Chapter 48: 48__Closing doors

He burnt the whole place down.

Maia let herself be dragged lifelessly along as she stared behind her shoulder.

Stared at the four portal doors in the middle of the forest. Stared at the blazing red fire consuming all four as they were destroyed.

Stopping her feet, she yanked her hand out of Rogan’s. “You really burnt the whole place down.”

He stopped walking and turned around with a raised brow. “It’s a fictional place.”

Maia looked expressionlessly at him. “You just destroyed four of my novels.”

Rogan blinked, glancing back at the burning portals. “You said that book wasn’t your favorite.”

“That’s not the point,” said Maia with a shake of her head.

Rogan crossed his arms. “You’re really going to give me attitude right now? Excuse me, I just saved your ass.”

Maia narrowed her eyes. “And you’re sure you didn’t put my ass in there in the first place?”

Rogan clenched his jaw. “You know what? That’s it. Go. Go back in the portal. Have a fun life with that little fucktard in the suit!”

“I would, but you killed him,” Maia informed him.

“I didn’t put you in the fucking book, Maia!”

Maia stared at him, feeling weird to see that much sincerity in Rogan’s eyes. He wasn’t lying.

So he really saved her? Damn. She was indebted to him again? *Double* damn.

“Yeah, that’s right,” said Rogan, seeing the realization fill her eyes. “You got yourself in trouble. Again. And I saved you. Again!”

“Thank you.”

Rogan stopped, her gratitude too sudden for him to handle. “Okay, but you’re gonna have to do better than that.” His eyes grew dark and she thought she spotted his fangs lengthen. “You’re gonna have to make it up to me.”

Maia realized something. “Actually, no. You tried to kill me when you gave me to the Shifters, so this makes us even.”

Rogan stared flatly at her. “I don’t want to fight with you when you just got back.”

“Then don’t start a fight, Sorcerer,” Maia replied with a cheeky smile, looking at him over the top of Elaine Cranberry’s glasses before walking away.

Rogan watched her leave, swinging her hips in that old librarian outfit and bit his lip silently.

Who the hell in that portal taught his forest rabbit to smile like that, look at a man over the top of nerdy glasses and swing her hips like a ringing church bell?

*****************

“Hi, Maia!” said Clover the moment she opened the door, wrapping Maia in her warm arms.

Her mouth dropping open, Maia hugged Clover back. “Hey, you’re awake! Are you okay?”

Clover nodded, linking their arms and tugging Maia into the Hostel as she told Maia about some mysterious Vampire she met.

“Hello, darling,” said Claudia, waving from the bar top where she sat, swinging a seductive leg through the daring slit in her gown.

“Get off my bar, Claudia,” Cassie growled, trying to wipe the bar her friend sat on.

“Hi, Claudia! Cassie!” Maia said, her eyes tearing as she pulled the seductress and the Tigress to her and hugged them. “I missed you guys so much.”

Cassie blinked, awkwardly patting the crying girl’s back. “There, there.”

“We just saw you last night, what do you mean?” asked Claudia. “And what is this atrocious outfit you’ve got on?! Did Rogan force you to wear this?!”

Roman finally trudged into the house, having made sure the area was safe. He wouldn’t take any more chances. The bastard who was after Maia was getting desperate. It was just sad that they’d thought Rogan wouldn’t be able to get her out of that portal.

“Rogue!” Claudia started, trying to glare into Rogan’s eyes through his dark glasses. “Why did you have to make her dress this way? This is literally a crime.”

“Spare me the chit chat, Claudia,” Rogan countered, grabbing a tumbler of alcohol from the bar. “You didn’t even know she was gone. None of you did, you all forgot her!”

Clover made a face. “Say what?”

“Forget it.” Rogan popped the cork off and drank straight from the bottle. It wasn’t like they would remember forgetting Maia just because he told them they had.

“He makes less sense every time I see him,” muttered Claudia, shaking her head at Rogan. With a confused scoff, she took Maia’s hand. “Come with me, darling. We need to discuss outfits for the ball!”

“Maia.”

Maia turned to living room entrance. “Cecile!” Her eyes filled again. It was insane how quickly she’d gotten attached to these women.

Maia started going to hug her, but stopped midway when someone else appeared behind Cecile.

The short, edgy haircut and tattoos were unforgettable to Maia. So was the voice that spoke to her.

“Hello, my little warrior,” greeted Laurel.