Page 57

Malia

"Will you finally fill me in about where you’re taking me?" I ask once we walk through the double doors of the facility and head for the parking lot.

"As I said, I’m getting dinner.

Now shut up before I change my mind and get someone to pick you up and drag you back to your cell." Flint doesn’t look at me, but I can deal with that.

It’s not like I want to talk to him; I just need him to think our silence was his decision.

It’s somehow comforting that he’s back to being grumpy and moody.

The last time I flirted with someone to get what I wanted ended with me driving a pointy metal stick through said someone’s chest, which I’m not eager to do a second time.

Flint leads me to an old Ford and climbs in the driver’s seat.

He turns the car on and shoots me an impatient look through the window when I don’t instantly move to follow him inside the tiny death device.

It’s not like I’ve never seen a car, of course, it just occurred to me that I just never actually sat in one. The Dark Fraction’s camp is in the middle of the woods, and I didn’t exactly have time for driving lessons while I was locked up in the academy. Not that I was old enough at the time, either way.

That’s just when it hits me; I’ve been locked up one way or another all my life.

Not once have I been free to go where I wanted to go and do what I pleased to do.

I’m ripped out of my thoughts when Flint honks for an obnoxiously long time.

"Okay! Okay!" I scream while stumbling inside the passenger seat.

"What was that for?"

"I’m not going to wait for five minutes just for you to get inside the damn car.

I’m hungry." His face is locked in a stern expression, but he still somehow ends up sounding like a pouting child.

I find it in me to feel a flicker of amusement at that.

Maybe he’s not the worst company when he’s not busy locking me in a tiny cell, talking about murdering people.

Maybe I’ll even be able to forget all the shit that’s going on for just this one evening, but I probably shouldn’t get ahead of myself.

Keahi’s expression when he saw me with Flint just now is still fresh in my mind, but I just keep reminding myself that this is for his good too.

And if I’m able to get Flint to trust me and maybe get an upgrade on my current living situation, who is Keahi to make me feel bad about it? I’d be out and about somewhere far away from here by now if it weren’t for him after all.

Maybe somewhere with a beach and a bar.

"What are you smiling about?" the grumpy man next to me asks.

"Nothing, just the fact that you sound like a little kid," I respond, and the driver rolls his eyes at me, despite the corner of his mouth I’m sure I saw twitch up.

"I’m not going to ask you where exactly we’re going but tell me one thing, can I get a drink?" I ask with a sly smile.

Please say yes.

From what I’ve heard, alcohol helps ease the mind, and I could use that. Of course, I can’t say I’ve tried it before. I always kept my guard up at camp, and I believe that would have been harder intoxicated. But now, I’m somewhat safe enough that I’m thinking one drink won’t hurt. And the side effects do sound nice.

"And have me taking care of you when you can’t see straight anymore? I think not," Flint says, but I can tell that answer is not set in stone by the way a little humor slips in his voice.

"I’ll take that as a yes.

You’re the best, truly," I joke, and Flint huffs like he doesn’t quite know how to act toward me when I’m being mellow.

We soon stop at a small restaurant.

"I’ll take my food to go.

Can I trust you’ll not drive off in the meantime? I’m rather attached to this baby," Flint says while getting out, referring to his car.

"I can’t drive,” I tell him as reassurance, and Flint walks off, shaking his head.

I don’t know how exactly I was supposed to drive off since Flint took the keys with him, but I’ll just take the win since he didn’t feel the need to remind me of one of his repeating threats.

Flint returns not long after with a paper bag of what smells like fries with maybe a burger.

"Real fancy dinner," I remark when he starts devouring his food in big bites.

"I’m meeting up with a few friends later and am already running late, thanks to you, might I add.

Besides, what’s wrong with a burger and fries?"

"Nothing, I wouldn’t dare even suggest such a thing.

That stuff you’re practically inhaling right now isn’t a burger, though.

It’s a sad imposter." He chokes on his food at that.

"So, who are we meeting up with?" I ask once he’s finished the last of his food and tossed the garbage away.

"Old friends.

Now, on a serious note, one wrong move and you will be back in your cell, and I mean permanently, until you’ve lost all track of time.

We’re going to a bar, and I don’t want to be on edge all evening."

"Just when I thought we were becoming friends.

I’d never dream of making trouble.

I’ll behave as long as I get that drink you promised me."

"I honestly don’t know how you manage to twist everything I say but sure.

Oh, and just so we’re clear, we’re not friends." He starts his car.

"More than friends?" I ask in pretense shock.

"I was thinking of our dynamic more like a guard taking a walk with his prisoner," he proposes instead.

"I think we’re missing the leash for that."

"That can be arranged."

"Oh, kinky." Flint actually snorts before composing himself and shaking his head to himself.

I share the sentiment.

I’m not sure what I’m doing either, but this banter is refreshing enough for me to just keep it up for as long as possible.

Once we reach the bar, he makes me promise to be on my best behavior one more time before leading me inside.

I always thought of Flint as a bitter dude with no friends and was expecting maybe two people waiting for him.

And even then, I assumed the guard would be awkward.

When we head straight for a group of a dozen people inside who all greet Flint excitedly, I can feel my brows draw higher on my forehead.

"Flint, how nice of you to make an appearance after who knows how long.

And who is this lovely lady you brought with you?" a tree of a guy asks, nodding his head toward me with a charming smile.

I’m about to introduce myself when Flint beats me to it.

"This is Maria from work," Flint lies smoothly, and I can barely keep myself from shooting him an incredulous look.

I mean c’mon, from all the names he could have given me, he chose Maria? Gold star for creativity.

Besides, why lie about who I am and how we know each other?

"Nice to meet you, Maria.

I’m Devan," Devan greets me with a shake of my hand and a wink.

Flint finishes saying hi to everyone while I awkwardly stand a little distance off. Every time one of his friends looks at me or tries to make conversation, I long more and more for that drink.

Finally, after what feels like forever, he hands me said beverage.

I eye it warily until he shoots me an are-you-serious look and takes a sip of it himself to assure me that nothing is wrong with it.

I thank him and take a big gulp, startling at the weird burn as the liquid washes down my throat until it settles in my stomach like a warm blanket. Well, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it wasn’t this bitter. I keep drinking it anyway, figuring if it doesn’t even taste good, it must have a good effect.

Soon enough, I feel a little fuzzy and start engaging in conversations with Flint’s friends.

It’s not long after that the mystery as to why Flint lied about who I am clears itself up since his friends obviously neither have powers nor do they know about Arcane.

They think Flint and I work in accounting. Again, how creative this guy appears to be is truly shocking.

The night goes on and on and the drinks keep flowing until eventually, I forget about my problems and a certain curly-haired guy.

I’m not beyond comfort and haven’t turned into a mumbling idiot.

I’m just feeling nicely fuzzy as I talk to these strangers.

"Alright guys, it was great seeing you again, but we should get going," Flint calls at some point before leading me out of the bar.

Maybe dragging would be a more accurate word to describe this situation since he’s holding my arm as I stumble behind him, suddenly overcome with a wave of disorientation now that I’m on my feet.

He then helps me into his car before getting in himself.

"See, I didn’t kill anyone," I slur once Flint is in the car next to me.

"Yeah, well done," he answers as if I’m a three-year-old.

Okay, I might not be able to talk perfectly straight but I’m not that drunk.

I barely had a few drinks

"I think I deserve some credit.

After all, you didn’t even think of warning me that those people don’t know about your real life and I played the role of Maria like a pro,” I insist.

"Right, good job, Princess." His words wash over me like a warm shower.

Oh, that just did something to me.

I thought I had established that he’s not allowed to call me that. Only one person is. My heart constricts uncomfortably until I look to the side.

I frown at the sight.

Maybe I did have a little too much to drink because in the dark car, it looks like Keahi is sitting next to me when I’m pretty sure I came with Flint tonight.

"What did you just call me?" I ask softly.

"Huh?" the guy next to me asks absent-mindedly.

"Oh, Princess." Okay, that is definitely Keahi’s voice saying his nickname for me right now.

My heart starts beating so fast and loud that I’m afraid he can hear it too.

Suddenly I can’t stop myself from leaning over and placing a soft kiss on his cheek.

He jerks his head to the side to look at me, and we swerve on the road for a moment before he focuses again and keeps the car steady.

My hand is still on his shoulder, and I feel his muscles twitch beneath my touch.

"What are you doing, Malia?" Keahi asks, but now his voice seems a little off.

"Not Malia.

Princess," I correct him before starting to trail kisses along his jaw.

"I’m driving and you obviously had too much to drink, despite your promise, so how about we just relax and each keep our hands to ourselves?" Keahi says, but I know he doesn’t mean it.

His voice is strained, and his muscles keep flexing and relaxing as if it takes all his effort to keep his hands to himself.

"Then pull over," I whisper against him before softly nibbling on the skin beneath his jaw.

Keahi’s breathing starts to get heavier and that just encourages me more.

I struggle to unfasten my seatbelt before sloppily climbing over the console to straddle him in his seat, wanting – no, needing him closer.

I think there was a reason why I haven’t seen him in a while, but right now, I can’t remember.

I missed him.

I want a hug.

"Hey, whoa, what are you doing?" he asks while pulling over.

It’s not like anyone other than us is here anyway.

I wouldn’t endanger Keahi by risking an accident. Instead of answering, I just lean forward to pick up my task of kissing every inch of skin I can access where I left off.

"Malia, how much did you have to drink?" he still tries to be a gentleman, pushing me away with two firm hands on my shoulder, and I just want to tell him not to bother.

Really, I only had three drinks and I didn’t even finish the last one.

It’s not like I could get them myself, with being underage and stuff, so I just took whatever one of Flint’s friends gave me.

"Shh." I place a finger on Keahi’s lips.

I want to start moving my hips slightly against him since he’s obviously still way too capable of being rational, but he moves a hand to my hips to keep me in place.

I just want him to be as consumed by need as I am. I can barely see straight anymore, so why is he still so in control? I finally want to claim his mouth when he cups my face gently to hold it in place.

"Malia, you’re drunk," he says softly.

I want to shake my head but that just results in me not being able to tell what’s up and down.

"I only had two drinks throughout the evening," I tell him, although I’m not sure how understandable it is exactly.

Keahi holds me still for another moment, searching my features for I-don’t-know-what when a sudden wave of exhaustion washes over me.

My limps feel impossibly heavy, and I really want to drop my head on his shoulder. I totally would if he didn’t hold it up so firmly.

"Hm, I don’t feel too well," I slur, my tongue unnaturally fuzzy.

I hear Keahi curse, and feel him shaking me ever so gently, but my eyelids start drooping.

"Okay.

Listen, Malia, I’m pretty sure there was something wrong with one of your drinks, but you’re going to be fine.

Just try to stay awake," he tells me, and even though he lays my head down against his shoulder, his voice seems to come from a distance. I faintly register one of his arms snaking around my back to hold me steady before we start driving again. Then, my senses give up on me altogether and the world goes dark.