"Who?" I repeated.
"Why do you expect it to be someone close to me?" she asked.
"The way you are too afraid to tell me is why. If it had been someone passing by, you wouldn't be so afraid."
"I am a half-blood; all we are is afraid. We know how to keep our heads down and mouths shut," she gave back.
She was right about that. Half-bloods learned that very fast. Even in such a modern time as ours, they were still not very liked, not that there was a whole lot of them.
"Either you're protecting them, or you're scared of them, something tells me it is a bit of both," I said, leaning a bit closer to her, seeing her move back a little.She was very protective of herself, which was another indication that she had been let down a lot, most likely by people she cared about.
"Why both?" she asked, now looking a little intrigued about this conversation.
"It hurts more when it is someone you care about, and you easily make excuses for them, because you care, but your excuses are protecting them. You cannot help it. It almost comes naturally. The fear doesn't help either. You are afraid of retaliation, or maybe you don't have anywhere to seek help. You take the pain in order to survive," I explained.
This time she surprised me by leaning a little closer. It wouldn't be hard to close the distance between us and press my lips to hers. I already missed her taste, even if it had only been a couple of hours since the last time, I kissed her.
"It sounds like you are talking from experience," she said.
It was almost a cruel smile that spread on her lips, as she studied me. I had not really reacted, but it was clear she knew I didn't have this sort of knowledge because I had read it in a book.
"Maybe we are both a little damaged," I said.
She didn't seem to want to be, because her eyes turned so very sad, and then she leaned away turning her head.
"I don't need you to kill anyone," she said in a low voice. "I just want to get away."
So, she was running. That explained the sudden change in her when I told her we were leaving tomorrow. Interesting.
"So that is why you chose to come without a fight," I said, smiling a little.
"I am still going."
"Yes, but will you keep behaving?" I asked her.
She seemed a little nervous that I was asking her this, but I was unsure if she was coming with me, because she knew I could protect her, or if I was just a way to get away from everything. If she was smart, she was choosing my protection and not my wrath. I was not very forgiving, and I was not about to chase her around again. She was my mate, and she stayed with me.
"You should get some sleep. We are leaving early."
-Lara-
Maybe it was foolish of me to reveal anything, but with how easily he had read me already, I feared he would see right through me, as soon as we landed. Besides, it was not hard to figure out that I was pretty much on the run. I figured if I made it look like I had let my secret come out, he might think I would give it up now, but I would simply have to play my game a little longer, win his trust, and then when he had stopped expecting me to escape, that was when I would leave.
"You should get some sleep. We leave early tomorrow," he said and got up from the couch.
I looked up at him almost surprised.
"That's it?" I asked, the words just coming out of my mouth.
He looked at me a bit confused, but I wasn't even sure what I had expected, just not this.
"Are you not tired?" he asked me, and then leaned closer.
He placed one arm on the armrest, leaning so close, that his face was right in front of mine, and I pressed myself so far back as I could get, while I swallowed hard. That strange need I had had a bit earlier had gone away, but my heart was still pumping like crazy when he got too close. I wanted to say it was because I was scared, but the strange warm sensation shooting through my body told me something else.
"If you are not, I am sure I can find something we can do," he said, his voice dark and husky.
I shook my head, and a smug smile just played on his lips. His free hand reached out and grabbed a strand of my hair, pulling it closer to him and inhaling deeply. He looked completely intoxicated by the scent, and a low growl left him.