Afterlife - Stephanie Hudson Page 0,240

I couldn't think of anything but forgiveness.

“And I too am sorry if I brought you any pain by kissing Jack,” I said but even at the very name of him he flinched.

“That night of course changed everything.”

“How do you mean?”

“Well no doubt it is the reason you are here now. I instructed Jerry to give you the night off because it was the one night I wanted you as far away from here as possible.”

“But why?” I asked remembering my thoughts on why I had been allowed to have the night off in the first place.

“Because you have never been in more danger in your entire life before that night...” He looked then as he had done that night. Face set in stone. Stern and powerful.

“I would never have imagined that by removing that boy you would turn into a fiery temptress. When I saw him kiss you, my reaction well....you no doubt noticed?” I nodded remembering the lights that blew and the loud crashing sound from above.

“Well, I couldn't help having him thrown out, I mean how dare he....YOU WERE MINE!” He shouted as his temper flared and for a second I thought I saw his skin change colour or was it the Demon part of him trying to get out? I frowned and made a disapproving noise at his outburst. But deep down it also sent sparks of pleasure to my heart, secretly liking the idea of belonging to him.

“Sorry, it's just...” He made a low growling noise which took me back.

“You must understand...It is hard to control emotions I have not felt before.” He looked up to the ceiling for what I can only assume control over his fiery temper.

“So when I had him thrown out, you did the complete opposite than what I thought you would do, I mean I knew you would be upset but the last thing I imagined was you coming up to face me! I knew how much you’d had to drink but it was not enough to think you capable of such bravery!” He shook his head at the memory.

“Well that will teach you to underestimate people.”

“Not people...just you. I have never known a human to be so reckless before. As a general rule, humans are attracted to us yes, because of the hold we have on them, but they are also afraid of us and for good reasons. Up until then I believed you to be too...I was clearly mistaken.” He grinned at the thought. I must have looked like an angry kitten confronting a lion, the head of the pride.

“You made me angry” I said in my defence.

“Oh there was no doubt in that my dear! Any other time and I would have found it endearing but that night was very bad timing.”

“Because of Malphas?” I said saying his name cautiously but I knew it was the reason before I saw Draven's reaction. Again it was like watching a granite statue wanting to crush the very name from existence.

“YES...I knew it was too late as soon as he saw you, as humans are never allowed upstairs, it was my rule and for me to break it, it would have to be for my gain only. He knew this and if I would have you ordered back down he would have just found you and forced you to speak.” I shuddered at the thought. What had I been thinking?

“So the only thing I could think of was to pretend that you were nothing to me, which turned out to be impossible as he knew how to push me. And with that, so did you.”

“Well could you blame me? I mean how confused do you think I was, first you treat me like I was just some stupid little girl getting in your way, then you want to take care of me from a little bump to the head? That was going from one extreme to the next. So after all of that you pushed me over the edge and well...let’s just say I was pissed off!” I said not taking a breath.

“So that's why you didn't obey me?” His eyes opened wider as he looked down at me, finding out my reasons for such a stupid mistake.

“Well it doesn't help when you use words like obey I can tell ya!” I said making my full northern accent come out as it usually did when I got animated. He didn't miss it either.

“That's adorable you know.”

“DRAVEN!” I shouted at him, as