Page 19 of Marked By Blaze

Forty-five minutes?

I can deal with these pests and be back in less time than that. I won’t let Ingrid avoid me again.

Tonight, I’ll claim Ingrid as mine and leave no doubt for anyone that she belongs to me.

Chapter Eight

Ingrid

Jade glances around and the little petals in her hair drop as she does so. She looks like a Greek goddess dressed in an exquisite gown reminiscent of Aphrodite herself. The color is a delicate blush like a pale rose, with flowing fabric that drapes and shimmers around her as she moves.

When she told me about the theme she was going for, I styled her hair in loose waves and used golden accents along with tiny blossoms I wove throughout to add a touch of nature. The delicate gold necklace with a heart-shaped pendant was a gift from her mother, and the entire ensemble highlights her grace. A true history major, I wouldn’t expect anything less from her.

Her fiancé Saint is going to swallow his tongue when he finally sees her. I can already tell she’ll be in for a long night.

“What are you looking for?” I finally ask, amused. I pick up the petals falling from her hair, and I find myself smiling.

“He's supposed to be here,” she mutters to herself before beckoning to someone. “Hey, Kyle?”

I turn to see the frizzy-haired kid who’d stopped me that first day walk up to Jade with a friendly smile. He looks different when he’s not scowling, but I don’t hold our first interaction against him. Jade told me that Kyle was with her when she was kidnapped a month ago, and he blames himself for it. It makessense that he would be on guard around strangers, but he seems to have finally relaxed around me.

He sure looks happy for someone sporting a bruise on his jaw. “Hey, Jade. Wow, you guys look like something from a movie.”

His comment makes me smile as my eyes drop to my own gown, a rich blue paired with a golden diadem and gold bangles Jade gifted all the women at the party. Coming in, I had no idea there would be a dress code and was content with being a bit of an odd one out, but Jade had a dress waiting for me. How she even knew my size was a mystery, and yet, it fit like a glove.

“It’s Aphrodite and Hera to you, sir,” Jade counters, then gasps when she too spots the bruise on his jaw. “Oh my God, Kyle. What happened to your face?”

“A little scuffle in the boxing ring with one of the guys. No big deal,” he says with a grin.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

He nods. “I’m fine.”

“Okay, but you should get some ice for it,” she instructs. “Hey, have you seen Blaze?”

The smile on my face drops and my heart begins to race at the mention of his name. “Blaze left a while ago. I heard that there was a bit of trouble, and Saint sent him to take care of it.”

I try to hide my disappointment, but I’m sure it shows on my face. I have no reason to be disappointed that the man is not here. Christ, why am I feeling this way? I've done my best to hide from him today, and knowing he was even in the same building was distracting.

And yet, I wanted to see him.

Uncharacteristically, I wanted him toseeme. At my best, not hiding for once, but dressed like a goddess. The first time I chose not to hide away, and…he’s not here.

“He didn't wait?” Jade asks, seemingly disappointed as she turns to me. “I was hoping he'd give you a ride home.”

I shake my head. “I already called an Uber. I'll be fine.”

“Are you sure? It's late, and I mean, you need to drop your kit at work and then head home. Maybe we can wait until he returns.”

“Jade.” I offer her a smile, unwilling to put a damper on one of the happiest days of her life, and quite frankly, mine as well. “I'll be fine. I'll text you the second I get home.”

She lets me leave, albeit reluctantly, but I'm not about to dampen her day with worry, so I quickly get an Uber to work, drop off my things, and in less than an hour, I'm pulling up outside my building. I fire her a quick text as I walk into the elevator, smiling at the memories of the day. I was wary about meeting Jade's childhood friends, but they were all nice. I might not have seen Blaze like I’d wanted, but I had let myself be fully seen for the first time in years, and it had gone well.

I'm staring at Jade's response when I step out of the elevator and bump right into someone. The phone flies out of my hand to the floor. I wince when I hear the unmistakable sound of the screen cracking as it connects to the tile.

“Oh, God. I’m so sorry,” I say, bending to grab my phone before looking up apologetically at the person I’d run into, but I'm met by an angry set of brown eyes. “James?”

If possible, his eyes darken. “So, have you been getting better sleep lately? I don't play my music anymore,” he sneers, reaching up and touching his jaw. I notice a fading purple bruiseand wonder if one of our other neighbors decided to take matters into their own hands after all. I realize with a start that I haven't heard any music coming from his place in days. As a matter of fact, Ihavebeen sleeping better.

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