Forbidden

~Chapter Twenty-Seven~

A/N: So, FINALLY (feel free to yell at me: I will completely understand), here is chapter twenty-seven! :-) I apologize for the lateness: I had to have a tooth pulled today, due to the fact that i cracked it in half...which I have no idea how I did. Anyway, thank you so, so much for your patience! I really appreciate it!

This is chapter is dedicated to KeeperOfTheKeys AKA Key, beacause A) her one-shots are amazing! They're beautifully written, hilarious, tear-inducing (either from hilarity or sadness, in the case of NWTACD), and endlessly creative...I don't know where she gets her ideas from! And B) Key is just an awesome person, and one of the only people on here who will actually have a conversation with me. I feel like I stalk her sometimes, so I'm sorry if I creep you out, Key! It's complimentary, though: YOU'RE AWESOME!

Speaking of awesome, you are ALL amazing! I love you, my fans! ENJOY!!!! :-)

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~Chapter Twenty-Seven~

Meaghan smelled him before she could see him.

            She sat in the exact center of her bedspread, hugging her knees to her chest, eyes closed in serenity. She felt surer, more peaceful than she had in years. She had succeeded; Ari had praised her; their plan was working brilliantly. Meaghan was positive that River was hooked, that they would have him at her beck and call. His sister was a bit of an issue, but Meaghan had assured Ari that wherever River went, Layla would follow, like a little yapping dog at his heels. She smiled happily, the scent of lilacs after a rain drifting effortlessly around her.

            She had given her true senses run of her body as soon as she had reached home, collapsing onto her bed and allowing them to overtake her human mind. Her five common mortal senses had heightened—not to the advantage they used to be, but certainly strong enough to be deadly—and the extra bones, her immortal build, in her back had been aching to elongate, to transform her into her rightful form, but that Meaghan hadn’t succumbed to. She couldn’t afford to be seen in her natural state; she had played out her role so well that she couldn’t break character now. Meaghan Burke’s physique had to remain, though Alexandra could easily emerge internally. Meaghan smiled at the thought: she missed being herself.

            The scent grew stronger as he stepped forward; Meaghan could feel his amused smirk. “Taking up meditation, are we? I don’t think that’d help much,” his sarcastic tone mocked.

            Meaghan’s gaze shot open, his voice sending shivers down her spine. Hiding that emotion, she smirked as well, glaring playfully at her newfound helper. “Good afternoon, Griffin,” she responded just as sarcastically, noting that his fitted leather jacket still adorned his shoulders.

            Griffin rolled his eyes. “Ari liked your dramatics this morning,” he stated matter-of-factly, raising his eyebrows at her apparent glee.

            Meaghan sighed, sounding aggravated, though the reminder in his voice sent a squeeze of pleasure spiraling through her stomach. “Yeah,” she agreed breathlessly, “he did. What did you think?”

            Griffin shrugged nonchalantly. His easy dismissal of her big performance went straight to the heart: Meaghan felt her abdomen twist with the pain of rejection. She unlatched her arms, letting them fall to her sides as she stretched her legs, trying to hide her hurt.

            “I noticed your little slip-up.”

            Meaghan froze, her joints locking into place. Carefully guarding her gaze, she looked up at Griffin’s wry grin, gulping inconspicuously. Narrowing her brows, her lips slipping into an ill-humored smirk, she sighed. “And that was?”