Chapter 218 No way out

Chapter 218 No way out
I stirred awake to Finn watching me. The house was silent, and a quick survey of the bedroom showed it was still nighttime.

"Hey,” I breathed, staring in his face, so close to mine. His eyes crinkled at the corner with a smile, and the sight made my heart squeeze.

He reached out to caress my hair, stroking it gently as the men snored softly on either side of us.

“I wanna watch you sleep every night,” he whispered. “It’ll be the best gift I could ever hope for.”

My heart stopped, and then started to race. That was one wish that would not happen. We had wasted all the nights he could have watched me sleep, missed all the days we could have had loving each other.

“I hate your hair.” I moved my hand and sunk my fingers in his own hair. There were traces of curled strands in them now after washing in the shower earlier. But it was still mostly straight.

He grinned, a broad, broad smile that lit up his face in that way it only did in Seoul.

“I noticed,” he leaned in to lightly brush the tip of my nose with his. His voice was soft as he said, “Come with me, Lys. Come with me to the garden.”

I drew in a sharp inhale, feeling my body stir awake. Then I gazed up into his eyes, feeling his lashes caressing my cheek bone. Pulling away, my gaze dropped to Hale’s hand, wrapped around my waist from behind in his sleep.

Finn reached forward, and gently, he pried the forearm away from me.

We slipped out of bed, and as I shrugged a robe on, he disappeared into our closet. He had on a pair of shorts and shirt from Mordaine’s side of the closet when he stepped out.

I gave him a nod, and he led the way out of the bedroom. At the door, I glanced back one last time to see Mordiane lying on his side, the curve of his hip rising and falling in his deep sleep.

Hale was flat on his back, one leg shooting out from under the sheets. I crossed the doorway with my left foot and shut.

I inhaled deeply as we stepped past the columns. The night air was heavy with the smell of honeysuckle, a thickening sweetness after the day’s scorching sun. I held my hand out as we walked down the tree-canopied yard towards the lake, watching my hand float above the sun-baked plants which were slowly releasing heat.

“It’s vampire time,” I observed, glancing sideways at Finn. He scoffed, moved closer and threw an arm around my shoulders.

“Did you have a lot of vampire friends?” My pace slowed on the warm cobblestone, feeling a sudden wave of pain. A realization that he was here at last, and I finally could confront him.

“Lys.”

I shook my head, staring up into his eyes, “Vampire girlfriends?” His eyes flashed, glassy. “I sent you emails, Finn. You never called me. Not even…”

He fell on me, his face sinking into the pit of my shoulder as he held onto me tightly. “I’ll make it up. Let me make it up.”

I stood still, and then moved my arms and wrapped them around his waist. I did not want this to be my last memory of him. And I did not intend to waste our last hours fighting either.

He pulled back then, cradling my face in his hands. “It did not feel right to be at the head of a war with your Grandma, and then send you love notes on the side. Grief ate at my heart every day that I could not speak to you, come to you. But it did not feel right to do anything else.”

I stared into his eyes, feeling we were at a full circle.

This was the same garden where I first met him. At about this time of the night too.

Pulling back, I took his hand, wove our fingers together, and resumed our walk. We stopped by the edge of the lake, and stared into the water while holding hands.

“Will you forgive me?”

“There’s nothing to forgive,” I turned to stare up into his eyes. “We all must do what we have to.”

His brows jumped. I bit my lip and looked away. Closing my eyes, I tilted my chin up to feel the air in my face. “Tell me,” I whispered, “All I have heard so far are rumors. Tell me all about your kingmakers.”

I opened my eyes again to find him watching me in that way that made the hair on my arms stand. The same look I had noticed Mordaine giving me earlier today, like he was trying to solve a puzzle.

“Can I hold you?” Finn said finally and I sighed. I moved into his arms, leaning my cheek against his chest as he wrapped his arms around me.

After some time, we settled on the lawn to rest our legs. I sat between his legs and he wrapped his arms around me from behind, leaning his cheek against my hair. Then he said, “Cedric Claire.”

I could not control the shiver that ran through me at that name. He no doubt felt me shiver, but he thankfully made no comments.

“It was in Korea he first approached me. Throughout our stay, he pressed me with the idea. It’s kinda odd, but he somehow knew this would happen. He said I was the best person to unite the vampire courts and restore our position.”

I said nothing for a while as our clothes billowed now and then in the wind. “You are relatives, correct?”

“Cousins.”

I tilted my head so that I fully leaned into him. “Is your new wealth inherited then?”

“No.” He paused. "It’s fraudulent money.”

I stiffened, my thoughts returning to his past. But he started to laugh, and I relaxed in his arms again, not before squeezing his thigh in a painful pinch.

My gaze was tilted up to the sky as he told me about the seed money Cedric had helped him with. And he fortunately made it big in the hospitality industry with all the contacts and resources his cousin provided, in just one quarter.

The more he spoke, the harder I found it to tell him how evil Cedric might actually be. But was he really evil? What other proof did I have besides seeing him speaking with Aionis in Korea?

From Finn’s account, the man was good to him. And he had looked nice enough the few times we met, although something about him made me uncomfortable.

Finn moved behind me then, and something cool dropped on my neck. I stared down, and my hand came up to touch the lovely crystal pendant.

I turned to him, staring in his eyes.

He shook his head. “It’s not a birthday gift.” He pressed his lips to my cheek. “It's a placeholder till I can put a ring on your finger.”

I chuckled then and rose to my feet. “Two husbands are a lot already.”

“Three won’t make a difference.” He jumped to his feet, still staring in my eyes. “You’re going to be my wife one day.”

I blushed, suddenly unable to meet his eyes. Even though there was no chance of that happening as my time was up, it made my belly flutter that he would say that so intensely.

I peeked from beneath my lashes to find him watching me. And suddenly, I could not hold back anymore.

Reaching forward, I clutched his hand, swarmed with desperation. “Promise me you will be careful with your cousin.”

His head jerked back, eyes wide in shock. “What?”

“Just be careful.” I said now, “Always listen to this.” I placed my hand on his heart, which beat much slower than other creatures. “Trust your own judgment above everyone else.”

Finn’s eyes hardened then, and I dropped his hand. “You believe he controls me too.”

I gasped, shaking my head. “I never said…”

“I have heard the rumors. That he’s the one... spurring me on. I thought you knew me better than that.”

I took a step towards him, but then stopped. This was useless.

There was no way out of this. Ainois had made sure neither he nor Grandma would listen. Trying to convince him now would only expose my plans, and then I would fail to save Mordaine, and expose the earth to horror.

My shoulders slumped.

“Shut up and kiss me.” I whispered. He flinched, sparks shooting out of his eyes. And then he grabbed me, and crushed my lips under his own.