Damned since you Rites have no semblance of the word fun.” She gives a playful eye roll and smiles at me. “But still, I like the feeling of being around both. It’s like each half of my soul is content when I can feel the different types of power around me.”

I gaze at her with a bit of awe. She’d been an Arbiter in her own right before the Creator even glanced her way. I’m a bit blown away.

“I never liked the fact that we all had to be separate. I mean, what’s the point? Just because our ancestors fucked up royally by starting a war with each other, why does it mean we have to follow in their steps and not just get along?” She stops fiddling with her hair and looks up at me.

Her eyes widen. “What?” she asks.

I shake my head. “Nothing. It’s just… you’re probably the first Arbiter toactuallyfeel that way.” I lean my arms on the steering wheel and scratch the scruff of my five o’clock shadow. “I had to deal with Cassia several times over the course of her reign, and while she didn’t hold disdain for us Rites, she sure as Damnation didn’t particularly like us. I never felt she really earned the right to have so much power and influence, but it wasn’t my call. It’s the Creator’s. He chose her, so I abided by his law.”

“You didn’t like her that much then?” Nocturna asks with a light laugh.

“No. Not in the least bit,” I reply without hesitation, gaining a louder laugh from her. “She always acted like the world was beneath her because of her station. Just because you’re elevated in power, doesn’t mean you have the right to belittle those who are not.”

“Well said,” she praises. “I honestly don’t feel that powerful, even with my station. I see no point in flaunting it if I don’t even feel it. I didn’t want to be Arbiter. I just wanted to be Nocturna, mistress of the Apothecary and all around badass.”

I let out a bark of laughter that has her lips turning back up into that sexy smile. “I don’t think even being an Arbiter can take that away from you, Nocturna. In fact, I think it only just adds to that bad-assery you have going for you.”

“Bad-assery. I think I’m going to start using that as a noun. Good choice.”

We both laugh together at that. I can’t remember the last time I laughed. Or if I have ever actually laughed before her.What is this woman doing to me?

The rain begins to fall harder as we fall back into silence.

I’m not entirely sure what to do with myself as we wait. Anytime I’ve ever been on a stakeout like this, it was with other Rites. They aren’t exactly full of conversation, so silence is usually just a given, but I don’t want to stay silent with her. I like the feeling of… well,feeling.

Unfortunately, I am awful when it comes to starting a conversation. Which is even more evident when she turns and begins watching the humans and Damned coming in and out of the club. The only sounds that are heard are the rain against the metal of the SUV and the jazzy music filtering through the air.

I’m about to try another route of conversation when I feel a sudden influx of power.

At first, I’m thinking maybe a more powerful Damned has arrived to party and begin to search around outside. However, I’m quick to discover that it’s not coming from outside, but from inside the vehicle.

I glance at Nocturna and see her skin shifting between its normal opaque color to the translucent skeletal system of her second form.

“Nocturna…are you okay?” I ask, my hand reaching out to touch her.

Her eyes snap in my direction, and I see they’re lit with that mercurial glow.

“The energy coming from that place is killing me…” she rasps out hungrily before turning to look back longingly at the club. “I want to feed.”

Fuck. I should’ve asked before we left if she had fed. Why hadn’t I done that?

I reach over and put her chin between my two fingers, angling her head to look at me. “Nocturna, concentrate. You can’t get out of the car.”

Her eyes flash brighter for a split second, then her brows pinch together. “Why not? I can practically taste all the energy, and it’s making my mouth water.”

Her skin stops flashing between the two sides and settles on her second form, the white ends of her hair starting to spread further up toward her scalp.

Damnation, this isn’t good!I can’t let her get out of this car.

“You need to concentrate. Listen to my voice,” I soothe her. It’s hard to hold on to even this slip of skin on her chin with how much power is starting to radiate from her body. I can feel what’s almost like a current of humming electricity moving from where I’m touching her into my fingers then slowly up my arm.

If I don’t get a handle on her, it won’t matter if she gets out or not. They’ll feel her inside.

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