Luckily there were no reporters outside the flat today. Rick pulled up in the car park.
“Thanks for coming today,” I said. “I know it wasn’t exactly fun.”
“I mean, it was different,” he offered with a shrug.
“Yeah. You know you can’t tell anyone about what happened though, right?”
“Obviously. I’m not an idiot.”
“Well, that’s debateable.”
He snorted.
“This has been nice,” I admitted. “I’ve missed hanging out with you.”
“Me too. Maybe we should do it more.”
“Yeah.”
“What are you doing tomorrow?”
My thoughts drifted to my plans to stay at Blaine’s.
“Um… I don’t know. Text me in the morning?”
“Will do.”
Chapter 33
A loud buzzing woke me abruptly. I sat up groggily and stared around the flat, confused. As my brain caught up, I realised someone was buzzing from downstairs. I dragged my feet over to the intercom and pressed the button.
“Who is it?” I grumbled.
“It’s me,” Blaine replied.
“Oh. Hang on.”
I buzzed him up and pulled the door open so he could come in then went and sat back down on the sofa, pulling the blanket back over me. I’d dozed off at some point, so exhausted from the whole explosion thing. Blaine entered the flat and closed the door behind him.
“You didn’t answer your phone,” he frowned as he came to sit next to me. I rubbed my eyes and picked my phone up off the table. I had several missed calls and texts.
“I fell asleep.”
“I can see that,” he observed, his eyes flicking over my hair, which was probably a mess. I ran a hand through it, finding knots everywhere. I looked down at my phone and saw a text from my dad, telling me he wouldn’t be home until late.
Blaine brushed some hair behind my ear.
“You should just sleep here tonight,” he said. “You look like you need it.”
“No,” I said abruptly. “I’m fine.”
“You look like a zombie.”
“Even with compliments like that, I still want to come to yours.”
He smirked.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I insisted, rubbing my eyes. “I just need to get a few things.”
He waited while I grabbed a bag and shoved some spare clothes into it. We went down to his car and drove to his flat. I messaged my dad and told him I was staying at Blaine’s on the way and he rang me almost instantly.
“You’re staying at Blaine’s?” he asked the moment I answered.
“Yeah,” I replied, not really sure what else to say.
“I see.” He cleared his throat and I winced at what he was probably imagining. “Well… at least you’ll be safe with him. I’m not sure what time I’ll be finished here.”
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“We’re looking at enforcing more strict measures in the country,” he sighed. “Closing public areas, getting people to work from home where possible.”
“That’s sensible.”
“Maybe. But it’s also expensive. The Prime Minister plans on announcing it tomorrow night, once we’ve got a plan in place. How was your time at the research lab?”
“It was… insightful.”
I couldn’t bring myself to tell him everything that had happened there. He would only worry about me.
“I’m sure it was. I’d better go. Call me in the morning, okay?”
“I will.”
I hung up just as we pulled up outside Blaine’s. I’d only been here once before. He took my hand and led me upstairs to his flat.
“Are you hungry?” he asked once we were inside. I glanced at his kitchen, which looked unused.
“Do you even know how to cook?”
“I can make pasta. Or I could order food.”
I turned to face him and dropped my bag. I stood on my tip-toes and kissed him softly on the lips. He wrapped his arms around me.
“Is that a no then?” he raised his eyebrows.
“I didn’t come here for food.”
He lifted me off the floor suddenly. I wrapped my legs around him as he carried me into his bedroom and dropped me on the bed.
“You need to sleep,” he said, yanking the duvet out from beneath me and sliding in beside me. I rolled over to face him.
“I’ve been sleeping.”
“You used a lot of magic today. You’re shattered.”
“We have all night,” I reminded him, hooking my leg over his. He sighed, pulling me closer.
“I never thought I’d be the sensible one.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
He chuckled and ran his hands down my waist, his fingers finding their way onto the bare skin of my lower back. I shivered.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
“A little. Maybe you should warm me up.”
He raised his eyebrows at me but leaned down to kiss me anyway. His kiss was slow and gentle but it only took a few moments for him to roll me over and cover my body with his. I sighed into the kiss. Did everyone feel this way when they were with someone they loved? The thought was fleeting but it made me stiffen a little. Did I love him?
“What’s up?” he asked, noticing my change.
“Nothing.”
“Am I hurting you?”
I frowned at him.
“Using magic weakens you,” he reminded me. “It can also cause physical injury.”
“I’m fine.”
His eyes swept over my face, as if he didn’t believe me. I slid my arms around his neck, bringing his lips back to mine. He kissed me again, though I could tell he was holding back.
When he finally slid off me, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
“We’re going to sleep tonight,” he announced, pulling his shirt over his head. I watched him undress, my eyes travelling over his body. They stopped at his stomach, where his wounds were. He’d gotten rid of the bandages while we’d been in Avaria and though the wounds were completely closed, they were still red and sore.
I reached my hand out without thought and ran my fingers along the lines gently, feeling the risen, uneven skin. He had gone still.
“Does that hurt?” I asked him.
“No.”
He finally pulled my hand away, wrapping his fingers around mine.
“Get changed so we can go to sleep,” he said, releasing me. I pulled my hand back. Even though I was still tired, I didn’t want to spend the night sleeping.
“Maybe you should help me,” I said with a smile. He glowered.
I pulled my clothes off and tossed them on the floor beside his. I hadn’t packed any pyjamas, assuming we wouldn’t be needing them. I curled up under the duvet and he wrapped his arms around me, tucking me against him. His fingers traced circles on my shoulder lazily. When I peeked up at him, he was staring at the ceiling.
“What are you thinking about?” I asked. His eyes moved down to me.
“Nothing. Go to sleep.”
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
“I was thinking about today. About what you did.”
“Oh.” That.
“It was… amazing.”
“It wasn’t anything,” I said, lifting one shoulder in a sort-of shrug.
“It was. I’ve never seen someone project a shield like that.”
“What do you mean?”
“You used it on the bomb, instead of on us.”
“I didn’t think I’d be able to hold the explosion off if I tried to protect everyone, I guess.”
“You guess?”
“I didn’t really think about it. It’s not like we had much time.”
He rolled onto his side, facing me. His face was close to mine, his eyes roaming over me.
“You’re something else, Princess.”
“If you tell me I’m not what you expected again, I will headbu
tt you.”
He grinned.
“You weren’t wrong about your magic. You are powerful.”
“It was just a shield.”
“A shield that managed to contain an explosion. I don’t know anyone who could produce a shield that strong.”
“Maybe it’s like those mother’s who can lift cars when their children are in danger,” I mumbled. “I thought we were going to die so… my magic had an adrenalin rush.”
“An adrenalin rush,” he muttered, looking amused. He twirled a strand of my hair through his fingers.
“You tried to save me,” I remembered.
“Of course, I did.”
“Don’t do that again.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t risk your life for me. You already risk your life all the time.”
“If you think I’m not going to protect you with my life, you don’t know me as well as I thought you did.”
“It was only two weeks ago you were lying in a hospital bed,” I reminded him. “It was hard enough back then… Now… Now I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.”
He brought his lips to mine, but he didn’t kiss me.
“Let’s not worry about any of that,” he said, his lips brushing mine as he spoke. “We’re here and we’re safe.”
I slid my hand up his chest and neck, resting it on his cheek. His fingers tugged at my hip, pulling me closer. He finally kissed me.
“Sleep,” he eventually said, grabbing my arm and turning me over to face away from him. I sighed dramatically but couldn’t deny the fact that I was shattered. He kept his arm around me, my back against his chest. I thought I wouldn’t be able to sleep with him so close but I did.
Chapter 34
“You look nervous,” Blaine observed. I ran the comb through my hair, wincing as my wet locks fought with the teeth of the comb.
“Not nervous,” I replied. “I’m just not looking forward to this conversation. Besides, it’s you who should be nervous.”
“Why should I be nervous?”
“You’re the one sleeping with the King’s daughter.”
He kept his gaze neutral but his eyes shifted, as if he just realised that he’d have to face my dad. I grinned at him.
“He doesn’t know we’ve slept together,” he said slowly.
“There’s no way he doesn’t know. Why else would I spend the night?”
When Blaine held his hand out to me, I frowned at it. He nodded at the comb. I handed it to him, assuming he wanted it. When he settled behind me, I felt heat fill my cheeks.
“You want to comb my hair?”
“You missed a bit. I’d rather your father doesn’t see you with bed-hair.”
I laughed but quietened as he ran the comb through my hair. We’d shared a shower together and though I hadn’t intended it to, my hair got slightly wet, making it a nightmare to comb. Despite the knots, Blaine was gentle.
“You have beautiful hair,” he observed as he flicked the comb over a tangle.
“Is that why you always touch it?”
“Maybe.”
I hugged the towel around me as he worked through the knots. Despite what we’d done in the shower, this felt way more intimate. And I was starting to see that Blaine had a sensitive side, one that I wasn’t used to. My mother had once told me that all men had a sensitive side but they rarely showed it because they were more concerned about appearing strong and tough. She said that if I were lucky enough, a man would let his walls down to show me his one day.
Thinking of my mother’s words and how Blaine was proving them true made my chest tighten. I wish I’d listened to her more.
“Are you okay?” Blaine asked suddenly. My sadness must’ve shown on my face.
“I was thinking about my mother.”
He placed the comb on his bedside table and shifted closer, wrapping his arms around me gently.
“You don’t talk about her much.”
“It’s easier not to.”
He pushed some damp strands of hair behind my ear and rested his chin on my shoulder.
“I understand.”
He didn’t push or pry. I leaned my head to his, not because I needed his comfort, but because I wanted it. As long as his arms were around me, every worry vanished from my mind.
“We should probably get dressed,” he said, though he made no effort to move.
“Probably,” I agreed. I leaned back against him more. “When will I see you next?”
He frowned slightly.
“I have a double shift today,” he said. “I won’t be back until about five in the morning.”
He rose from the bed and opened his drawers. I reached down to my bag and pulled out my fresh clothes. Blaine dressed quickly then left the room.
I had just buttoned up my jeans when he appeared again. He lifted my hand then dropped something into my palm.
“A key?” I asked.
“To my flat.”
“You’re giving me a key to your flat?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I want you to come here whenever you want. I know I work a lot but if you need space or you want to see me… you can.”
It was incredibly sweet of him.
“Are you sure you want me invading your privacy?” I asked him, wondering if he’d thought this through. “This is your home.”
“It’s a place I sleep,” he shrugged. “But maybe I’d look forward to coming here if I knew you were waiting.”
I smiled up at him. It would be strange, letting myself into his flat. But I liked that he wanted me to.
“Thanks.”
There was a buzz from the front door. Blaine winced.
“I might hide in the bathroom.”
“Don’t you dare.”
I checked my reflection in the mirror while Blaine buzzed my father up. I looked perfectly normal, though I wasn’t sure I expected anything else when I looked in the mirror.
A knock on the door made me jump. I joined Blaine by the front door as he opened it.
“Hi, dad,” I said weakly. He looked as tired as I’d felt yesterday.
“You ready?” he asked. I nodded. We were headed to a Council meeting about the Impius. I glanced at Blaine.
“I’ll see you… later?” I said stiffly.
“Yeah,” he replied, handing me my bag. I swung it over my shoulder and looked at dad expectantly.
“You go ahead,” he told me. “I wanted a word with Blaine before we leave.”
“About what?” I asked, heat filling my cheeks.
“Nothing to worry about. Go wait in the car.”
I met Blaine’s gaze. He looked calm, but his lips were a thin line.
After a long second, I obeyed my father and left the flat. I tried to walk slow to eavesdrop, but he shut the door so I couldn’t hear. The thought of what they were talking about made me feel uneasy and nauseated. I swallowed hard as I slid into the car, resting my head against the cool window.
How awkward.
A few minutes later, dad joined me.
“Let me see your knuckles,” I demanded the moment he got in the car. He stared at me.
“What?”
“I want to see how badly you punched him.”
He snorted and slammed his door shut.
“I didn’t punch him.”
“Then what did you want to talk to him about?”
“That’s between him and me.”
I scowled as he pulled out of the car park. I brought my phone out and texted Blaine, asking what he’d said to him. He replied instantly.
We had a guy chat. That’s all you need to know.
Asshole.
As I suspected, the meeting was boring as hell. They discussed the most recent attack in London and the damage control they were implementing. I listened vaguely, though my father had already discussed most of it with me. Every time I looked at Darren, his eyes were boring into me like daggers. The last tim
e I’d seen him, I’d dragged Blaine away to dance with me.
I wasn’t sure what his problem was though. After all, it had been him who’d wanted this betrothal all along. Wasn’t he happy that Blaine and I were getting along and making it work? I averted my gaze from him and forced myself to focus on the meeting around me.
“We have had a breakthrough in the research facility,” Martha announced. I looked at Terry’s mum, her statement grabbing my attention. She had the same down-to-earth appearance as her daughter. As one of the few women on the council, I had immense respect for her. “Within the next few weeks, we hope to be able to secure the other side of it.”
Dad’s eyes drifted to me. I gave him a weak smile. I hadn’t told him exactly what happened in there, not wanting to worry him. But I had told him that they’d used explosives that seemed to work.
“That’s promising,” someone chimed in.
“We’re currently gathering materials to build a secure fence around the area,” Martha continued. “Once we’re inside, we’ll be one step closer to stopping the attacks for good.”
The room filled with murmurs. It was good news, but something was nagging at me.
“Once the site is secured, what is the next plan of action?” dad asked, calming the chatter.
“We will begin research on the area,” Martha explained. “We’ll attempt to strengthen the veil from the other side but most likely we will have to send out more teams into the area to find magic anomalies that are damaging the veil.”
“Aren’t the Impius to blame?” someone asked.
“Our research has shown us that they have no magic. It is unlikely that they are the ones tearing the veil. They don’t have the means. Something else is doing it.”
More murmurs. I tapped my fingers on the table, taking in the information. Something else was causing the tears in the veil? I hadn’t really thought about that possibility.
When the meeting ended, I followed dad back out to the car, deep in thought.
“You seem particularly quiet today,” he observed.
“I’m just thinking.”
The Avarian Chronicles: A Tear In The Veil Page 21
