Duke Charming | Craig

Twenty-Six

"A mark?" Craig lightly touched the bruises on his neck, wincing when his fingers traced along the scrapes my teeth left behind. His expression blanched once he realized that it should've, indeed, healed by now had it been a normal wound.

Yet, it didn't.

Because I wasn't a normal person.

My eyes were locked on the mark on his neck, horrified. In all honesty, I would've never taken for consideration the possibility of leaving a mark on his – my mate's – body. That was something only males could do. And yet, there it was, red, bruised, and unhealed.

One by one, each Balfour directed their attention to me.

Maisie once showed me an episode of a crime show where a suspect was interrogated for murder. I never quiet understood how having a light shone in your face and being shown a folder of evidence could be seen as intimidating. Not until now.

I felt two inches small underneath their scrutinizing gazes. The way I saw it, I had three options. One, act dumb and pretend I had no idea what any of it meant. Two, come clean there and then and hope they wouldn't be too upset. And three...run. Run as far as I could from The Den, from Direfair, from the Balfours, from Craig, and never look back. I've lived by option three for twelve years and it's never steered me wrong thus far. I could easily do it again.

But I wouldn't run. Never again. Not when I've found the one person on this planet who could make me feel safe and wanted. I'd rather face their disappointment than do that to myself and Craig.

For the first time in my life, I gathered every ounce, every morsel of courage I had within me, and decided to go with option two. "There is something that I haven't told you, and I think it would explain a lot. But a pub isn't the place for it." I looked at Craig, "And I'd like to talk to you about it first in private, if that's alright."

I might have been the first time I've experienced him looking at me without the usual twinkle in his eyes. For once, Craig seemed worried, and made no witty comebacks or jokes about what I possibly wanted to discuss in 'private'.

Instead, he took a gentle hold of my hand to help me out of the booth. "Then we should probably head back. Whatever can't be said in a pub makes me a wee bit concerned."

There was a silent agreement among them that our night out has come to an end. We made our way to the exit while Rheon paid our tab. Craig held the door open for me to get into his car and wasted no time to get behind the wheel and start the engine.

I sensed the apprehension between us, clinging to the air like dark clouds on the horizon, predicting a storm. Although my instincts told me Craig wasn't the kind to start a fight over me keeping secrets from him, I still feared his disappointment. Or worse, his rejection.

But I had to stay strong and trust Selene.

Craig wouldn't reject me for this.

Once Rheon left the pub and got into his car with Ash, our vehicles rolled out of the parking lot and drove down the street. With each passing moment, the beating of my heart grew more rapid up to the point where I thought it would break out of my chest. The nerves were killing me, and the concept of not knowing how anyone would react, even more.

It felt too soon that we arrived at the castle where I'd soon be coming clean in front of all the Balfours. However, instead of following the other vehicles to the garage, Craig turned left and drove us down a narrow road in the direction of the lake. The path ended at a little outlook over the Loch, where the moon reflected brightly off the rippling dark waves. If this was another date, it would've been awfully romantic.