The Pentagram Child: Part 1 (Afterlife Saga Book 5) by Stephanie Hudson Page B

touch me again. I couldn’t listen to anything he had to say. I couldn’t take any more from this man, not when his words had already destroyed me once.
    I couldn’t give him that power again… never again.  
    I felt so ashamed by what I had said and so angry at what I had been coerced into saying. Well, one thing was obvious and that was all this time apart had killed any resilience I once had to Draven’s power of manipulation.
    I walked further away and held my arms protectively around myself, rubbing the thin sleeves of my cherry red dress wishing I was wearing something thicker. Something more protective from the touch I could still feel on my body from a pair of strong male hands I craved on my skin.
    “Just…” I took a shuddering breath before I could carry on.
    “Please… it’s all I ask, Draven.”
    “Please what...? Not touch you, because I will never agree to that, Keira.” I turned round in shock at his words.
    “You think you have the right after what you did?!”
    “I know that I don’t but that doesn’t change what my soul knows.” I frowned at him from across the room and then shook my head in frustration.
    “And that is?”
    “That you are mine and always will be.” I sucked in a sharp breath and even staggered back a step as though he had just pulled a trigger.
    “This can’t be happening.” I muttered in disbelief now really convinced this must be a dream. One of those dream scenarios we play over and over in our minds until at some point there’s the fear it will cross over into reality and leave you more confused than ever…like now.
    “You doubt my sincerity in that statement?” He asked coming closer.
    “Oh no, you stay there!” I said knowing if he touched me right now I would be a gonner!
    “Answer my question.” He demanded getting angry…an anger he had absolutely no right to I might add.
    “Screw you and your orders! You don’t bloody own me and you have no GODDAMN right to say that to me!”
    “Keira.” He warned but again I held up my hand.
    “If you’re gonna lecture me about cursing the Gods then save it! As far as I am concerned they hate me anyway so they can just go ahead and strike me down if they dare… but I am telling you now, they would bloody regret it ‘cos the way I have been feeling this past year I want to rip the fucking place apart!” I shouted, panting with my rant and shaking with my lack of control.
    Draven’s eyes closed as if in pain and he ran both his hands through his hair that I’d only just noticed looked a little longer. Actually everything about him looked more unkempt than usual. His stubble was the longest I had ever seen it, close to becoming a full beard and he had darker circles under his eyes as if he hadn’t slept in weeks. It was only his suit that was as impeccable as always.
    He seemed to be fighting with himself as his chest heaved and his hands remained locked at the back of his neck. If anything he didn’t seem to be dealing with our situation any better than I was. I took a deep and calming breath, feeling bad for letting out my anger now that I saw how he was taking it. It was as though I held a whip in my hand and had just kept lashing out at him but really, what was he expecting from me…a loving and open arm reunion?
    “Look, I…I think I should just go…”
    “No!” He shouted and I was surprised to see a moment of panic cross his features as he looked back at me. He, like me, took a calming breath and continued,
    “Please ...stay.” He said these words as though he no longer gave a shit about pride and was not above begging me to stay. This for a man like Draven was monumental. After all he was a King and Kings beg to no man…but I wasn’t a man now was I.
    “Alright.” As soon as I said the word his shoulders sagged and his tense body visibly relaxed.
    “Thank you for staying, for I know I do not deserve it.” I bit my lip and nodded knowing I couldn’t say anything to that for more