Love, Lies & Blood Ties - Whitby Shadows Series Book 2

Chapter Twenty-Two

Sunlight burned through my eyelids. I opened my eyes to find myself in bed, surrounded by a soft duvet and a heap of pillows. It wasn't my bed; I'd somehow ended up back in the suite, but I didn't care. It was comfy. I realised I was fully clothed as I yawned. Stretching my arms and legs, I revisited yesterday's memories, only to have them come crashing down on me with the force of a freight train.

An aching empty hole sat in the middle of my chest, searing pain tugging at my heart and soul. He was gone. Marcus had left me. Right when I needed him the most. Anger bit at me. If that was the only emotion I had to help me through this, then so be it. I could only cope with losing one important person at once.

I remembered then, what I'd done last night. I'd gone to the Abbey. The last thing I remembered was being there, breaking down into uncontrollable sobs, and falling asleep. At what point did I get up and come home?

A soft knock rapped against the door.

My breath caught in my throat. Was it Sophie? "Hello?" I said, my voice cracking.

The door opened and when Luke's handsome face popped through the gap, I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Morning," he said, giving me a warm smile.

"Hey," I said, offering the best smile I could in return. "You can come in. I'm decent."

He slid through the half open door, then closed it behind him. "How are you feeling?"

A dull throb had started in the back of my skull, my eyes felt sore and puffy, and my stomach grumbled. I hadn't eaten at all yesterday.

"I'm ok," I said, sitting up. "What are you doing here?"

"I...I kind of found you...last night...at the Abbey. I brought you home."

I gasped. How embarrassing. He'd found me? In the middle of the field, distraught because my vampire boyfriend had abandoned me at the most crucial point in my life?

"Oh my...I'm so sorry," I whispered. "I never meant to..." I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I don't know what happened."

"It's ok. The main thing is you're safe."

"Thanks...for bringing me home."

"No need to thank me. Is there anything I can get you? A drink, some breakfast?"

My tummy rumbled, reminding me it was empty, but the upsetting mix of simmering fury and despair squashed my appetite right down. I didn't feel like doing anything.

I shook my head. "No, thank you."

He gave me a look, one of 'you should know better', and said, "Are you sure?"

I hesitated for the slightest of moments. "Yes, thank you. I think I just want to sleep..."

I wanted to sleep to ignore the pain, hide from the aching chasm yawning deep inside me, growing wider and more profound with every second I stayed awake.

"Well, I have some things to finish off outside so I'll be around most of the day. If you need me, just yell, ok? Don't forget your mum and Hannah will be here at lunchtime."

"What time is it?"

"A little after eight."

"You don't have to work today, Luke."

He chuckled. "Honestly, it's ok. Besides, I've got some other things lined up for the next few days so if I don't get finished up today, I don't know when I can get them done."

I waved a hand through the air dismissively. "Whenever is fine. There's no rush."

"Look," he said, lowering his voice. "If I'm being honest, I don't want to leave you alone today."