Page 52 of Awakened and Betrayed
“It wasn’t like that. This information is dangerous. He was trying to protect you, as is his duty.”
“Do you really believe that, Enoch?” I interject, speaking over the bickering and accusations that are flung between each other.
“Was it my safety your dad was concerned with when he threatened that I either pick you and your coven, or risk being exposed as a Sentinel?”
I watch Enoch carefully, looking for any sign that he knew this was his father’s plan. He’s either an incredibly talented actor, or the shock he’s currently wearing is genuine. Man, what I wouldn’t give to be able to scent a lie like the shifters can. My stomach shouts its displeasure at me, sounding a lot like the growling wolves I was just thinking about. Ryker presses a hand to my lower back and leans into me.
“Let’s get you fed and rested. We can deal with all this shit another day.”
I nod and give him a tired smile. I would kill for three burgers the size of a plate and a hot soak in a tub.
“Well, it looks like you guys have some shit you need to work out between yourselves. And if I don’t eat soon, the hangry is going to kick in, and with the extra batteries my magic just acquired, that’s probably not going to be enjoyable for anyone. I’ll come and get my stuff this week if that’s cool, and then I’ll just see you guys around, I guess?”
I get all awkward and fidgety as I try to say goodbye. It comes out more like a rambling question, and I all but wink and shoot them a gun finger while making a weird clicking sound with my tongue. Why is this weird as fuck?
“What do you mean get your stuff?” Nash asks, speaking for the first time since the Sentinel truth bomb exploded all over this room.
“I’m all awakened now, so no more manipulative magical guardians for me. I can go where I want to go now, and that’s always going to be with them.”
Nash looks at each of the guys surrounding me one at a time and then back to me, he parts his lips to say something, but Enoch cuts him off.
“You still need to train and work on your magic, especially now that you’ll have access to even more of it. This is the best place to do that. Look at how far you’ve come already. What did they teach you the whole time you were at your uncle’s house? We are the best coven to help you.” He gestures to the guys around me. “Don’t let them convince you that they are your only option.”
“Listen, you arrogant piece of shi—”
I step in Sabin’s path as he moves from behind me to square up with Enoch. I reach back and grab Sabin’s hands and place them firmly on my ass, hoping that will give him something else to think about aside from wanting to rip Enoch to pieces. Knox moves to step forward, and I grab his hand in mine. I hold it up for Enoch and the others to see.
“If you know what I am, then you know what they are to me.” I point to the runes on Knox’s ring finger. “They’re mine. I’m theirs. It’s a done deal.” I lower Knox’s hand but keep my fingers intertwined with his. “Thank you for bringing me back here instead of to your dad’s house.” I pause. “Maybe your dad didn’t have the best intentions, but he was right in saying knowing about me is dangerous. You guys said I could trust you. I really hope that’s true.”
“Vinna, wait!” multiple voices shout out at me, as I turn toward the door.
I look over at them and the step toward us they all seem to have taken. “It doesn’t have to beusorthem,” Kallan tells me, his eyes darting to Enoch for the briefest of seconds.
Enoch’s gaze drops at Kallan’s words, but when the room grows quiet again, his aqua eyes fix back on me.
“We’re here no matter what happens,” he offers.
His hand reaches out toward me for a beat, but he forces it down. Enoch’s body language changes as some kind of decision or acceptance takes place inside of him. He looks up at me, and I don’t see the pleading or apology that I saw before; determination stares back at me, and I’m not sure what to think about that.
I give him, Nash, Kallan, and Becket a nod, not sure what else there is to say. This time when I turn for the door, no objections or pleading words pull me back. I squeeze Knox’s hand and look up at him beaming.
“Take me home.”
27
Darkness kisses everything around me, and I lean back against the headrest, happy to watch beams of moonlight flit across Valen’s face as he drives the Jeep to whereverhomeis. This moment feels surreal to me, but I hold tightly to thattoo good to be truefeeling, knowing it may be fleeting and hard to find again, or at least it has been for me in the past.
Each of us stares out into the night, lost in our own thoughts and feeling no push to invade the quiet calm of the moment with words. The road we’re on winds up and then down, and a mailbox appears in the distance. Valen slows as we get closer to the mailbox, and we turn down a long paved driveway towards a house that’s lit up like a beacon in the dark.
The outdoor lights paint the two-story brick home with warm, gold tones, and I spot touches of ivy climbing up the sides of the structure. The brick’s been treated with something, and it has more cream tones to it than the deep red it probably once was. We pull towards two garage doors, and one of them rises, lighting up the empty space my Jeep now gets to claim.
We pull into the garage, and I realize there must be another set of garage doors on the other side of the building because there are plenty of open garage spaces in front of me. The space can easily hold more than six cars, and I spot ATVs already parked in the corner. I immediately think of all the fun things we’ll add here over the years, the toys we’ll acquire and the life we’ll build.
I feel Ryker’s gaze on me and catch Valen staring at me from the corner of my eye too.
“What do you think?” Valen finally asks, and I can hear a touch of nervousness in the questions.
“I love the ivy and the brick. I can’t wait to see it in the daylight if it’s already this pretty in the dark,” I exclaim, as a huge smile takes over my face.
