Ice Cold

Chapter Fifteen

          After I looked my parents over I found various cuts and bruises, but other than that they were fine. We all caught up over dinner and then I went to my room. I was sure to check for any rogues in my room and I made sure my window was locked before I crawled into bed. I was almost asleep when I heard my door creek open.

          I grabbed the dagger from under my pillow where I'd placed it before I went to sleep. I slashed out blindly in the dark and I felt someone's hand wrap around my wrist. I was about to scream but then the owner of the hand spoke.

          "Lex, it's me," Hayden's voice said and then he flipped the light switch on.

          "Oh, sorry," I said.

          "No, don't be, it's good that you're defending yourself now," Hayden replied.

          "What did you need?" I asked, lowering the dagger.

          "You said you would tell me everything later," Hayden said.

          "Can I tell you tomorrow? I'm tired," I said.

          "Of course, I didn't mean to wake you," Hayden replied.

          "It's okay," I said, crawling back into bed, "Goodnight, Hayden."

          Hayden walked over to my door, "Goodnight, Lex," he said and shut the door.

***

          I woke up the next morning and stretched before slowly getting out of bed. I wasn't surprised when I walked into Hayden's room and found him not too far from the door. I was wondering if he'd even slept last night. I motioned him to my room and he followed.

          "So, you want to know about yesterday?" I asked and Hayden hesitated a moments and then nodded. "Okay, yesterday we had to stop before we got to the house because part of a rogue clan was on our trail. Connor and his clan took them out and then we got to the house without any more incidents. I slept in Connor's room until I woke up in the middle of the night. Connor and I got to talking and he told me about the Northern and Southern kingdoms and full-bloods and half-bloods and what being a part of the royal bloodline means and some things he has to do because of it.

          Then a rogue snuck into the room and tried to poison me with a poison that vampires couldn't track but Connor did and he stopped the poisoned knife before it got to me. Connor got rid of her and then I fell asleep again, when I woke up we left," I explained.

          "So you know about all that stuff now? The Northern and Southern kingdoms and half-bloods and full-bloods? The royal bloodline and its responsibilities?" Hayden asked.

          I nodded, "anything else?" Hayden asked.

          I shook my head and looked down at the ground. Hayden gave me a sharp look and I looked away from him, "what else happened?" Hayden asked in his deep, cold voice that meant he was serious.

          "Nothing," I lied. It was no use lying against someone who knew me and could see straight through my lies.

          "Lex, I know you, what else happened? Did he bite you?" Hayden asked, the idea alone making him furious.

          "No, he didn't," I quickly said.

          "Something else happened," Hayden said.

          I slammed my hand down on my nightstand, "nothing else happened," I said and winced as pain ran up my arm and I realized I'd slammed my hurt hand down.