When we got back to the hotel, Ace texted me he would continue to keep an eye on Gabriel. He clearly wasn't done partying, and it was probably for the best. While Gabriel liked to spend his time with a lot of women, he also easily got himself into trouble, and he was not one to back down from a fight. He could get quite brutal actually, and we didn't need an aristocrat's death on our hands, because Gabriel decided to sleep with their mate, and they were just trying to defend their honor. We had enough on our hands as it was.
"You know if I am going with you, I will need my passport," Lara said from behind me.
I looked over my shoulder, and, now in a better light, I saw just how dirty she had gotten from running through the woods. Her hair was a wild mess, her feet were covered in mud, and she had a few cuts on her arms, which she must have gotten from some branches or bushes that she had run by.
"I will need clothes too," she said and pulled on the lower part of her dress, which was covered in mud and dirt as well.
"I will get you some clothes to wear for tonight," I told her. "And your things we will collect tomorrow."
Why was she suddenly not fighting me? What were her plans? Even if running was a waste of time, she certainly didn't seem like someone who gave up, even if it seemed pointless. No, she was a fighter, which was quite impressive. I could have understood the world would have turned her a little quieter. Keeping her head down was a safe thing for half-bloods to do, but instead, she seemed to only have been made stronger, and she refused to bow to anyone.
Perfect,I thought.
I wasn't interested in a doll hanging on my arm or someone who just craved the power I held. I wanted someone who could match my own energy, like a queen would with her king. She would not let herself bow to anyone, not even to him. She would be his equal, and I knew at that moment, that if anyone tried taking Lara from me, I would fucking kill them. I would do anything to keep her as mine!
"Then, can I please have some now?" she asked.
I blinked a few times, confused for a moment since I had been so wrapped up in my own thoughts. Lara was tipping her weight a bit nervously back and forth, and she seemed to have trouble looking at me suddenly. She was also shielding her body now, or maybe she was just cold. She needed to be warmed up.
"Go shower. I will get you some."
She just nodded and went towards my bedroom, which had an adjoined bathroom. I watched as she walked away, and I saw her glance carefully behind her, before going inside. I would find out what she was planning, whether that was killing me in my sleep or something else, she wasn't about to fool me with this sudden good behavior.
I went to find one of my shirts in a dresser in my bedroom when I heard the water running. I took one of them out, thinking it would have to do for now, and then walked towards the bathroom door that wasn't quite closed. I slowly pushed it open, just in time to see her letting the dress fall, getting the perfect view of her ass and the way her long hair, which she had let loose, fell down her naked back. It was like being hit in the stomach. I had never before had anyone take my breath away, but she did it so easily. Lara pushed the dress away with her foot before going into the bathtub, sighing pleased, as she finally entered the warm water, but then she must have noticed she wasn't alone.
She turned to look at me, her eyes growing big, and then she sank deeper into the water while covering her breasts.
"Knock!" she said.
"I got you some clothes," I told her and laid the white shirt on the counter, before going back to lean against the doorframe.
"You can still knock!" she told me.
There was the fire,I thought, as I smiled devilishly, before slowly closing the door and walking away. It was then, like I had expected, that I got the wonderful message that Gabriel had already gotten into trouble, and Ace was coming back with him. I shook my head before leaving the bedroom and closing the door behind me.
He could never stay out of trouble. He was just a magnet for it, or more like he loved running headfirst into it. He had been like this for a long time, and we knew changing him was impossible. Anything to forget how his sister died and quiet down the guilt. We knew what haunted him, and all we could do was have his back when he got into himself into some shitty situation.
Chapter 12
-Lara-
I had to admit, soaking my body in the warm water was heaven. The little surprise visit from the king hadn't been, but I just had to pretend for now. I just had to act like I would be this nice little mate, and then take it from there. I let my head fall back and let my hair fall into the water as well. I let out a nice little hum sound, and the nice flowery smell coming from the soap just overpowered me, and relaxed me even more. It had been a while since I had been able to relax like this. Even if I wanted nothing to do with the hybrid that was my mate, I also knew that if anyone wanted to get to me, they would have to get through him, and who the fuck was that stupid to go up against a hybrid?
Okay, yes, I was that stupid, but when all you wanted was your freedom, you took the risks, and that was what I planned to do. I would do anything to finally feel like a hand wasn't tightening around my throat anymore and be rid of my stepdad's poor choices and a controlling mate. A very hot mate, but it was clear he liked things to go his way.He was in for a surprise,I thought.
I smiled, as I gathered a little of the bubbles in my hands, before I, like a small child, blew them away. Then just as I was about to scoop some more into my hands, I heard a strange shouting. No one sounded mad, but the voices were very loud.
I didn't feel comfortable staying in the water, and quickly got out, finding a soft white towel. I quickly dried myself before going over to where the king had put his shirt and put it on. I buttoned it, and then looked at myself in the mirror. This was practically a dress. I wasn't that small, and still, it went down below my knees. What the hell?
I looked kind of funny too with my wet hair and the red cheeks. It looked a bit like we had ... done something. At least more than we already had.
I walked closer to the door, just opening it an inch or two, seeing the empty and dark bedroom, with the doors leading into the big living room, almost closed. Just a little light from the living room came inside together with the voices.I slowly inched closer to the doors leading out of the bedroom, pushing myself up against the wall, and then trying to look outside, but I couldn't see much. I could only just glimpse the king who was talking to the other two.
"Ouch!"
That voice I had already gotten familiar with, because it had been flirting with me at the party, and I knew it belonged to Gabriel. Soon though the quiet hybrid Ace, came into view. It seemed those three travelled in a pack, but when you were the only three hybrids left, was it so strange they stuck together?
"Just let me put your shoulder back in place," the king said.