Nefretiri
What the fuck am I doing? I've had a dozen opportunities to cry for help. But, instead, my treacherous body was acting on its own. My arms gripped him like I feared he'd let me go, inhaling his scent of heather and lightning storms like oxygen. This isn't right. I'm not fighting him, and I need to!
Ivan won't let me walk, but it wouldn't matter if he did. I doubt I could outrun a pack of werewolves, even if Ricky didn't partially break my leg. The truth is, I don't know all that much about werewolves, but what I do know is enough to scream at me that a human isn't as fast or strong as to take one on. Most humans, at least. The last thing anyone would call me is a fighter. I can't defend myself against other women, let alone a supernatural being.
I could use the excuse that they have Penelope, but that would be a lie. I'd been the one to hand her to Taylor, and Ivan kept us close to the stroller so I could see she was okay. Again, I could say that was to keep me compliant, but Taylor was distracted, talking to Pen-Pen and me like we were old friends. I doubt that's what it is. I'm lost in my thoughts and not paying attention to what she's saying.
'Do something! You stupid girl, you're being kidnapped!' My subconscious screams at me, and even though I know it's right, I don't speak.
It was getting dark. That meant it was almost eight. There was no way I could walk home now, but could I convince Ivan to drive me there if I begged hard enough? Gods, I must be sick because my body trembles at the idea, and I bury my face into his chest for the second time in the last five minutes. I don't know if the thought of going back home or being away from this werewolf has me acting like this.
"Please take me home," I whisper when we reach his truck. "I have to go back."
"Nefretiri, this is a lot to swallow, but please listen to me." Ivan sets me on the car's hood, brushing my hair out of my face. "You are safe with me. I'm going to take care of you. There is nothing in this world I won't do to make sure you and my princess aren't safe and sound. We just met, but I need you to trust me."
"He'll..." I'm exhausted, the fight long gone from my heart, though my mind keeps screaming at me.
"He will never hurt you again. I promise you that, Nefretiri. Whoever this bastard is, he'll pay for what he's done to you and our child. But, I'll be damned if he ever hurts you again."
Maybe it's because I've never had anyone offer to protect me or the almost familiar feel of Ivan's touch, but I believe him. That, combined with my emotional exhaustion and my body's pain, is enough to bring me to tears. The first drop landed on Ivan's hand before more continued to fall. I try to hold it in, but I can't, and what starts as a whimper quickly turns into loud, mournful sobs. Before I knew it, my whole body was shaking as I cried.
What was I crying for? Honestly, everything. My pain, what I'd lost, and all the moments I couldn't feel the sadness that threatened to choke me to death. How long had I held onto all of this? I wasn't sure, but I can't return it now that it's cut open.
Ivan doesn't tell me to stop. He doesn't say anything. The only thing he does is wrap his arms around me and rub my back, letting me bury my face in his chest. I don't know how long we were there, but when the tears finally stopped and the ache in my chest felt lighter, the sunlight was almost completely gone.
The sound of a cop car makes me jump, but Ivan doesn't let me go. I can almost feel his sorrow and guilt, as strange as this is. It's impossible; I'm no empath, but when I pull away to look at him, I see the same sadness I felt from him. My hand reaches his face, and I gently caress his cheek, causing him to sigh.
"Excuse me?" Neither of us moved when the officer spoke. No one said anything, even if the voice had authority. "Is everything alright here?"
This is my opportunity. No one can stop me. All I have to do is tell the police that Ivan's kidnapping me, and he'll be arrested. The officers will probably take me to the station, and I'll have to call Ricky. He'll take me home and… probably beat the living hell out of me for disobeying him. But then, he'll figure out that I've lied about knowing the codes and ensuring something else gets implemented. Or worse, he'll leave a permanent babysitter with me.
Jackie!
"Yeah, we're good." Ivan doesn't look away from me. Instead, his hand cupped my cheek again.
'It's better than staying with a werewolf.' My subconscious hisses. 'A beast, a monster.'
"Ma'am?" The officer speaks to me directly, coming closer and giving me the opening to speak. I finally turn around to look at them. Who called the police in the first place?
"We're fine." My mind screams, and I must admit something's terribly wrong with me.
"Sir, can you step over here, please?" the officer orders when he looks at my face. Does he see the bruises that are no longer covered by my makeup?
"Yeah." He doesn't want to leave me alone, and I'm unsure if it's because he thinks I'll sell him out.
He follows the officer further down the parking lot, and his partner walks up to me with the bright light of their squad car in my eyes.
"Ma'am, are you alright?" His voice is kind but firm. He treats me like the victim but tries not to seem that way. "Has he hurt you?"
"No. He hasn't." That answered his question, and I wasn't lying.
"Ma'am, where did you get those bruises?" He points to my face, and I look down, nearly bursting into tears again. "You can tell me. If you're in trouble, we can help you."
"My ex hit me." The words come out before I can stop myself.
'What the fuck are you doing?' My head screeches. 'Tell him the truth!'
That was the truth—at least part of it. Ricky was the one who did this to me, not Ivan. I hate myself for being so weak, but sending Ivan to jail for something he hadn't done doesn't sit well with me, and sending him for what he was doing made me feel worse.
"When did that happen, ma'am?" the officer crosses his arms, glancing at Ivan, who was looking in our direction.
"The other day." I could easily say that. The healing spell might not have removed all traces of the bruises, but they don't look fresh. "I just had a baby, and he…."
The tears start again, and I cover my eyes to stop. "I can't seem to stop crying. I'm sorry."
"That's alright, ma'am, don't worry about that." The officer puts a comforting hand on my arm. "Did you report this?"
"Yes." Now I was flat-out lying, and my stomach hurt. "We're not from here. We reported it back home."
"Where are you from?"
"Colorado." Where did that come from? Had Taylor mentioned it on the way to the truck?
"That's a long way to drive."
"We're heading to California with my sister-in-law." I glance at Taylor, who hands the stroller to the blonde she was with and hurries over to us.
"Officer, you're doing your job, but please stop harassing my sister. She's had a hard few days, and we're just looking for a hotel for the night." I was surprised to hear the strength in her voice, and for a second, I wondered if she or one of the others knew magic and had cast a spell. It wasn't impossible. I knew others who had the ability.
People like Sarah. Could I call her and ask for her help? Would she remember me if I did? It'd been months since I'd seen her and Liam. I don't remember their phone number anymore.
Why I acted this way would make sense if this were a spell.
While Taylor distracts the cop, I close my eyes and call on the little energy I need to cast the spell. It's only a pinch, and my stomach growls a little before it sinks to my toes. No, these werewolves are all incredibly powerful, especially Ivan, but none of them had me under a spell.
'You're fucking out of your mind!'
"Are you alright?" Taylor puts a hand on my shoulder. "You look pale."
"No," I confess, watching as the cop walks to speak to the blond holding Penelope. "Why am I helping you?"
"I think you know, sweetie." She sighs, hugs me, and smiles sadly at me. "It'll be alright, you'll see."
"No, it won't be alright." I bite my lip nervously. "I have to go home."
"Please… please don't." Taylor's whole face falls. "Don't do that to yourself… or Ivan. I know it sounds selfish, but you'll destroy both of you if you leave."
"I can't stay."
"Listen, I don't know what you've been through, and I hope you'll share someday, but… no man is worth protecting when he's treating you like whoever this guy has. But, my brother… he's a good man. He'll never hurt you." Taylor takes my hand and squeezes it. "You can trust us. We look scary, but we're puppies."
"It's not… I'm not protecting anyone." Except for these people, of course. "It's just complicated."
"Well, you're in luck. Because we are experts at complicated things." She brightened at my comment, and we waited as the cops finished up.
The hostility changes when they're ready to leave. They tell Ivan to be careful driving and offer nearby hotels. Did Ivan tell them the same story I did? He must have, which means his werewolf hearing was that good. Taylor sighs in relief as we watch them return to their car, and I'm curious about what changed their demeanor.
"Well, that's… odd." Even Taylor looks confused at how quickly they left. "I was expecting more of a fight."
Ivan returns to us and picks me up, setting me on the hood of his truck again. He searches my face before kissing my jaw, and I wonder if he'd wanted to kiss somewhere else.
"I'll make a deal with you." He whispers in my ear, ignoring the fact Taylor's watching. "Stay with me for twenty-four hours. Let me show you the life we can have as a family, and if you still want to leave after that… Then, as much as it will kill me, I'll reject you and never bother you again."
"What?" I stare at him in shock, my heart shattering at the word rejection like a fatal weapon, my mind roaring in protest and telling me not to listen to him.
"One full day is all I'm asking for. After that, I'll respect whatever you decide to do."
He was out of his mind. I couldn't be away from Ricky for half an hour without him going nuts. How was I going to justify a whole twenty-four? He'd never allow it; if I disappeared, he wouldn't call the police. No, he'd do something worse, and I hadn't explained my situation to Ivan or anyone. Then, he'd throw me away once he understood, and then what? I was terrified to leave Ricky but couldn't do it as I looked at Ivan's face and imagined walking away from him.
"Okay." My voice is barely above a whisper. "But I have to go home first… To get my stuff."
"You punch in the address, and I'll take you." Ivan sighs, kissing my forehead before he moves away, but I grab his arm and pull him back toward me.
Without thinking about it, I press my lips against his, my curiosity overwhelming my common sense. It's soft and tentative, but it sends warm fire bolts through my entire body before I pull away, shocked at my actions. As I'd predicted, I just kissed him; his lips felt like velvet.
Ivan stares at me in shock for only a second before he cups my cheek and kisses me again. This kiss is more profound and full of something I haven't felt in a long time.
"Just a day?" I ask when he pulls away.
"Just a day."
I wasn't sure that was enough.