"Who did it?"
I want to dodge his question by giving him a sweet smile and a better offer, "Don't you want to leave already? I'm waiting for my surprise..."
"Who did it, Aline?" He asks, pressing every word and sounding more serious this time. I know there's no way I can make him forget about it, but neither I want to tell him who bruised my neck. Not because I wouldn't like for Thomas to get beaten up again, but because I'm afraid that Asher won't resume to a blackened eye and a few scars this time. After what Thomas did to him, I'm sure Asher can't wait for the slightiest reason to get his revenge.
"It's not important, Asher, please let's go," I insist but he just grows impatient. He catches my sides when I unconsciously take a step away from him. But his hands touch exactly my bruises and I can't help the whimper of pain that evades my lips.
He presses again to my swollen side and I just slap his hands off me. My gesture only further annoys him and I decide that it'll be a good time to get him out of there, before he loses his temper in a room full of hunters. So I catch his hand and swallow my fear, passing right by Thomas in my way to the exit. He as much as grins at me, not feeling at all threaten by the way Asher hissed at him when the Lycan finally sees him. "I'll see you soon, baby," I tremble when I hear Thomas' words but I keep myself steady so Asher won't evade my grip and stick his claws in the Elf's chest.
His claws were out, but although I was firmly holding his hand, somehow they weren't bruising me. The chilly air of the night welcomed us and I finally stopped when we were a street away from the ballroom. I let go of Asher's hand and put mine on my thighs, suddenly feeling out of breath. It wasn't because I ran out of that place, dragging an immense Lycan after me, but because I was finally safe. My hands mildly shivered when I straightened myself and I looked at Asher. He also used these moments to calm down and now was watching me.
"It was him," not a sliver of doubt in his words when he speaks, so I find it futile to further deny.
"Just let's stop talking about it, it's not a big deal," I say and he frowns immediately.
"How is it not a big deal?" He asks, unbelieving how I was easily dismissing what Thomas did. I just shrug, not being able to explain him. "Did he hurt you before?"
"Like this?" I ask, memories of the many fights I had with my ex-boyfriend coming to my mind.
"I'm going to kill him," he says and I see Asher ready to go back and tear the place apart. But I put my hands on his chest when he want to pass by me, stopping him.
"Why does it matter so much? I bruise myself at trainings all the time. Not to mention how bad I look after a hunt." I try to calm him, but it doesn't seem to work.
"That's different," he says sternly, although his eyes are gentle and gazing with sorrow at my bruised skin. "Why didn't you tell anyone about it? After the feral looks your brother gave me all night, I bet he'd happily give that douchebag a lesson for hurting you."
"Because I was ashamed," I admit, my heart clenching as I speak. "I'm a hunter, I fight things more dangerous than Elves and I win, each time... but I couldn't fight him."
I don't realise I was crying, until Asher tugs me at his chest, his arms hugging me tightly. He was gently caressing my back, letting me sob like a little girl on him. I didn't let myself be this vulnerable in front of someone before, but I feel safe in his arms, free to let out all the sorrow rotting in my soul. "You don't have to be embarrassed, my love." His voice was calming and my whole body tremors as he kisses the top of my head.
"You are the most stubbornly courageous, nerve-racking determined person I ever met," he tells me, carressing my hair and I silently giggle on his chest, "And you shouldn't let anyone make you believe otherwise. Not even the people you love."
I lift my head and my eyes are fixed on his, the sweetness in his words making me melt into his arms. I'm not easily fooled by sugar-coated words, because they usually are followed by some demand from the person trying to make me feel better. But his bright, green eyes felt so pure in the dim light, so empty of any treacherous schemes. And I believed him, my whole being was putting its fate into his hands, without a second guessing. I hurled my hands around his neck and lifted on my toes, so our lips could touch. I slowly caressed his with mine, before kissing him like my heart desired to. His hand gripped my unbruised side and deepened the kiss, making my whole body quiver. Passion boiled my blood and filled my entire being while our mouths were moving together, faster and more urgent.
Slowly and aching, my lips drifted from his and my hands fell back into his chest. I knew my cheeks must be red now, so I kept my eyes away from his. But his gentle hand lifts up my chin so I can see the sweet smile playing on his lips. My eyes grow bigger when a wall of putred voile dissintegrated and disappeared into nothingness. I look back to Asher and somehow I was seeing him clearer now, more gorgeous than he ever appeared to me.
And I always thought he is handsome.
I shake my head, trying to calm my heart, who was beating faster than usual for an unknown reason. I was barely able to stare into his breath-taking eyes without losing myself in the depths of their green. I step away from him, trying to calm myself, and I find every bit of my body longing for his embrance. But I stayed away, the cold of the night even bitter now. He tries to hug me again, but I just shy away, not being able to foresee what I might next do if I lose myself again in his enticing embrace.
"What's wrong?" He asks when I keep myself at a safe distance from him. "Did I do anything..."
"No! I mean..." I trip over my own words and I keep my eyes on my sandals, while I make up an excuse. "I'm fine, but can we go? It's rather chilly now."
"Sure," his voice wasn't suspicious at my odd acting, perhaps because he knew it was better if he didn't ask right away. "Do you want me to call a cab?"
I nod and sit on a nearby, nearly-frozen bench, cursing myself for forgetting to pick my coat from the checkroom. I'm glad I didn't have anything in my pockets, as I stuffed them in my clutch. I look at Asher trying to stop a taxi, but I tear my gaze off him when his eyes meet mine. I scoop inside my bag and grab my pack of cigarettes. I doubt a fag will calm my galloping heart now, with the causer of my restlessness a few metres away from me. But I lit it anyway, looking as the smoke I breathed was lifting to the skies and fading in the stardust above me.
"I didn't know you smoke," he says, sitting next to me and I instinctively throw the cigarette away. "I wasn't scolding you, Aline." My reaction makes him laugh and I punch him in the sides as a joke. But his eyes grow bigger and I knew right away I found his weak spot. And naturally, I exploited him, tickling his sides while he was helplessly trying to make me stop. But I was quick and easily dodged his hands trying to catch me. Well, until I was laughing too hard to be able to concentrare, and he used my own moment of weakness to catch me and safely lock me in his arms.
"Don't do that again," he says, trying to calm down his laughter. I also try to stop my giggles, drawing a deep breath. I look up at him and he seemed exhausted, which made me laugh again and let my head fall on his chest. We stayed like that for a moment, his arms still holding me closely. And I wouldn't have bothered to move an inch, if the sound of wheels didn't squeak on the asphalt and a loud bass didn't made me jump back on the bench.
The window of the sports car that parked right in front of us rolled down, revealing a grinning Hayder. "Hi couz, need a ride?" He mockinly asks and I see Asher rolling his eyes in annoyance.
"What are you doing here, Hayder?" Asher sits up from the bench and I follow suit, putting my stuff back in the clutch and giving Hayder an annoyed look.
"Well, you asked down the pack-link if someone could pick you up, so here I am." Says his cousin, then his eyes turn to me. "Leaving the ball so soon, Cinderella?"
I swear at Hayder and he just laughs more. I walk to his car, jumping on the back, while Asher takes the front seat. "Where to, pals?"
Asher doesn't say anything, but looks at me through the rear-view mirror, silently asking me where I wanted to go. "Let's pick up Chase and Béatrice first," I say, and my eyes are locked on his when I continue. "Then we can go home, to the pack."
A broad smile shows off on Asher's lips and I sweep one hand across his chair. He catches it and places it on his chest, gently holding onto it. A little smile was also showing on Hayder's lips, like he was proud of us.
"And who is Béatrice?" Asks the curly-haired Lycan, as Asher is trying to call his friend.
"Chase's mate," I response cheerfully and Asher slowly grips my hand tighter when that specific word rolls down my lips.
"That lucky bastard..." Is Hayder's immediate reaction and I laugh when he starts cursing everything in his eyes. A bush overgrown that he had to round around, a pair of students kissing on a bench near the halls, even his car, when he sped over a hole in the asphalt.
But Asher and I just laughed, gripping on each other tightly and for once, I was utterly happy.