I held on and squeezed him right back. “It’s only been three days.”
He set me down and held me at arm’s length. “Technically longer, if we’re counting down to the hour.”
I pushed him playfully and he stumbled back, smiling. When he moved out of the way, I noticed Echo standing behind him.
“Hey!” I squealed, and like two giggling girls, we ran to each other and started rambling about a million things at once. For the first time, her bubblegum pink hair was completely down.
“You were absolutely missed, Octavia.” She brushed a loose strand of hair from my face.
“Oddly enough,” I chuckled, “I missed you guys, too.”
“Thanks?” She laughed, tilting her head. “I don’t know if that’s a compliment or not.”
“It was just unexpected is all,” I said quickly. I hadn’t meant to offend anyone.
“Dude, you missed so much!” Maverick went on to say animatedly. “The clan met about the attack in NightCrawlers, and they wanted retribution for Roberto’s death, and—”
Maverick’s voice faded in my mind as I peered around the living room for the one face I hadn’t seen — Tristan’s. The apartment was the same as it was before I left, not that I expected it to be different on my account, except that they’d cleaned the dining room and installed a new table. The kitchen was empty and I sorta wished I was a shifter right now so I could have supersonic hearing and see if there was someone else in the house.
“—there was about to be a war, Octavia!”
“Huh?” I jumped back into the conversation. “War?” I raised a brow in question.
Maverick nodded. “Weren’t you listening? You know … because the shifters killed Roberto. Any of this ringing a bell?”
“Oh! Right, yeah.” I wanted to face-palm myself. Of course there would be repercussions. Peace between the vampires and shifters was rocky to begin with, and I practically pushed it over the edge. Not a nudge … I shoved that sucker down when I called Killian that night to save us from Roberto and Murdoch. What a mess.
“But don’t worry,” Echo said as she looked at me intently. “I can tell by the worry lines on your forehead that you’re stressing out. Tristan took care of it as clan leader.”
I perked up at the mention of his name. “Oh, Tristan took care of it? How so?”
“Since I was attacked,” Maverick inserted flippantly, “and it was Roberto who did it, they couldn’t call for blood when that slime ball had gone after one of his own. The vamps weren’t happy about it, but they have to live with what Tristan decides.” He shrugged.
“I feel responsible,” I mumbled, my shoulders drooping at the thought.
Maverick placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Don’t sweat it—”
“Ms. Cruz,” Tristan greeted smoothly behind me. My whole body straightened at the sound. I spun around slowly and faced him. “Welcome back.” He stood between the living room and the dining room, wearing a pair of dark jeans and a t-shirt, along with a pair of boots. What he always wore. His dark brown hair was messy, looking effortlessly like artful bedhead, and those emerald eyes were brighter than I remembered as they seemed to glow against his pale skin.
“Thanks.” I rocked back on my heels nervously.
Tristan placed his hands in his pockets and walked toward me slowly. “You must have been having the time of your life since we didn’t hear a word from you.”
Was that sarcasm I was hearing? Or bitterness?
My brows furrowed as I tried to collect my thoughts and not be a complete asshole like he obviously wanted to be. “I didn’t know I was supposed to stay in contact, Dad.” Okay, maybe I wanted to be an asshole. He brought it out of me.
“Funny,” he deadpanned.
“I know,” I smirked.
“I didn’t give you my number just so you could not use it, Ms. Cruz.” His voice grew louder and I heard Echo curse behind me.
“Are you freakin’ serious right now?” I asked, my hand tightening its hold on my bag.
“Does it look like I’m joking?”
I coughed a laugh and shook my head. This was absolutely insane. He was insane. It was like he wanted to start a fight with me for no reason. If that was the case, I wouldn’t stand there and feed into it.
I brought my bag up and placed the strap on my shoulder. “If this is how you’re going to treat me, then I’m out of here. I don’t have to put up with this shit.” I turned to leave, but Echo stood in my way.
“Octavia, please don’t go,” she said, her eyes widening in panic. “Let’s just go put your things away and get some rest. It’s probably been the longest three days you’ve had in a while, and you could use some sleep. Please,” Echo pleaded.
I was tired. Exhausted, really. But it wasn’t because of the last three days. I’d gotten rest during my time at Big Bear. What I was tired of was Tristan’s bad mood. I wasn’t helpless. I didn’t need them to survive. At one point I thought I did, and maybe that was my fault. I made myself depend on Tristan, and that was wrong of me. The only person I should depend on was myself, otherwise we had a situation like this, where they thought I had nothing else but them.
That was where they were wrong.
My face hardened. “No.”
“Octavia, hold up!” Maverick jumped in. “He’s just in a pissy mood.” He glared over my shoulder at Tristan and then back to me. “Let’s not make any rash decisions. You have nowhere to go.”
I shook my head as I looked down at my feet and started to laugh. “That’s where you’re wrong,” I said sadly. “I’m going home.”
“You walk out that door, Octavia, and it’ll be the biggest mistake of your life,” Tristan said behind me and I tensed. “You got a delivery while you were gone. A whole bouquet of black dahlias. Whoever this is, they won’t stop.”
I wasn’t stupid enough to think I could handle whoever this mystery person was on my own. Like I told Kai and Gideon, I’d never been in a fight a day in my life. But that didn’t mean I was completely useless. And if I was going down, I was going down swinging.
Unfortunately, it was clear I’d overstayed my welcome at Tristan’s. I was so excited to see them, I really was, but I supposed it just wasn’t meant to be. Maybe Gideon was right. Vampires and phoenixes just don’t mix.
I peered over my shoulder and said, “Whoever it is, I’ll deal with them—without you. Because right now I need people in my corner who respect me, and you obviously don’t.”
I turned back to face Maverick and Echo, whose jaws were hanging open. Tristan grabbed my arm.
“Don’t be stupid!” he gritted.
I exhaled, then leaned forward, turned to face him, and twisted my arm out of his grip so fast I stunned him. I took that opportunity to push him away from me. While he didn’t fall flat on his ass like I’d hoped, he did stumble back from the force, which shocked him even more.
Thank you, Kai and Gideon.
“What the hell, Octavia?” Tristan said as he straightened.
“Shouldn’t have put your hands on me,” I drawled, crossing my arms across my chest.
“Tristan, apologize!” Echo growled, but I paid her no mind. No matter what he said, nothing would make me change my mind. I would just go back to my neglected apartment—
“If you want to go home, I’ll take you tomorrow,” Tristan conceded.
I rolled my eyes. “I can get to my apartment just fine on my own.”
“Not your apartment. Your home.”
“What?” My bag fell to the floor with a muffled thump as my arms bonelessly dropped to my sides. I felt like I would collapse at any moment.
“I’ll take you home, Octavia. But stay the night … please.” It sounded like it hurt him to say please.
“Why were you being such an asshole?” I asked, genuinely curious about the reason. I’d been so excited to see him and tell him about the whole trip, and then he did … this.
“You should have called,” he snapped, then sigh
ed. “Don’t you know how worried we’ve been? Killian took you without telling us where you were going or what you were doing, and we’ve just been sitting here helpless. You could have at least sent a text!”
Oh.
I looked over my shoulder and saw Echo and Maverick both studiously avoiding my gaze. But the thought was plain on their faces; they were worried. I caused that. I left without saying a word, in a volatile state. I’d killed someone for the first time, and I was shaken by the aftermath. While I knew Killian wouldn’t harm me, they didn’t know that. I looked back at Tristan, who started fuming again just by rethinking about it all.
“It wasn’t my intention to worry any of you.” I stepped aside so I could face the three vampires. “I honestly didn’t think about texting or calling, but I realize now I should’ve at least told you I was okay.” I cleared my throat. “But that still doesn’t give you the right to talk to me any way you please. I’m not one of your vampires and you don’t get to boss me around. I’m a grown-ass woman, which means you better think twice the next time you come at me sideways.”
Maverick snorted and Echo elbowed him. I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing. I was trying to be serious and he was messing with my flow.
Tristan glowered at me and I gave it to him right back. I refused to stand down. Not from this. And just as I suspected, he blinked first.
“So, where were you?” he asked nonchalantly with a shrug.
I smirked. “He took me to Big Bear Mountain. They were having a celebration up there in some cabins by the lake.”
“They took you to the mountains?” Maverick questioned, his jaw slack. “They never bring outsiders …”
“Phoenixes are sacred to them,” I explained, a little too full of myself. “They thought I’d be interested in the histories and stories.” I reached into my back pocket and pulled out the pocketknife. “I think this belongs to you.” I handed it to Echo with a knowing look. “I didn’t need it.”
She smiled. “It was merely a precaution.”
I turned to Tristan. He wore a pensive expression, like nothing I said made sense to him. Maybe it didn’t. The fact that Killian was kind to me was seemingly rare. Knowing Tristan, he probably thought the shifter was running a scheme.
“What changed your mind about letting me go home?” I asked him, pulling him from his thoughts. “Last time we talked about it you were adamant about me staying hidden. Why now?”
Tristan cleared his throat. “I’ve had time to think while you were away. Maybe going back to business as usual will smoke out whomever is looking for you.”
I clenched my jaw. “I’m not using my family as bait.”
“You’re not,” Echo said. “We’ll protect your family. Nothing will happen to them.”
Could I take that risk? I’d stayed away for six long months to keep them safe. Could I throw it all away just for something to happen to them now? I couldn’t live with myself if it did, but there was a selfish part of me that really wanted this. That wanted to go home and finally hug my mom and tell her how sorry I was for all the hurtful things I said to her the last time we spoke. I wanted to hear my dad laugh again; it was so loud and boisterous, completely unmistakable. And my brother and sister—they were my best friends. I needed them to lean on more than anything, but I also wanted to find a way to protect them from this crazy world into which I’d been thrown. With the vampires’ help, maybe I could.
It was time to go home.
“I’ll take you tomorrow,” Tristan said as he softly brushed his thumb across my forehead, flattening the worry lines. “Just … spend one last night here,” he murmured, then stepped back as if he was confused about what he was doing. “Are you hungry? Maverick has been in the kitchen all evening making you dinner.”
My grin broadened and I turned to the golden-haired vamp. “You were?”
If he could blush, I was sure he would. “I know you like pancakes, so I hope it’s not weird to have them this late.”
“What? I love pancakes, dude!” I bumped his shoulder. “Hell yeah, let’s eat. I’m starved.”
I dropped my bag where I was standing, and Maverick wrapped his arm around me and dragged me to the kitchen.
“I made an assortment of culinary delights such as classic pancakes, blueberry, chocolate chip, cinnamon roll pancakes …” He wiggled his eyebrows at me.
“Ohhh, cinnamon roll sounds so good,” I groaned as my mouth watered and my tummy rumbled. “You’ve outdone yourself, Mav.” I patted his chest and let him lead me to the new dining table that closely resembled the old one.
Tristan and Echo followed, taking chairs around the table while Maverick headed into the kitchen to bring out the food.
“Are you guys going to eat?” I raised a brow at Echo and Tristan.
“Yeah.” Echo nodded. “I’m not missing out on his famous cinnamon roll pancakes. Especially not after smelling them for the past hour.”
We spent the rest of the night stuffing our faces with all the different flavors of pancakes Maverick cooked up, along with an array of breakfast sides. Each time I thought I couldn’t possibly eat anymore, another stack magically appeared in front of me and I consumed it all.
Echo kept the conversation flowing and Tristan finally relaxed a bit. I think he even cracked a smile at one point.
I told them some parts about my three-day trip, but some things I wanted to keep to myself. I didn’t know why I kept my self-defense classes with Kai and Gideon a secret, but I did. It wasn’t that I felt my vampire friends were untrustworthy, I just wanted to have something tucked up my sleeve just in case.
I didn’t know what the future held; all I knew was I was ready for whatever came.
17
We talked well into the night until Maverick and Echo had to leave just before sunrise. It was funny what three days would do. It seemed as if I’d been gone for months and they had so much to catch me up on, except it was mainly vampire business. Nothing on my end. They couldn’t find anything or anyone connected with Murdoch.
“I programmed my number into your phone, and you can always find me at the precinct if I’m not at Tristan’s,” Echo said as she squeezed me into a hug. “Don’t be a stranger, you’re one of us now,” she added as she pulled away.
“Thanks.” I squeezed her hand before letting go. “And this time I’ll make sure to call.” I laughed and gave a pointed look at Tristan.
Maverick sidled up to me and pulled me into an embrace. “I’d give you my number, but I think Tristan would rip out my heart,” he whispered in my ear and I snorted. “You’ll be missed around here. Make sure you visit—at night.” He winked and stepped aside.
“I’m not going away forever. I’ll be back,” I promised as I tilted my head to look at the towering vamp. “I’m just reintegrating into the human world. Which I desperately need.”
Maverick nodded solemnly. “We know.”
With that, he and Echo waved goodbye and left the penthouse, leaving me alone with Tristan.
Why did I agree to stay the night?
I turned on my heels and found that I was alone in the living room and Tristan wasn’t in the dining room or kitchen. Instead of looking for him, I grabbed my discarded bag and crossed to the hallway that led to Tristan’s bedroom where I’d been sleeping.
There are so many other rooms in the penthouse. I wonder why he never gave me a guest room?
I opened the door to the bedroom and found it just as I left it. Tossing my bag on the floor beside the bed, I softly closed the door behind me. I plopped myself down on the feathery soft mattress and leaned back, blowing out a long breath. Everything around here always seemed to move at warp speed, full of super dramatic moments and conversations. I couldn’t wait to get home to some normalcy.
“Already tired?”
I shot up, wide eyed, and saw Tristan leaning against the door frame of the bathroom.
“What were you doing in the bathroom?” I asked as I looked at him fully. His ar
ms were crossed over his chest, but he appeared calm, relaxed. Very unlike him.
“I was setting up a bath for you. Your forehead was wrinkly a lot tonight. Seems like you have much on your mind.”
I shrugged. “I just can’t believe I’m finally going home. It seems unreal.”
He pushed off the door frame and walked toward me. “Do you feel right being Camila again?”
“What do you mean?” I frowned. “I’m the same person. That’s just a different name.”
Tristan gave me a small smile as he stopped at the foot of the bed. “That’s where you’re wrong, Octavia. You’re not the same person, and I foresee your transition to human life being rather difficult. You might want to think about who you want to be.”
“Ugh, damnit, Tristan! Why do you have to get all philosophical and shit? Why can’t anything be simple with you?” I slammed my palms against the mattress.
He chuckled lightly. “Death can change people. And it’s definitely changed you. In my opinion, for the better.”
“You never knew me before.” I glared at him.
“I have a rather vivid imagination.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re such an asshole.”
“So I’ve been told,” he smirked, then nodded toward the bathroom. “You should go before the water gets cold.”
I slid off the bed and walked toward him. “Are you going to sleep?” I asked nonchalantly.
He leaned in close to me and whispered, “I’ll be here when you get out.”
I bit my lip and hurried into the bathroom with my head down, slamming the door behind me and leaning against it. Why does he make me so uncomfortable?
I could have sworn I heard him laugh behind me, or maybe I was imagining it. Either way, I hurriedly stripped down and climbed into the tub. The water was tepid, but it felt positively luxurious. I let the hot water run a bit to warm it up, then turned it off.
I would definitely miss this huge bathroom when I went back home. Tristan certainly knew how to live in the lap of luxury.
I stayed in the tub for a good thirty minutes before I started to get wrinkly, which was my cue to get out. I stood from the tub and reached for a fluffy towel that was lying on the floor beside the tub. I was wrapping it around myself when I realized that in my haste to get to the bathroom, I didn’t grab my pajamas. Great.
Phoenix Burn (From the Ashes Trilogy Book 1) Page 18
