Page 43 of Lightning Angel
Alexa immediately knew who the hand belonged to.
All the tension eased from her chest, and the burden lifted off her shoulders. He had promised, and he had come. He hadn’t abandoned her when she thought he did; he had been right there. With her. Invisible.
The corners of her lips trembled with the smile of pure relief that she tried to contain.
Alexa ran her hand up his invisible arm, in a slow and cautious movement, feeling the softness of his skin against her palm. As her hand reached his elbow, she felt the fabric of his sleeve.
She turned slightly, facing him where she assumed he stood, and took a step forward, reaching her other hand in front of her after pocketing the phone and the key. It moved in the air further forward, and then, touched him.
The fabric of his—she assumed—black sweatshirt was soft, and she felt the pounding of his heart against her palm, matching the rhythm of her own. Warmth radiated from him. She reached both her hands upward, tracing up his neck carefully until she held his face in her hands.
It felt weird touching him but not being able to see him; because all she could see was the wall of her room asshe looked at where she supposed his eyes were. He was perfectly still, she wondered if he was even breathing.
He was shocked, she was certain, but not as shocked as when she pushed herself to her toes and whispered, “Tristan, I know it’s you.”
Though she didn’t hear him breathe, now his breath hitched.
“I’m not afraid of you. You don’t have to hide from me.” Something swelled in her chest as she said those words, and she realized she meant them. A smile pulled the corner of her lips. “Let me see you, Lightning Knight.”
The gap between her hands where she held his face was filled, and Tristan’s electric-blue eyes stared back at her. Any words Alexa had on the tip of her tongue to tell him next were forgotten.
She forgot how to breathe.
His eyes captivated her gaze with a soft look, but a myriad of emotion swam in them; disbelief, surprise, and confusion being a few of them.
Suddenly, the door flung open. Alexa gasped, and Tristan’s eyes snapped behind her in alarm. His arms came around her immediately and pulled her to him, her face slamming into his chest.
It all happened in a blink.
Tristan tightened his grip around her, and in the next moment, gravity shifted beneath her. It was restored in the next second, and the atmosphere felt calm, cool, and windy. She pulled away from him when his arms loosened around her slightly, and looked around, awe filling her senses.
They were on the rooftop of her house.
She snapped her gaze to him and found his concerned eyes on her. If he thought she was scared, or would get a panic attack, or would go mad… he was wrong. She wasastonished.
Questions swirled around her head, but she picked up on the one that needed an immediate answer.
“What happened?”
“I lost control—I was… I was distracted when you touched me, so he was able to open the door. I had to get us away.”
Alexa nodded slowly, trying to decipher his words, before asking, “How… how did you stop him from opening the door?”
“I was holding it,” he answered calmly, but his eyes were anything but. There was a silent storm brewing in them.
“The knob?”
He nodded. “I let him turn it, but not budge.” He took a step back. “Listen, Alexa. I want you to stay right here until I return, and I’ll be back very soon.”
“Where are you going?” Her hands fell from him and her eyes widened.
“To deal with him.” His voice was calm but grave, and the storm in his eyes intensified.
Alexa’s heart pounded with frenzy. “Tristan, wait.” She grabbed his hand. “I know you’re furious after what he said to me, but I don’t want you to hurt him.”
Tristan’s electric blue eyes widened slightly before narrowing on her. “Do you still care for him after all that?”
“No!” Alexa exclaimed, her own eyes widening. “I care aboutyou,Tristan. I don’t want his blood on yourhands. Scare him away all you want, but don’t hurt him. I know what rage can do when it blinds someone.”