Page 164 of Cerulean Truth
As we entered the small but cozy room, I noticed instantly...only one bed.
It took all I had to shove the surging feelings back where they belonged.
“Well,” Emma said, a smile tugging at her lips, “this should be interesting.”
FORTY-FIVE
EMMA
I felt like the cliché heroine in one of my trashy fantasy novels, forced into a one-bed situation with the male lead who could never seem to confess his love. However, unlike every novel I'd ever read with that trope, my dark and brooding hero wasn’t exactly thrilled about the arrangement. As we entered the room, he made a beeline for his bag and disappeared into the bathroom without a word.Charming.
Taking a deep breath, I realized he was likely nervous about the impending meeting with the Board. Truth be told, so was I. If they had somehow found out about my untraceable translation, tonight could alter the course of everything. If they didn’t simply kill me off for threatening the Great Exposure.
But I had faith in James. He remained steadfast in his belief that no one knew about it, convinced there was little to no chance the Council had a mole. And I was certain James was far more deadly than any Board member we would encounter.
So all in all, I was feeling pretty relaxed. No, that was a lie, but it was one I only tried to convince myself of.
As James came out of the bathroom, I took in his new appearance. Gone was any trace of friendliness or even humanity. Before me stood the stone-cold killer, dressed for thepart in black Offensive attire, his weapons on display though his tattoo was barely visible, covered by dark fabric. My breath hitched as I absorbed his harsh features and icy demeanor. His green eyes were back to their murderous intent, his entire posture formidable.
I swallowed hard, realizing he’d gone full dark mode for my sake. And hell, if that wasn’t incredibly hot.
He glanced at me for a second and shot me a disapproving look. “That’s what you’re wearing when you’re going into battle?”
I blinked. “We’re going into battle?”
James squinted, sizing up my demeanor. “You shouldn’t be this trusting. Prepare for the worst, be surprised by the best.”
Innocently staring at the one bed between us, I quipped, “Will you be whispering that later tonight into my ear as well?”
James stiffened, and I couldn't help but feel a little insulted. Clearly, the idea of us sharing a bed seemed borderline revolting to him. Which was confusing, considering our physical attraction had been skyrocketing lately.
Instead of retorting, he quickly translated my battle clothes onto the bed. “Change into that in the bathroom, I need the room for a second to bubble us in.”
I frowned, while grabbing the clothes. “You’re going to bubble in our room?”
James shook his head. “The entire cabin actually, but I’ll do it from here. To make sure only the people in here now, can enter. Whatever they have planned for us, we’ll have a safehouse right here in Alliance.”
I grabbed the clothes from the bed, choosing to ignore his commanding tone for once. “Can’t you just portal us back to Cyclos if needed?” I asked.
“Yes. That’s plan A. But we need a plan B, in case something prevents us from portaling out.”
I nodded and hurried into the bathroom, quickly changing into the clothes James had provided. Staring at myself in the mirror one last time before venturing back out, I caught myself fervently hoping this wouldn’t be the last time I’d see my own face. “I’m not dying tonight,” I whispered softly, encouraging myself to exit the bathroom.
“No, you’re not.” I almost jumped out of my own skin.
James sighed, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. “If you hadn’t been so mesmerized by your own reflection, you would’ve heard me come in.”
I shrugged, attempting to sound nonchalant. “Might be the last time ever.” Yet despite my efforts, my voice betrayed a tremble, revealing my underlying vulnerability and fear.Darn it.
James uncrossed his arms and surprised me by grabbing my hand and pulling me into a hug. Nestling my face into his chest, I took a deep breath and imprinted on his intoxicating scent, a blend of leather and spice with hints of ginger and dark musk. It enveloped me, stirring a mix of danger and desire, which felt very apt for the situation we were about to walk into.
“You owe these people nothing,” he whispered, his breath dancing on the shell of my ear. “If you want to go home, just say the word.” I entangled myself from his embrace and shook my head.
“I’m fine. I just needed a hug.” I winked, but my playfulness was cut short by a rough knock on our door.
“We’re coming,” James grumbled. He scanned my face quickly, searching my eyes for… something. Then, he took my hand and portaled us downstairs, where the Maumars, Martin and Dennis Dale awaited us.
The walkfrom the cabin to the Main Cave, where the Board was convening, was long and rather steep. The howling wind echoed between the towering rock formations, carrying with it a sense of primal power and scary-ass vibes. Darkness cloaked the rugged terrain, broken only by the occasional flicker of moonlight slipping through narrow crevices. I could hardly see where I stepped and James had saved me from falling on my ass (and face) several times. Although I’d never been in any real danger to hurt myself, his mood had gone from dark to straight up Killzone by the time we’d arrived.
