Allegiance (Causal Enchantment #3)(79)

“Feel better?” Caden smiled, wrapping himself around my upper body, enveloping me into him.

I nodded. Surprisingly, whether it was the hot shower, or the two little pills, or Caden’s arms around me, the pounding had subsided. I may even be a little bit hungry …

You certainly smell better and … Max began.

I rolled my head within Caden’s chest to throw Max an evil stare. He didn’t finish his sentence. “Yeah … I’m never drinking again,” I said. My head shook against Caden’s chest as he chuckled. Warmth exploded within me. I loved the feel of his happiness. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt it.

Pulling back slightly to look down at my face, the back of his hand grazed over my lip gently. “Does this hurt?’

I shook my head, melting. He leaned forward and placed the lightest kiss on my lips. “Does that hurt?” he whispered.

Blood rushed to my ears as my heart hammered against my ribs. Whatever resentment or hurt held him back before, it wasn’t present anymore. On impulse, I grabbed hold of his neck and drew him down for another kiss. He responded without restraint. If my lip still hurt, it wasn’t registering at the moment, too overjoyed by being in contact with Caden’s mouth to complain. Once Bishop returned, we’d be back to the twisted delusion. Until then …

The hairs on the back of my neck prickled suddenly, an eerie feeling sweeping through my body, ruining the moment. On instinct, I broke free of Caden’s lips and checked over my shoulder. Wraith had slinked in behind me, no more than three feet away from us. He didn’t do anything or say anything. He just stood still, waiting expectantly. I knew exactly why—to level Caden if he felt I was at risk. That bugged me. Greatly. The only thing I was at risk of now was losing precious time with Caden.

Pivoting on my heels to stay between Wraith and Caden, I decided to try cordiality. “Can you please give us a moment alone, Wraith?”

Wraith only stared back at me.

Good luck with that, Max muttered sarcastically.

“Please?” I said again, the pleading in my voice that was really beginning to annoy me.

“I do not understand this ‘moment’ term,” Wraith finally explained.

“It means give us some space … don’t hover?” Still, only a blank look, and no movement. This was going nowhere. “Can you please leave the room!”

His head jerked to the side once in a half shake. “No, that is not possible. I am here to protect you at all times. You must never be out of my sight.”

Pausing to take a deep breath and temper my tone again, I spoke to him as if he were a child. “But we’re safe in here, just like I was in the bathroom. No one’s going to come in here.”

He pointed at the two-stories-high windows. “Those are entry points. The threat is there. Therefore, I stay.” End of discussion, clearly.

I heaved a sigh of frustration, knowing I would never win this argument. “Fine … can you at least step over there? By the window? So you’re not climbing on top of me? So I don’t have to see you staring at me?”

He blinked.

“Go stand over there!”

His neck turned mechanically as he glanced at the window and back at me, as if visually measuring the space. Finally, he walked over and sidled in behind the heavy silver-mauve drapery until all but his shoes were invisible.

I struggled to contain my grin. Turning back, I gave Max a knowing “get out” glare, silently promising I’d be nicer to him from now on.

Don’t have to convince me! I hear Santa delivered some Christmas goodies for me. He trotted off to the door and opened it with his giant maw.

Finally. I was alone with Caden.

Well, sort of. Not alone enough for what I wanted but … I threw myself at him, slipping my hands around him, nuzzling into his neck. “I can’t wait until this is all over,” I whispered in his ear.

“The feeling’s mutual,” he whispered, his hands sliding down the length of my rib cage to rest on my hips, pulling my body against his. “Damn it, Evie …” Strong fingers wrapped around my lower back, an index finger running along the waist band of my jeans. My breath caught. I closed my eyes, reveling as I felt his hands steal beneath my sweater and edge up along my spine, soaking up the warmth radiating from him. He was the one I was meant to be with. Why couldn’t the Fates just realize that and stop trying to keep us apart?

“Here,” Caden whispered suddenly, reaching up to grasp my hand and bring it down to his side. He placed something long and cool into my palm. A gorgeous diamond-jeweled dagger with an ivory handle. “I figured you were probably done with traditional jewelry.”

“It’s beautiful.” My other arm slid off Caden’s shoulder to handle the dagger with care, slipping the blade from its soft leather sheath. It was six inches long and thin. Dainty, though I could tell by the curve of the blade that it was anything but. This would carve through flesh—human or vampire, it mattered not.

“When did you get this?” I carefully sheathed it, visions of accidently disemboweling myself cautioning my movements.

Caden shrugged. “I’ve been out once or twice.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, studying its weight in my palm. “It’s beautiful … and dangerous.”

“Like you,” he chuckled softly, his lips pressing against my brow.