Undeniable (The Druids Book 1) by S. A. Archer, S. Ravynheart Page A

long.”
    “What are you saying?” London could only whisper through the pain. “I’m not welcome here anymore?”
    “I would never want to say that to you.” But then she didn’t say anything else.
    London hugged herself and turned away. Her hands gripped the insides of her elbows. What more could she say? This wasn’t choice, it was circumstance. It wasn’t about what either of them wanted; it was about the reality they faced. “I’ll leave.”
    “Use the fire escape, or you will be followed.” Selena ruled within her club, but once outside all bets were off.
    London circled the bed to go to the back window, aching too much to linger a minute longer.
    “London,” Selena’s voice warned.
    She glanced back over her shoulder, hands gripping the handles of the window.
    “Leave your bloody shirt behind. They will smell the blood and assume you are still in here with me.”
    London stripped out of her jacket, shoulder holster, and shirt, and then tossed them onto Selena’s bed. The chill of her skin, standing only in her bra, couldn’t melt through the heat of her hurt.
    The vampire mistress circled the bed, gathering a white silk robe from her vanity as she approached. She handed it to London. “I don’t know anything about Derek’s business, but I’ll make some inquiries and text you.”
    London couldn’t meet her best friend’s eyes. This was the beginning of the end for them; it had to be, even if Selena’s gestures seem to indicate that the sense of futility wasn’t mutual. The holster was the only thing she put on again, before London pulled on the robe and belted it. It was a summer robe; the sleeves only reached her elbows and the hem just reached her upper thighs. It was modest enough to get her home.
    The stroke of Selena’s fingers through her hair made her gaze up at her. The graceful curve of her palm cupped London’s head, as she leaned in to kiss her, possibly for the last time. The touch of lips lingered.
    And the sting of tears began.
    When their mouths parted, Selena whispered against her lips. “Be safe. Go quickly, and don’t hesitate to kill any vampire that approaches you. Tonight, or in the future.”
    London gave the barest of nods.
    Selena opened the window and held it until London crouched on the fire escape.
    She glanced back, but the window was already closed and the curtains drawn.

Chapter Twelve

    London walk through the streets, her arms folded tightly across her middle and her head down against the drizzling rain. It chilled along her skin and ran in rivulets under the silk robe, which now clung to her body and provided little protection against the cool rain. Her head remained lowered, watching the streaks of light across the wet pavement, like scars of light etched into the night. Her strides moved quickly; more quickly than her mood would have driven her. The sooner she got out of this rain the better and it drove her on towards her flat. The night had started on a downhill turn, but then it spiraled into an abyss. Now, she just wanted it to be over. She wanted to shower, curl up on her sofa, and hide under the throw blanket until the world made sense again.
    Every shifting shadow and glint of light seemed like movement in the darkness. Every time London glanced towards the trick of her eyes, she saw nothing there. As much as she wished that that was true, she knew that somewhere out there was Derek and he seemed far from done with her. She could only hope that Granger had had his fill of the supernatural and was willing to drop the matter when it came to what happened in Liverpool. But given her luck, she couldn’t expect that hope to pan out.
    She reached the glass door to the building where she lived. Her flat was on the upper floor and she glanced towards the one illuminated window where she left the light on for security.
    London jogged upstairs, fishing her keys out of her jeans pocket before she even reached the landing. Once inside, she closed the door,