Page 71 of Chasing the Red Queen

Donja forced herself to walk away, the pain in her mother’s eyes all but unbearable, so much so that she forgot that an Iridescent predator was out there, lurking.

In the foyer, Donja met Torin, Makayla and Gage. Torin opened the door and as Donja, who was still reeling from the unpleasant encounter with her mother cast a stealthy glance behind, she saw Frankie with Carson, standing near the kitchen door watching their departure.

“You look beautiful,” Torin said as Donja exited the house. She ignored him and followed Makayla and Gage down the steps. She spied a shiny black Mercedes, surprised for she was expecting the black Charger. Finding the cobblestone walk, with her spiked heels echoing, the world faded as pain like a sword to the midsection impaled her heart. She fought her tears, the misery witnessed in her mother’s eyes, devastating.

Torin followed behind and as she rounded the car, he darted in and opened her door. She slid inside while he circled the front of the car. Makayla and Gage got in the back seat and slammed the door. Torin fired the engine which purred like a cat, buckled his seat belt then leaned across the console, his scent which was…strange, settling upon her. “You are so beautiful,” he whispered, his seductive voice by no will of her own, luring her unto him. She slowly turned her head. They deadlocked and in that moment her body all but betrayed her, for she was instantly weakened by his dark, mysterious eyes. She lowered her gaze to his lips, so thick and inviting. Her heart skipped a beat, her dark lashes fluttering. A pent-up breath escaped her and though part of her wanted to tell him that he was the most gorgeous man she had ever known, she couldn’t, the pain in her mother’s face was too fresh. She turned away bound in silence and though she knew, as well as the back of her hand that hurting her mother was the only way to save her life, as well as her own, it didn’t lessen the pain. Not a damn bit.

She shivered and as he slid the stick into reverse, a hasty glance from beneath her lowered lashes revealed that he was less tremulous than their last encounter. She recalled that he even kissed her cheek when he gave her the flowers. Confused by this sudden change, she again glanced his way and he was stolid, his jaw held tightly, his eyes narrowed. “You’re hurting,” he whispered, so softly that she tilted her head, unsure if it was real or imagined. She watched him in silence, unable to find her voice.

“I’m sorry that it has to be this way,” he said with a prolonged glance and his serious eyes…so damn handsome.

The car lunged forward but not before she saw her mother in the window, watching their departure. Donja felt herself crumble. A solitary tear streaked her cheek, but before it could fall, Torin caught it with his finger.

“Please don’t cry,” he whispered.

“I hurt her,” Donja sobbed, shocked by her own quivering voice. “I didn’t want to, but I had no choice, thanks to you, Scarface and your precious Council.”

His demeanor hardened, his eyes like pits of boiling tar. “It would be best if you don’t speak of such,” he said, eyeing her intently before returning his eyes to the road. “Words said in haste could have dire consequences for us all.”

She swallowed past the lump in her throat, painfully aware that he was right. The consequential rules of this new life were dangerous at best. She dropped her head as Makayla’s warning that neither of them might return from this date alive, rang in her head.

Would he kill me, my entire family, to protect his way of life? Would he even have a choice? Do it or die himself.

Something cold crept up her spine.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

He didn’t answer.

“This is all so new to me, so different.”

She glanced to the back seat and Makayla as well as Gage, were stolid. She turned back and watched Torin’s face, his jaw tight. She swallowed hard. “It’s painful to hurt someone you love,” she whispered, “to inflict misery.”

“I know,” he whispered without looking. “I’ve been there, but it’s just a moment in time. Embrace it, and let it go.” He leaned upon the console, so strong and steady, so in control and in that moment, she analyzed his transformation which was dramatic. He no longer shivered nor trembled in her presence. He was at ease, all powerful and though she didn’t understand nor have the foggiest clue as to why, she realized she loved it.

“Your heart’s fluttering,” he said, gripping the wheel. He licked his lips. “It’s really fluttering,” he whispered, “and it’s not fear, it’s…” his words trailed as he grinned, “something else.”

Donja looked away and that was the first time she felt a submissive desire to give of herself. A rush of heat rose from her chest to warm her cheeks and she closed her eyes, wondering how he would taste.

She felt him lean across the console and turned to face him, his lips so close that she shuddered.

His eyes caressed her, seductively. She turned away.

My God his eyes, what is that?

He turned on the music, eyes back on the road, steady as if nothing had happened between them.

She eyed him with curiosity.

What power do you have over me, hate you one minute, willing to die for your touch the next.

She exhaled, eyes back to her window, her heart on fire.

As I Am

Just inside the city limits of the Michigan Soo, Torin pulled into the parking lot of ‘The English Inn,’ an award-winning restaurant and pub. He parked, got out and came around to open Donja’s door, which caught her off guard. No boy, or man for that matter, had ever opened her door and though it seemed foreign, it felt amazing. She stepped out and joined Makayla and Gage.

“Are you hungry?” Torin asked, towering over her.

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