Page 25 of Resurrection
Taking the bag from my hands, he pulls the tank top out. With a grin on his face, he shoves it in my hands. “It’s a dress, so it doesn’t need a bottom part. Put it on.”
“Hell no!” Pushing the damn thing back to his chest, I shake my head adamantly. “I’m not going anywhere dressed in this.”
“They’ll be here any moment. Do you want to die because you didn’t like wearing a dress? Or one of us to die because of it?”
Glaring at him with my teeth grinding, I slowly pull my hands away from his chest, the dress clutched in my fingers. “I don’t want to die because of it, no. I couldn’t care less about the rest of you.”
Andrei chuckles like I just told him a joke, walking out of the bathroom. I told him the truth. I think. I don’t care if any of them die. Especially that arrogant ass, Sebastian. The scent of him when he carried me in his arms fills my nostrils, and my heart skips a beat. What the hell was that? Wondering if they’re doing something to me that is making me insane, I pull his t-shirt over my head, dropping it on the tiles. It takes some maneuvering and wiggling to get in the tank top that is supposed to be a dress. When I finally have it on, I keep pulling at it, but the fabric doesn’t lengthen. It sits barely below my butt.
“Don’t look in the mirror,” Andrei calls out.
“Trust me, I really don’t want to see myself at the moment.”
“Can I come in?” It sounds like he is hovering behind the partly closed door.
“Yeah…I guess.”
Still pulling at the bottom of the dress, my feet shift restlessly. Luckily enough, while in hiding, I never forgot to at least take a little care of myself. Shaving my legs and underarms was the only thing I allowed myself to do so I could feel like a woman. A human woman. It would’ve been very awkward wearing this thing if it was otherwise.
The door pushes open, and Andrei stops at the threshold, his gaze sweeping slowly up and down my body. I keep pulling at the bottom of the damn dress. He clears his throat after a few moments and comes closer. I stare at his chest, my face burning from being almost naked here with him. He wraps his fingers around my bare shoulders and turns me around. Without a word, he pulls the hair away from my face, his hands tightening it on top of my head. I didn’t see him holding a brush or anything else, but I wasn’t really looking at him either. Staying quiet, I let him do whatever he is doing.
“All done.” When the pulling on my hair stops, I stay with my back to him. “Come and see how you look.” Circling around me, he pulls me with him in front of the mirror. When I don’t immediately turn to look at myself, he nudges me gently. “Look, bella.”
Reluctantly, I turn to my right. My mouth parts and I find it a little hard to fill my lungs with air. The woman staring wide-eyed at me from the mirror is not me. She looks pretty; thick, long lashes framing her dark eyes. A bronze glow makes her high cheekbones more prominent, giving her an exotic look. Although on the skinny side, her breasts are full, stretching the red fabric. The high ponytail falls over her shoulder down her chest. Only the scar on her neck proves we are the same person.
“This is not me.” I hear my voice, but the lips on the woman in the mirror move.
“I assure you; this is all you. I merely shaded a perfectly painted picture.” Squeezing my shoulders encouragingly, Andrei smiles. His lips freeze the same second, and I feel sick to my stomach. I know what he will say before he opens his mouth.
“They are here.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
SEBASTIAN
Holding tightly to my control, it takes a long moment for me to exit the vehicle. I’ve kept quiet, not trusting even my closest confidants with my secret. After drinking the blood from our matron, my powers have doubled, then they tripled. They kept growing, proving to be challenging to conceal around others. I have lost control many times in the beginning, gaining the reputation of cruelty amongst our kind. It serves me well, but that was not planned on my part. Barely keeping it at bay, it took a long time to keep it at manageable levels. If the Council gets a whiff of it, there will be a battle. Eight to one will be the odds, and not in my favor.
“Having second thoughts?” Khan swishes his robes next to the open door. I can feel Marcus’s anger pulsing through our bond.
“Just building the suspense.” Chuckling lightly, I unfold my body from the leather seat. “I’m sure Andrei can feel me being close, informing our runner that her death is coming.”
“You are a fine male, Sebastian.” Excitement comes off of Khan in waves. “I don’t know why you keep refusing to join us permanently here in America.”
Buttoning the top two buttons of my jacket, forcing myself not to wrench the bastard’s head off in front of the hotel, I smirk at him. “Ah, Khan. If I am here all the time, who will keep you on your toes when they visit?” They want me close so they can keep an eye on me, but he has no idea how close to being permanently in America I am.
“I’m sure you will do that even if we keep you locked in the Council Towers.” Petting my shoulder like we are old friends causes my fangs to throb in my mouth. If he keeps touching me, I might just rip his throat out.
“Shall we?” Pointing my hand gallantly, I encourage him to precede me into the hotel.
Puffing up his chest, he strides through the doors. Following behind him, thoughts swirl in my mind. I will have to be more alert, not allowing him to provoke me when April is present. That’s another problem, as well. I have spoken the truth to her but now to keep her and all of mine alive, she will have to see a side of me that she always expected. She will see the monster that even the Council fears. There is no going around it. I’ll just have to smooth things over after Khan leaves. If everything goes well. If not, I may not allow him to depart this hotel. That will flip everything I’ve worked hard to build on its axes.
The door chimes before it slides open. We enter the elevator, the four of us. Khan, his sentinel, Marcus, and me. With a gentle lurch, we start lifting up. The closer we get to the penthouse, the more agitated I become. My fist clenches in the pocket of my pants. Marcus shifts slightly. Sometimes he is too observant for his own good. When we reach the top floor, I’m of half a mind to slaughter both outsiders before they exit this metal contraption. Marcus clears his throat. Khan glances at him, frowning, but I keep my focus at the doors. They will open any second now.
With a whoosh, the doors slide to the sides, the three of them exiting. I stand rooted to the spot, intently focused on Khan.When he realizes I didn’t follow him out of the elevator, he turns to me with raised eyebrows.
“Problem?” His voice is even, but the threat is evident on his face.
“You keep asking about a problem.” Moving my legs finally, I get in his face. “I’m starting to think you are looking forward to one.”
