Page 26 of Mended Souls
I forced myself up the flight of stairs, bringing my fist to the front door. But before my knuckles could connect with the red wood, the door opened and I saw Drew and a very displeased Annika. The look she was giving me wasn’t very Annika-like, but I understood why she was glaring daggers sharp enough to kill.
Drew was holding her against him, otherwise she would rush me and dig her clawed into me. She was like this last night, too. “Don’t do anything stupid,” Drew said.
“If you hurt her more than you already have, I will claw your eyes out and feed them to the stray cats.”
I arched my brow, looking at Drew and then back at her. Drew didn’t do anything but step aside and walk to the couch. “You’re pretty feisty, aren’t you?”
“You hurt my best friend. You’re lucky I let you into my apartment, but it’s not my choice.”
I threw my hands up in peace. “I know. I don’t deserve her forgiveness.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re damn right, you don’t. You know she’s in love with you, right? She can’t hate you for what you did to her, but I can. I don’t care if you can fire me or torture me in your basement.”
“I know she is. And I know how much I hurt her because of my own personal issues. We talked a little last night, but it wasn’t enough.”
“If she gets hurt, I will kill you, Blaize.”
Drew stood up, setting Annika on the couch, causing her to huff and fold her arms across her chest. “Before you go in there, she’s sleeping. But sleep hasn’t been her friend. In the last few weeks since everything’s happened, she’s been getting roughlyfour hours of sleep a night if she’s lucky. After talking to you last night, she’s finally sleeping longer.”
I nodded, waiting for directions to her bedroom. “Door at the end of the hallway.”
I gave Annika one last glance before walking towards her bedroom, knowing the two of them were watching me like pissed off hawks. Annika was ready for her talons to latch into my throat and end my misery, but I didn’t blame her. Kadence was lucky to have a friend who was this passionate about her well-being.
When I stepped into her bedroom, she was tossing and turning in the bed, fighting an unknown force. I knew it was because of me. Her hair was fanned out in a tangled mess of blue, some strands sticking to her forehead and neck. The baggy t-shirt was riding up her thighs, giving me a scandalous view of her curvaceous body. This was not the time or place to admire her. Her neck still has a bandage covering the gash, but the shirt was blocking the one on her chest.
Hesitantly, I moved closer to the bed, sitting on the edge and caressing her cheek with my hand. She leaned into my touch, her body relaxing. I didn’t know how long I would stay like this, watching her sleep, before her eyes slowly fluttered open.
“Hi, princess.”
CHAPTER 22
KADENCE
Hues of honey invaded my mind, and in a sleepy haze, I pulled her down. She was stiff, but I wanted her to hold me. “Just be quiet for a little while and hold me.” I felt her nod as she crawled into the bed with me. I pulled her closer to me, kicking a leg over her and nuzzling into her body. I knew I needed to wake up and talk to her, to sit down and tell her how I felt and why it triggered me, to rip my heart out and let it bleed into her so she can understand why I did everything I did. But that was a future me problem. Right now, I wanted this moment with Blaize, and then we could talk. I dozed off to the sound of Blaize’s heartbeat and her nails scratching my scalp.
My eyes fluttered open once again, and I peered up to see Blaize watching me. “Hi,” I mumbled. “How long did I sleep?”
“You slept for an hour and a half.”
I nodded, pulling away from her and stretching before crawling out of the bed. “I don’t want this to be awkward. We can go to your place after I shower.”
Thirty minutes later, I couldn’t lollygag around anymore. I slipped into a pair of tight jeans and a long-sleeved tee, pinning my hair up with a claw clip. I needed to color it again; the blue was fading into a light teal and my brown roots were starting toshow. I walked out of the bathroom and Blaize had a bag on her back. She must’ve packed clothes for me. It shouldn't make me swoon, but because it was her, it did. I told her I was ready, and I walked out of the bedroom with her following closely behind me.
Annika stopped me, grabbing my shoulders and looking behind me, giving Blaize aI would end your bloodlinelook. This version of Annika was actually terrifying, but I was grateful to have a friend that would go to war for me. She was passionate about her anger even though I talked to her about it a lot.
I pulled Annika into my arms, giving her a tight, reassuring hug. “I’ll be back. I love you. Thank you.”
Blaize took my hand as I followed her out of the apartment. My heart was beating outside of my chest. I was slightly terrified that Blaize was going to hurt me, but she came to me last night when no one else would. She answered me immediately and sent her motorcycle club to keep watch until I was safely in her arms. It didn’t mean I fully forgave her, but it rebuilt a little of the trust that was broken. I was still going to make her work for my forgiveness a little more, though.
My plans of bratting were ruined when I saw the black Harley Davidson she walked toward. This bike was sleek and intense. All black chrome withHadesstamped onto the side in emerald green. How the fuck did I not know she had a bike? Was it naïve of me to think the woman that lived in leather and was president of a motorcycle club wouldn’t have a bike that matched her cold personality? I smirked at her as she handed me a purple helmet. She knew exactly what she was doing. As I kicked my leg behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist, she smiled down at me.
I’d be lying if I said this feeling wasn’t amazing. For the first time in a while I felt free, like I shed the weight I’ve been carrying. The wind was loud enough to drown out the screaming in my mind, silencing my demons and thoughts for just amoment. I had to trust Blaize not to kill me when a month ago…Our relationship was…touchy right now, but I was going to make her pay for what she did, one way or another. I just couldn’t deny the intense pull we had.
As soon as the bike came to a stop, I jumped off the seat, haphazardly losing my footing when I realized the ride made my legs feel like mush. Blaize caught me in her arms, still straddling her bike. It was like we were both in a trance, but I pushed away from her before anyone noticed. She hit the kickstand on her bike and crawled off it. She shouldn’t look this hot, but she was clouding my mind and judgment as she effortlessly dismounted from the Harley, looking absolutely perfect.
I followed Blaize upstairs to her office, my heart rate picking up with every step closer. Being alone with her was intimidating after everything we’d been through. She had me follow her through the door, to the opposite end of her office. There was a door here, something I assumed was always a bathroom or storage closet, but she opened it to reveal another sizable room.
I cocked my brow and followed her into the unfamiliar space. The area opened up into a lavish home with dark grey walls accented with emerald green and gold. The living room was spacious, with black velvet sofas, shelves filled with leather bound books, and pictures that added an aura of Blaize into the mix.
