Edward doesn’t reply, and after a moment, his gaze goes past me. He lifts his finger, probably flagging down another slave to whet his appetite. I swallow a weary sigh and walk away.
I wait for a remark from Noah, but he remains silent. Another minute or two goes by, marked only by the number of steps we’ve taken, which are taking all my focus to accomplish. I must have a concussion, because my head is still pounding, screaming at me in pain.
We finally make it to the street, and there are no cabs in sight. I hadn’t brought my phone to the masquerade, so I can’t check the app to see if there are any drivers nearby. Since Noah doesn’t reach for his, I assume it was lost in the chaos. “I guess we’re walking,” I tell him, who must’ve already reached this conclusion, because he’s stepping off the curb and sauntering in the direction of the city.
Vehicles for news stations rush past, and it looks like we left just in time. I trudge along, noting that we’re nearing Midtown, and happen to glance down at my skirt. “I’m afraid you’ll have to tell Sylvia that she’s not getting her dress back,” I say faintly. There’s not much left of it.
“She won’t mind. It’ll just give her the excuse to go shopping. She’ll like that.” Noah doesn’t take his eyes from the horizon while he answers. Pale, golden light touches his beautiful face, and I tear my stare away from him—I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been awake to see the sunrise, and I don’t want to miss it now. Someone once told me that I need to find the good in being alive, at least once every day.
I may not have any idea if my family is okay, but at least I know Drew is safe, far away in Oldbel.
“For the record, I blame you,” Noah says suddenly, diverting my attention from the fire in the sky. Pulling my thoughts away from Drew as he always does, in one way or another.
I’m in too much pain to react to his ridiculous comment, but I still attempt a halfhearted glare. “What? The masquerade was your idea, Noah.”
“Well, you should’ve talked me out of it!”
Normally, I would have a retort ready, but this time I can only roll my eyes. That’s when I realize we’ve reached the front door of Alexander’s. I slowly draw to a halt, feeling tired and sad. Even though I’m off the hook for the vampire venom problem, it still feels like we haven’t won. Within these city walls, there only seems to be death and pain. No one wins here.
“One more thing,” I say faintly, turning to face Noah. My mind has gone to the last time we survived a bombing. The words he’d thrown at me when I’d tried to help the people I care about. You’re human, Charlie, which means you’re weak.
Noah quirks a brow, but the gesture lacks his usual flare. “Oh?”
I smile and step closer. My chest brushes against his, and Noah’s pupils instantly dilate. His gaze drops to my lips, then even lower, blazing with eagerness.
Moving faster than I ever have before, I draw my fist back—keeping my thumb behind my middle and index fingers, just as Drew taught me, once upon a time—and ram it into his gut. “I am not weak,” I hiss in Noah’s ear, cradling his head against my chest, just as he’d imagined doing. Maybe not quite in the same way, though.
Beneath a rousing sun and drowsy stars, I leave Noah there, bent over and gasping.
My eyes flutter open to a soft knock from the hallway.
Moving at inhuman speed, I go to the closed door and look through the peephole. Surprise flickers through me when I find Drew standing on the other side. Tonight hasn’t been long enough?
I open the door, blinking at him. “What are you doing here? What time is it?”
He’s wearing a gray T-shirt and black jeans, as if it’s the middle of the night and he’s making a casual social call. Not as if he should be fast asleep at the boardinghouse.
Drew smiles softly, his lavender eyes flicking across my face, and it warms my cheeks. It’s been so long since he’s looked at me like that. I’ve missed it more than I thought I did.
My fingers itch to touch him. To feel his skin on mine, his warmth.
He glances past me into the suite. “Can I come in?”
I step aside to let Drew pass, then close the door behind him. Walking over to the minibar, I pull out a bottle of water, unscrew the cap, and take a long drink. “Can I offer you anything? I’ve got water, blood, and beer.”
“No thanks,” he says, biting his lip, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Oh. Okay.” I leave the water on top of the minibar and perch on the end of the bed, gesturing for him to sit, too.
Drew sinks down next to me. “I’m sorry,” he murmurs, wetting his lips. “The way things ended between us. I didn’t like it.”
The memory makes me wince. “I never meant for anyone to get hurt, especially not you, Drew. Please believe me.”
He holds my gaze. “I know that. And we both knew that what we were getting into... it wasn’t going to be easy. Or legal,” he adds with a short laugh.
“Right,” I say, “but I’m still sorry. Mostly that it had to end at all.”
“You and me both.” The corner of Drew’s mouth curls into that grin of his I’ve always adored. He glances at where his hands are folded in his lap. “I miss you, Charlie.”
“I miss you.” I find myself leaning toward him until my shoulder presses against his. I rest my head on his shoulder. “This place is nice and all, but I miss the boardinghouse. Having meals with other people, watching movies, not living in a hotel.”
“Says the girl who grew up in a mansion,” Drew teases, dropping a kiss to the top of my head. I can’t help but tilt my face up and press my lips against his in a whisper of a kiss. Memories flood through me as his mouth melds to mine. Flashes of the moments we shared, touches and kisses that made me fall for Drew harder than I knew possible.
Then the door to my suite opens, and a whistling Noah comes in.
I jerk away from Drew and shoot Noah a glare. He’s holding a bottle of bourbon in one hand... and a bucket of fried chicken in the other. “What the hell are you doing here? Did you forget how to knock?”
His beautiful eyes stay fixed on me, as if Drew isn’t even here. “I figured you’d need a little pick-me-up after tonight. Seems like you found one, though.”
“That’s right,” Drew cuts in, “so she doesn’t need you or your chicken.”
Noah sets the container on the television stand and cracks the bourbon open. He doesn’t respond to Drew as he crosses the room to the minibar and grabs three glasses, pouring into each.
“Come on, Hayes,” he says, holding out a glass to Drew. “Isn’t it about time we end our tiff? As much fun as it’s been, I think we have a few more pressing matters to focus on, at this point.”
Drew narrows his eyes, suspicion making them bright as he hesitantly takes the glass from Noah. “You came to Charlie’s room in the middle of the day, and now you’re trying to make nice with me?”
“Seems to look that way.” Noah takes a gulp from his glass.
Drew downs the bourbon, sucking in a breath. “Okay.”