Chapter 288 - No Time for Spilled Milk (2/2)

Jos nodded. ”I'm a big girl... I can handle myself... when I want to...” She looked away as her brows knitted. ”Um... If you'd let Poseidon know where I'm going... and with whom... I'd appreciate it.”

With an understanding nod of his head, Russ released her hand. He watched as she followed Drake from the room, waving at her when she turned nervous eyes back to him from over her shoulder.

Jos sat on a bench overlooking the grand rooftop garden of the hospital. ”So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

”I just really wanted to apologize for everything that's happened on behalf of my family... they're not all ȧssholes... I swear... and... my dad wasn't either...” He glanced down at the bench as he ran his hand over his hair. ”Mind if I sit?”

Jos searched his handsome face. ”You... you know the relationship your father and I had, right?”

Drake nodded. ”Yeah, I probably know more about your involvement with my family than you realize yourself...”

Jos scrunched her brows as she held his bright green gaze. ”What do you mean?”

”Do you know why Marcus hates you so bad?” he asked still holding her gaze.

Jos shrugged. ”I... I sank a ship with some of his loved ones on it... but the ship was in cursed waters. I had no direct involvement in it... just like I didn't have direct involvement in tonight's attack.”

Drake nodded. ”I understand that, I do... but he either didn't understand or didn't want to understand... he only ever saw you as a threat.”

Jos frowned down at her hands that fumbled one another, a question she'd wanted the answers to burning in her throat. ”And your dad... Xavier? Did he see me as a threat?” To her surprise, a large hand covered hers. Her eyes moved back up to his enchanting green ones.

Drake shook his head. ”No, he didn't... and you have to know some of what my mother said during your trials was true. He had begun to suspect you were more than the innocent girl he'd fallen in love with.” A smile curved his lips when she gasped at the word love. ”Yeah, he loved you, you know... I think it was a first for him too... He and my mom were forced into an arranged marriage by his father.” He shook his head. ”They never loved each other and never shared in political views.”

Jos searched his eyes. ”Why are you telling me this now? You have to realize... I... I...”

”Killed him? Yeah, I do...” He shrugged. ”My dad was miserable until he met you. Even if it were short-lived, that time with you meant everything to him. I thought you should know...”

Tears burned Jos's eyes as she shook her head as she pulled her hands away from him. ”Why would you tell me this? To torture me? To make me regret what I did?” She pushed up from the bench still shaking her head as tears streamed down her cheeks. ”I can't regret what I did to him, because in doing it I save someone who means the world to me!”

Drake nodded as he stood. He took her hand and pulled her into his arms for a tight hug. ”I understand that, and believe me, dad would have understood too... hell, he would have done the exact thing had the situation been reversed. I told you because I wanted you to know... I share his beliefs about you... about the world... Not my mother's, not my uncle's, not Marcus's...” He shifted still not releasing her as he stared down at her. ”Dad was trapped in his role by his brother and by my mother.” He shook his head. ”I am not. I want to see my father's once-great vision of the world come to life and live it.”

Jos's brows furrowed, ”He once told me his father, your grandfather, only wanted to breed to make strong creatures... If what you're saying is true, then it only backs my original opinions of him... He was no different than Draco. He was interested in me because he thought he'd gotten his hands on a powerful creature... Is that what you're thinking now as well?” She pushed against his ċhėst, but he didn't release her.

”It's not what I'm thinking at all. I'm thinking that you could be a great ally... and possibly the only person to ever see the side of my dad as I did...” He cupped her cheek. ”I just want to have a conversation with you and-” His words were cut off as a tentacle wrapped around the wrist of the hand cupping her face. ”Um...”

”I don't want to talk about Xavier... not now... not with you...” She gently tugged his hand away from her face and held it out. ”You feel a strange attraction to me? A pull that you can't resist? That's because I'm a monster and you're too young to resist it.” She pulled away from him and took several steps back. ”Be smart, avoid me at all costs... I really liked your father, nearly loved him... don't make me regret my decisions leading up to his death... or those after...”

Drake nodded as he rubbed the marks the tentacle had left on his wrist. His eyes met hers, ”You're right, I do feel an attraction to you... I'd thought it was because you were someone special to my dad... but you might be right...” He caught up with her, once again pulling her into his arms. ”It must be an attraction because now having you here alone all I can think about is-” His eyes nearly bulged out of his head as another tentacle wrapped painfully tight around his waist, lifting him and setting him back on the park bench.

”Stay...” Jos ordered. ”For your own good. I'm tired of you men thinking your own attractions are enough to validate any violation you inflict on me... on other women... Just fuċk off, alright...”

Chuckling brought her attention to the main doors of the rooftop access. A massive familiar frame filled the door. Jos took off in a sprint toward the door. She hurled herself into waiting arms as Arei pushed up from the frame of the door. He smiled down at her. ”Ready to go home, kitten?”

Jos nodded as she wrapped her arms tightly around him. ”Yes, please!”

Arei winked at the young vampire that sat gawking from the bench as he let his massive wings sprout out. In no time they were in the air and the hospital was left far behind. Arei laughed hardily as he set her down on their private beach seconds later. ”You know, I don't think I've ever been quite as turned on than when you told that kid to fuċk off...”

Jos let out a heavy sigh... ”I just want to shower and go to sleep!”

”Hahaha, me too, kitten, me too!” Arei laughed as he guided her up the steps.