Free Awakening by Ella Price Page B

There was a light knock on my door. I scowled trying to decide if
I wanted to talk to anyone.
    The
door opened and Adam came in. He smiled nervously at me. “Cornelius was sure
you would attack the hunters despite his warning.”
    I
crossed my arms defiantly. “Cornelius obviously doesn’t know me that well.”
    “I
know you very well, it’s nice to be surprised occasionally,” Cornelius said
appearing not far from Adam and me. He looked at Adam like he didn’t like the
fact that he was even checking on me. I kind of wondered if that was why he
decided to show up.
    I
rolled my eyes and leaned back against the head board of the bed. I figured he
would show up to gloat at some point. I did exactly what he wanted by leaving
my uncle’s house. “You aren’t surprised. You are just arrogant,” I muttered. I
looked away from him, and ran my fingers through Drake’s soft hair.
    “Adam,
go tell the others Lillian is back, and she did not follow through. I am sure
they are worried about an impending war,” Cornelius said dryly.
    Adam
glanced at me like he didn’t really want to go. I wasn’t going to get involved.
If Cornelius wanted to give orders I was just going to let him. Adam was
technically my wolf, but I was too annoyed to care what Cornelius was doing.
Adam finally nodded and hurried out.
    “How
did you get the wolves to side with you? They seem fond of you.” His tone
wasn’t just curious, it was accusing. He was actually attempting to start a
fight over the packs.
    I
rolled my eyes and stood. “If you are implying I have a relationship with the
pack leaders, other than the bond, you are wrong,” I snapped.
    “I
am implying they want a relationship with you, other than the bond. I just
wonder if you will be able to keep it professional, and keep them in their
place,” he said haughtily.
    I
turned and glared at him. “What, do you think because I am a female I can’t
control the packs like you, or another male vampire could?”
    He
scoffed. “I am implying you have a soft spot that tends to get you in bad
situations. Sometimes you have to cut your losses and lose a few men. You are
the type that will go down with them.”
    I
narrowed my eyes at him. “I would go down with them if necessary, and it’s nice
to know I can trust you to have my back.”
    He
moved so suddenly I didn’t see it. He was suddenly so close to me his body was
pressing against mine. His lips were almost touching mine. I looked up at him
trying to recover from the surprise of his sudden advance. “Believe me when I
say you can trust me to have your back. That is my problem. If you go down with
them, then I will end up going down as well trying to protect you.”
    “If
you are so afraid of going down in flames with me, then walk away now,” I said
confidently. I was doing pretty well at holding my own. He was so close to me
it was making me tingle. All my senses were going haywire like they usually did
when he was this close to me.
    He
smiled slightly. “Unfortunately the thought of going down in flames with you is
far better than the thought of being away from you,” he said softly. He gently
brushed my lips with his, then he was gone.
    I
hated it when he disappeared like that. Then again after his little speech I
wasn’t sure what to say to him. I was beginning to think he just told me he
loved me. I pushed the thought away. I didn’t want to cloud my judgment with
thoughts of Cornelius. He was always saying things at the most inconvenient
time. I cussed under my breath and walked out of the room. I needed to go talk
to the others. I was hoping they would give me some answers since Cornelius was
being so secretive.
    I
stood at the top of the stairs and looked at the crowd below me. It seemed like
everyone was here. I was beginning to think we had gained an alliance with the
renegades without even trying. Luca hurried over to me as I descended the
stairs.
    “Lillian,
you have no idea how relieved I am to see you,” he