Page 34
THIRTY-THREE
IMOGEN
What with my studies, the prom and The Claiming, my life is full of activity, but there is really only one I’m interested in. Meeting up with Drake and since our night together, I am burning for more of them.
The others decided last night that we’ll head into town for breakfast this morning. It’s a nice idea but I’m not really feeling it and so I get up early and text Cassie.
Hi, honey. I’m going to skip breakfast this morning. I must be coming down with something, so I’ll pass. I’m just heading out to clear my head. Have fun.
As I leave the house, I turn my face toward the morning sun.
It’s early, which means it’s deserted. Students aren’t known for being early risers and definitely not after the night before.
Friday night is always party night and if they aren’t involved in The Claiming challenge and subsequent after party, they attend one of the other parties thrown around campus.
I head off at a gentle jog, drawing in some fresh air, inflating my lungs with oxygen to blow the cobwebs away.
Last night was closure of sorts, but the door isn’t firmly closed and I’m still worried about my relationship with Jesse.
What if he really likes me and I’m thinking about someone else?
I should shut him down and not offer him false hope, but he is the only lead we have to The Serpent Society.
I feel bad that we’re using him and hope like hell I’m right about him and that he is merely waking up to reality and doing the best he can with the information.
Will he travel across State after leaving Rockwell, or will he submit to the wishes of his family and end up returning home after all?
Then there’s the job offer with Frankie.
Could he really compromise his morality and work for a family who are not known for their honesty?
I’m surprised how much I like the Majerios.
Luca Romano is a different kind of animal and keeps himself closed off most of the time unless your name is Summer, or Frankie even.
Like-minded souls who understand one another and I’m worried that Jesse wouldn’t thrive in their world because he is nothing like them.
I jog toward the river. It’s my favorite route, mainly because of the privacy it gives me.
Not many people come here because the terrain is uneven, and it’s a fair way from the academy.
As I hug the riverbank, I notice the boathouse in the distance and as I head toward it, a movement catches my attention.
On the edge of the old wooden dock where the decrepit boat lives, I notice a figure edge into the sunlight, apparently through the creepers at the back of the boathouse.
I stop and merge into the trees as I strain to see if I recognize them.
I’m aware of the entrance to the tunnels nearby and wonder who is using them so early in the morning.
I almost expect to see Frankie or one of the guys. Instead a small figure emerges closely followed by a very familiar one.
My mouth dries and my heart beats faster as Drake emerges into the sunlight and as the small figure turns to him, I watch them embrace.
I feel sick. It’s obvious the figure is a woman from their build and a flash of blonde hair falls from the baseball cap as his arm knocks it askew.
She hugs him hard and appears emotional and as she steps away, his gaze trails after her as she heads quickly off in the direction of the academy.
My heart is undone as Drake stares after her, and as he rakes his fingers through his hair, I can tell he is concerned.
Something is telling me their meeting is significant, but why hide unless they didn’t want to be discovered?
Is he seeing another student and playing me off against others?
He can’t be, he’s a Reaper, and it’s not in their DNA.
It must be something else, so with a deep breath, I emerge from the trees, acting as if I’ve just arrived and continue jogging in the direction I was heading in.
As I get closer, he catches my eye and I’m relieved when he beckons me over to the boathouse. I don’t hesitate because I need answers and as I near the place where the girl vacated, he motions for me to follow him inside the tunnel.
I take one glance around before heading inside and as the creeper curtain swings back into position, the only light we have is the sunlight filtering through the gaps.
It’s enough to light his expression and the soft one he throws back at me eases my mind—a little.
“You’re up early.” He appears concerned, and I shrug.
“I could say the same to you.”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
Something about the pained expression in his eye raises concern and I take a step toward him. “Did something happen? Who was that girl?”
A flicker of amusement on his lips is my answer, and he reaches out and pulls me in against his chest. The audible sigh of relief that escapes is my answer.
He pulls me hard against him and groans. “I missed you. Fuck, last night was torture picturing you with him.”
“You didn’t answer my question, Drake,”
Jealously flares inside me and he whispers, “She was a surprise wake up call, darlin’. A broken angel.”
I push back and stare into his eyes, noting the concern. A broken angel in the Reaper world is a woman who needs our help. Somebody down on their luck with no place to turn, and I don’t miss the gravity of the description.
“Is she a student?”
He shakes his head. “She was, but life dealt her a hard blow and she ended up working here.”
He isn’t giving much away and I note the frown lines deeply routed in his brow, and he sighs. “I fucking hate this place.”
“What, the tunnel?”
I gloss over the severity of his words because something is telling me I won’t like the meaning behind them.
He crushes me to his chest and wraps his hand protectively around my back, holding me close, his heart beating a frantic message against mine. If Drake is worried, things must be bad because there is nothing a Reaper can’t deal with, and I’m wondering if this may be the exception to that.
For a moment there is silence and then he whispers huskily, “I’ve missed you.”
“Same.” I cling onto him and bury my face in his chest and he groans. “I usually have all the answers, Imogen, but I’m struggling with the questions this time.”
“Then take them one at a time, because the answer may be easier than you thought. It doesn’t always have to be complicated, Drake. Not when you take things slowly and think about it carefully.”
“I guess.”
He pulls back and sighs into the darkness. “This place is creepy as fuck. It suits the academy perfectly.”
He releases me and grasps my hand. “I need to get the fuck out of here. Are you up for that?”
“Where?”
My heart rate increases as his smile catches on my uncertainty.
“Wherever the road takes us.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Meet me in the lane as before in twenty minutes.”
“I’ll be there.”
He dips his head and as his lips find mine, it’s like a sigh of relief for my heart. Kissing Drake puts all the problems right, and nothing can interfere with us. We are a team—at least I hope we are and whoever that girl is, she is a problem that Drake will solve. I have no doubt about that.
Table of Contents
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- Page 34 (Reading here)
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