“And your parents, what of them?” Draven growled out the question and my head snapped back to him.
“Draven stop it!”
“Dead. Now if you will excuse me I must make a phone call.” He rose from his seat after answering his question just as abruptly as it had been asked.
“Wait, I will come with you.” I said rising but he put a hand on my shoulder and said,
“It’s fine, I will only be a moment…stay and talk with your friends.” I bit my lip again worrying about what to do but in the end I just nodded and let him walk a few tables away to make a call.
“Subtle as always I see.” I said looking back to Draven making him cock an eyebrow at me.
“I think I have a right to these answers, Keira.” He replied arrogantly.
“No, if I remember correctly, you in fact gave up that right, Draven.” I replied trying to keep emotion at bay. I wanted to appear as though saying this didn’t shred at my soul like claws from a bitter beast. Well at least he had the good grace to flinch at my words as he knew them to be born from the truth of his actions.
“I…” Draven started to say something in annoyance but Sophia quickly interrupted asking me if I had heard from Pip lately. I was more than thankful for her change of subject and started to talk about the last time I had seen her, when Alex came back. He bent down and gave me a quick kiss when Draven barked out an order,
“Drink!” making us both jump and ruining the moment. Loz quickly came over to the table and I gave her a little wink when she smiled at seeing me again.
“Set up a fountain for the table, Loz for I think our Lord is in the mood for something a little stronger this night.” Sophia asked referring to absinthe. She nodded and was about to walk away when Draven called her back.
“And for Keira, she will have a Corona…”
“Red wine,” Alex interrupted and poor Loz looked lost and torn between the two men.
“It’s alright Loz, a Corona will be fine.” She looked relieved and quickly made her escape to get the drinks.
“I thought you never cared for red wine?” Draven asked and even hearing his abrupt, harsh voice gave me goosebumps as I was flooded with too many memories to cope with.
“Tastes change, Draven.” I replied quietly knowing he would get the inner meaning to that statement.
“That they do.” He gritted out his reply and I bravely raised my eyes to see him glaring at the new taste in question.
“Catherine, I am afraid I have to leave you sooner than I thought.” I looked to Alex and realised what he was saying.
“Why…is everything alright at the office?” I asked knowing Alex was working on a big project and would often have to leave suddenly.
“Leaving so soon, how disappointing.” Draven commented dryly gaining another fifthly look from me. Loz came then and placed an elaborate green glass fountain on the table. She turned to take the black, gothic looking crystal glasses from Rue’s tray that were just the right size to fit under the four taps that spouted from the centre. The fountain was in the shape of a giant teardrop and topped with a beautiful dainty glass fairy that looked like she was being chased mid-flight.
“I have to get back to Portland and get these new designs ready for a meeting that has been rescheduled for tomorrow.” Alex said ignoring Draven’s snide comment and turned to the rest of my friends to add,
“I’m an architect in the city.” Draven rolled his eyes and said sarcastically,
“Sounds thrilling,” before downing a full glass of green liquid just poured by Loz. I, like everyone else, ignored Draven and turned to give my full attention to Alex.
“I will come with you.”
“No it’s fine. You stay and be with your friends, I know how much you were looking forward to it.” I blushed again as of course he was right, apart from seeing Draven I had been dying to see Vincent and Sophia again and also I thought I would get another chance to see my old bodyguard Ragnar but as of yet he hadn’t appeared.
“But…”
“It’s fine Catherine, really… but you got a ride here, correct?” I nodded as Frank had dropped me off so I could have a drink.
“Then how will you get home? Is he picking you up?” I hadn’t arranged anything as I just gathered Sophia would try and convince me to stay or if not at least arrange for her driver to take me home.
“Your concern isn’t needed. Keira, will of course be taken home and get there safely in my care.” Draven’s cutting voice was once again invading my senses and making me want to both cringe in frustration and curse my heart for taking notice for the first time in over ten months.