The Arcane Rebellion- The Arcane Series #1

Chapter 22

Layla

The sound of doors closing woke me up.

I groaned as I opened my eyes, immediately closing them because of the sunlight that was glowing right into them. The pain in my back was faint, but I knew I was bleeding again so I pulled myself up. Or at least tried doing so- Xavi was asleep on my chest, tightly hugging my waist.

Not to wake him, I looked up, noticing we were sleeping on one of the couches in the common room. Amir and Uriah were standing in the doorway, arguing about something. I cleared my throat, getting their attention.

"Boss, you're awake.", Amir said with a shocked expression on his face, he and Uriah coming over quietly so they don't wake Xavi up.

"Yeah, no shit.", I retorted, my voice only above a whisper. "Why are we in the common room?", I asked them.

"Both your rooms were locked.", Uriah explained with a shrug. "Boss, uh- do you... do you remember what happened last night?", he hesitantly asked.

"Of course I remember what happened, damn it!", I whisper-yelled. I really didn't know how to feel about last night. Xavi and I were drugged, made to have sex in front of dozens, if not a hundred, people. Definitely not how I imagined having sex for the first time to be. I felt... ashamed, perhaps? Disgusted? Angry? Guilty?

"Where's the Artifact?", I asked, suddenly remembering that Marian gave it to Uriah.

"In the safe in my workroom. Didn't want something to happen to it.", Amir said and I nodded in approval.

"Good thinking.", I praised. I felt Xavi moving so I looked down to see him starting to open his eyes.

"We tried putting you guys on separate couches, but neither of you would let go.", Amir said quietly.

"Or stop crying.", Uriah added with a scoff. Xavi looked up at me, his eyes bloodshot, his gaze making me want to melt under it. Suddenly, he jumped up from the couch, breathing heavily and looking around the room disoriented. I got up too, seeing I was still in my dress that was now black instead of indigo, completely drenched in blood.

"Xavi, what's wrong?", I asked him gently, trying to go over to him but he raised his hands, stopping me from going further.

"Layla, we- we need to talk.", he said, trying to regain his breath. Amir and Uriah took that as a sign to leave, shutting the common room doors behind them.

"What's wrong?", I repeated, trying to go over to him again. This time he let me, so I put my hands on his shoulders, gently rubbing them up and down.

"What's wrong?!", he asked in disbelief. "I don't know where you were yesterday, Layla, but I think you can damn well guess what's wrong.", he said, looking deep into my eyes.

"I know, Xavi, I'm not too happy about it either.", I told him, looking down at the floor in shame.

"It was not supposed to happen that way.", he whispered and I looked up at him in confusion.

"What was not supposed to happen that way?", I asked.

Xavi scoffed. "Us, Layla.", he replied. "Us having sex the first time was not supposed to happen in front of what, a hundred people? Maybe even more?", he said and I nodded in agreement.

"I agree, Xavi. But there's nothing we can do about it now.", I said and anger flashed across Xavi's face.

"Don't you think I know that, Layla? But are you not even the tiniest bit angry?", he asked, frowning and his brows furrowed.

"Of course I'm angry, Xavi.", I replied with a scoff, my hands falling to my sides. Xavi started walking toward the bar and I followed him.

"You don't seem it, Layla.", he retorted, not looking at me at all. He reached over the counter, picking up a bottle of whiskey, opening it and taking a long swing of it.