I look up, suddenly seeing him as something more than just forbidden fruit on the tainted tree.
"You'd do that?"
He shrugs, as if he's confused by my question.
"Of course. Go grab a bag. We'll leave as soon as you're done."
I smile, and without thinking, my lips find his, tasting the cool steel of his piercing once again. He grips my sides, and then I quickly pull back with my hand over my lips.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't-"
"It's fine. It's going to be that way until you get the night stalker out of your system. I think I can handle a few random hormones popping up. Just be careful around others."
He laughs a little, and I sigh as I stand to my feet. I hope that's the only reason I just did that. I really, really hope that's why.
Chapter 4
Lost
My stomach tenses as I walk through the gates of the Light Council's chambers. No one has told me much about my mother's state, but then again, they're not usually the most helpful creatures.
Thanks to Gage constantly pointing out their flaws, I'm starting to grow weary of all their foolish rules and hypocrisy. Everything we stand for seems to be a joke when it's all on the line.
It took us hours to get here, and now the sunlight has returned. I'm exhausted, so tired my eyes keep trying to close, but I refuse to sleep before I see my mother. I have to see her. I have to know she's really safe again. I should have come sooner despite the protests of the council and Frankie.
I push through the healing room to find my mother's supposed bed empty, crisp, and perfectly made. There's no sign of anyone being in here for a while.
I glance around to find nothing to prove she has ever been here. With a growl in my throat, I get ready to start shaking some answers out of people when I suddenly slam into a body.
"Lyss?" Frankie asks in disbelief as I stagger backwards. "What are you doing here?"
"You knew I would be coming. Where's Mom?"
I'm not backing down. She's my mother, and I should be here for her the way she's always been there for me.
"She's in the courtyard. She's healed now. Hasn't she called you?"
Since when doesn't Mom tell Frankie every detail of her daily activities. He's like her personal vent friend.
"I haven't heard from her at all. That's why I'm here."
He frowns, seeming disappointed by that. He nods and then moves out of my way as I head to the courtyard. Suspense builds in my stomach as the tears ready themselves to flow. When I reach the courtyard, they drop like a monsoon.
My mother's blond hair whips in the wind as she works on the rose garden in front of her.
"Mom," my hoarse voices releases in a near whisper.
She turns around swiftly, and a soft smile graces her lips as she opens her arms for me to run to. I dart across the yard to close the distance between us, and she curls me to her as I dive into her arms.
"Why the hell haven't you called?" I sob out, sniffling between breaths as I hold her tighter.
"Oh, sweetheart. I'm so sorry. It's been a hell of a few weeks. I didn't know what to say to you. I was trying to wait until I could hold it together."
I just cry that much harder as her firmer than usual lips stroke my forehead.
"What happened?"
She shakes her head, pulling back and wiping her eyes before the tears even start to fall.