Chapter 103 Wanting more
“This is disrupting your schedule.” I drove along the 101 freeway, glancing once into my phone, propped on the suction phone holder.
“You are my priority.“
I smirked, the memory of the sprawled out ballerina on the studio floor flashing through my mind.
“I will be fine.” I steered out of a truck's way, watching it drive by with little jerks. “You keep forgetting I can mostly care for myself.”
I was desperate to ease Hale's mind. That attack must have been hell for him. He could hear my thoughts and must have listened to my internal panic through the entire ordeal, but unlike Mordaine, he could not speak into my head.
Mid-flight as he was, he must have felt achingly helpless for a man who was usually so capable.
I glanced back at my screen, watching him watch me with those midnight blue eyes, tense and anxious in the backseat of his chauffeured car in Tokyo.
I will sit with you till you get home.
I had pulled my phone out of my purse after driving away from the academy to find I had missed so many of his calls.
We slipped into silence for the next couple of minutes. I drove and he watched me.
The question was right at the tip of my tongue. Hale would know. Why I had seen a child of the last moon twice already, what they could possibly want with me.
But I remembered that look on his face at the dinner, head bent, guilt-darkened eyes. I could not add to that.
“Did you have a smooth flight, how is Finn doing?” I said to fill the silence, to stop myself from saying what I actually ached to.
Hale made no response, but instead handed the phone to Finn.
Aqua-colored eyes filled my screen, sad as usual, but worried now. My throat closed up.
I jerked my eyes back to the road as my heart hammered, my cheeks heating up. I had not expected Hale to hand him the phone.
“Nice car.” I blurted out.
Silence.
I glanced at my screen to find a slightly confused look in those eyes that often made me forget how to breathe.
“I…” I swallowed hard. “I thought this was your car?”
His eyes lit up then.
As it turns out, he had not been paying attention to anything else but me. Just me.
The thought of this sent butterflies fluttering in my belly.
And when he finally spoke in that husky deep voice, “I’m happy you took it, Lys,” My lip disappeared between my teeth before I realized what I was doing.
His eyes narrowed, burning, and then he moved and Hale filled my screen again.
If Hale noticed any of this, he said nothing.
A quarter of an hour later, I drove past the abandoned school mirage into the grounds of their mansion. My current home.
“I hate that I didn't let you rest before your day started.”
“Is that worry I hear in my wife’s voice?”
“Be for real, Hale.” I cut the car's engine in the garage.
He repeated the phrase, and I could not resist a smile.
When I walked into the lounge, he seemed to take his first real breath.
“I hope it brings you a little comfort.”
I frowned, “What are you talking about?”
He gave me that up-to-no-good smile, and winked. Then his smile marred, “Please stay home till Daine returns.”
He glanced down and then back up again. “He must have touched down in Amsterdam already. He should be home before morning.”
“Thank you.” I sighed, glancing at the large cascade of moon flowers still standing at the spot I left them in the living room. “Hale,”
“Yes, honey.”
“Is there something you are keeping from me?” I returned my gaze to the screen. His brows furrowed. “Children of the last moon. I have seen them twice now despite Alpha Rosamund claiming it's a rumor. Last night, you said it wasn't about me, are you certain?”
Hale was staring at me, quiet.
I frowned.
“Hale?”
He said nothing, and I finally realized I was staring at his frozen image. The call had glitched.
I hesitated, but typed in a quick message and hit send before I could change my mind.
I was halfway up the stairs when the doorbell rang. This time, it did not frighten me.
Outside the front door, I found a gift box, with elegant red ribbons. It was lighter than it looked, and when I got to our bedroom, I pulled out a cashmere throw blanket, lined with silk.
It smelled like Mordiane, lilies.
Not for the first time, I wondered why a man would choose lily-scented cologne. Dragons did have weird tastes.
At the bottom of this box was yet another sticky note that led me to the kitchen. I finally took a bite of the macarons as I opened the box I had spied earlier that morning on the counter.
A silk eye mask, embroidered with my L.G. initials. And a note that read. Pool, Last floor.
I promptly followed the instructions, embracing this distraction as I desperately needed a mental escape from the chaos that was my life.
My footsteps were muffled as I crossed the hallway to the back of the staircase where I scanned the private elevator open with my fingerprint.
It shot up directly to the last floor where the dragon’s vault was, the vault that held his most precious possessions, the same vault he had granted me access to.
But when I stepped out of the elevator, I turned in the opposite direction, and pushed the door open to the natatorium.
My body froze, my eyes wide.
There were at least a hundred candles all around, lining the edge of the pool, dotting the floors, making the rainbow-colored pool appear even more ethereal.
But the pool itself was the center of attraction. White roses covered the surface as if it were a mere bathtub. This was an indoor infinity pool. Just how many flowers did they use to fill this up?
I took my first step, and then the next, walking along the edge of the pool.
The Ashbounds had been here. These candles were recently lit.
I wanted to see them at least once. Not their leaders I met that one time, but the real ones who cared for this house, guarded it.
In the week I had been here, I realized they took great pains to remain unseen. They cleaned the house while everyone slept at night, and even did landscaping in the blanket of darkness.
But from what Finn had told me, they did not live here.
I squatted by the pool and cupped out a rose petal.
The rumors said the Hearthrown Alphas worshiped you, and then you happily gave your life for them. I see now why it works every time.
All these gifts for a first night with them? Lavish!
But my excitement had fizzled out because what did this mean, and why did I want it to mean something, to mean more?
It must be that feminine vanity to feel special, not like the other women. I suddenly wanted this to be something they had never done for any of the other Ascendants.
It was that moment it caught my eye. A large plushie standing at the other end of the room. I sprung to my feet and made my way towards it.
My eyes traveled the length of it when I stopped. It was half my height. A sticky note was taped to its head.
Seriously, I’m getting attached, doll.