15. Ever
Chapter 15
Ever
“ I ’m a terrible person, and an even worse friend.”
My excitement at finally getting internet in my new house has completely evaporated. Grimacing, I scroll through my chat thread with SilentKnight, feeling more and more like shit as the messages turn from wondering if I forgot about our gaming plans, to freaking out thinking Adam chopped me up and stuffed me down the garbage disposal. Attaching my mic to my headset, I hit the call button, reading the last few worried messages while it connects.
He picks up on the second ring, voice crackling and so faint I have to max out my volume to try and hear him. “Ever? Are you okay? Where are you?”
“I’m so sorry, Bell. I totally forgot about our plans after I walked in on Adam balls deep in-”
“Ever? Are you still there? Talk to me, beautiful, where are you?” he demands, voice garbled, and it takes me a minute to piece together what he said.
“Some off-grid city in the mountains, don’t worry, I’m safe.”
“What city?”
“Mer-” I snap my mouth shut, hesitating. This city… it’s hidden for a reason. Even if Bellamy could find it, if Myles and Ledger are telling the truth, he won’t be able to get past the barrier.
“Ever?” It sounds like he’s shouting from another room, the connection is so terrible.
The call drops before I can reply, so I hastily type,
I’m fine, don’t worry. Caught Adam cheating on me so I skipped town and have been busy getting settled in. Call me when you have a better connection?
I wait a solid twenty minutes, but eventually accept that wherever Bellamy is, he isn’t able to call me back. Setting push notifications for the app so I don’t miss when he does message me again, I hang up my headset and figure it’s close enough to eleven that I should start getting ready for my date with Arson.
My stomach flutters as I sift through my clothes. Should I even be going on this date now that I apparently have two fated mates?
Actually, that’s exactly why I need to. I have no idea what the hell I’m supposed to do with that information. Am I automatically married now? To both of them? Or am I supposed to choose from my Fates’ nominated candidates that they think would be a good match for me? What if I don’t want to be with either of them? One of the books Ledger left me is a rejected mate trope, so that must mean there isn’t some magical rule or supernatural council that decrees I have to do anything just because we all share the same tattoo… right?
I have far more questions than answers, but I don’t know if I can trust Ledger or Myles to tell me the truth since they're biased. Arson doesn’t have much of a filter, he’ll give it to me straight, whether I like the answer or not.
That fluttering twists and sours as guilt worms its way in. Ledger, Arson, Myles; I could see myself with any of them, if I’m being honest with myself.
Dating doesn’t mean I’m agreeing to marry anyone, I remind myself.
Settling on a pair of jean shorts and one of my few t-shirts that the logo hasn’t completely faded off, I snatch my keys and purse off the counter on my way out. “Let me guess, Casper, you’ll be following me on this date too?”
Surprisingly enough though, I don’t get a response. Not even a brush of ghostly fingers down my arm. Doing a last minute walkthrough of the house, I make sure all the windows and doors are locked up tight, unease growing as I never come across my resident ghost that I’ve started to take for granted. Knowing that I’m living in a town filled with supernatural creatures? Casper’s absence makes me all-too aware of how powerless I really am without him around as a built in security system.
If other wolf shifters are built anything like Ledger, a locked window isn’t going to do shit to keep them out. If Myles is a tech mage, that means there are other kinds too. I’m sure they’d have no problem picking a lock or melting a hole through my front door. And there’s nothing I could do to stop them.
I swallow hard as dread curdles in my gut, slamming my car door harder than necessary and pulling out of my driveway. I was going to ask Ledger and Myles my questions tonight, but I don’t think I can wait that long anymore. Hopefully Arson is feeling chatty.
Speaking of…
I have no clue what the hell the man is. Am I even safe going on a date with him? What if he has some sort of incubus powers and uses his sex magic to seduce me and feast on my lifeforce? Not that that would be a terrible way to go, all things considered, but this brings a whole new list of problems into consideration when dating was already hard enough. Actually, screw what he might be. What am I is the million dollar question here.
Did I piss someone off in a past life and am being punished?
That little voice in the back of my mind hasn’t shut up all night, and it’s back with a vengeance this morning. Maybe that’s why my parents didn’t want me; I’m a supernatural dud. Heaven forbid they get saddled with an embarrassment that brought shame on the family name. A family name I don’t even know and never will, because they couldn’t be bothered to leave a note when they dumped me at the fire station.
“Well, fuck that, and fuck them. I don’t need magical powers to make something of myself, and I will if it’s the last thing I do. One day, they’re going to see my face in the news as people rave over my success and regret giving me up. Hell, I’ll be able to afford the best private investigator to track them down and hand deliver the article to make sure they see it. And when they come sniffing around for a handout, I’ll have the sweet satisfaction of walking away from them this time.”
My fingers twitch with the desire to sketch out another new controller design. Nothing motivates someone to work harder than spite. If I could bottle up all this trauma rage and sell it as an energy drink, I’d make a fortune.
Note to self, ask the guys if witches are real. With magic involved, anything’s possible now.
Still fuming, I jerk my head to the side as the passenger door is wrenched open outside the gas station we agreed to meet at, Arson sliding into the car for our store trip.
He takes one look at my face and frowns. “You’re upset. Stop it.”
I snort, shaking my head. Anyone else, I’d want to throat punch for a comment like that, but I’ve never met someone so unabashedly open with their feelings as Arson. He’s not annoyed, he’s upset that I’m upset.
“Oh my god, you’re right. Why didn’t I think of that?”
Piercing blue eyes narrow on my face. “Tell me who upset you.”
“Myself, I guess?”
“Well, I can’t stab you , so want to pick someone else? That’d make you happier, right?” he asks with such open sincerity that I can’t help but smile as I pull away from the curb.
He’s definitely unhinged, but in an endearing way I’m helpless to resist. I’m pretty sure if I told him I thought the guy walking his dog across the street was a vampire, Arson would show up with matching collars to protect us from being sucked dry and join me on a stakeout outside the dude’s house to find proof.
I can’t believe I’m saying this…
“I just found out my boss turns into a wolf.”
“And you don't like dogs?” Arson runs a hand through his disheveled hair and curses. “I can find a replacement, don't worry. Want to make a detour before our date? I’ll put him down so he doesn’t upset you anymore.”
“What? No!” I laugh it off, but discreetly hit the door lock juuuuuuuuuuust in case he’s seriously considering it. “I’m not against it, it’s just kind of a mind fuck, you know? Learning that shifters and magic are real. Yet here I am, surrounded by people with amazing powers while I’m just… me.”
The girl that nobody wants unless she can do something for them.
Arson growls, “If you think abilities are what make people amazing, then you’re sorely mistaken. It’s what people do with them that matters. And you, my forever, are the kind of woman that stayed up all night to watch over a stranger. Most mysts would have slit my throat and ran me over a second time for good measure.”
Hesitating for only a moment, he gently tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. “Ten thousand people in this city, and you’re the one I wake up looking for and go to sleep thinking about. You don’t have to be magical to be amazing. You just have to be you. ”
My heart skips a beat. I must be more starved for affection than I realized, because those words carve themselves a little home in my brain. If I’m not careful, Arson will take a sledgehammer to every wall I’ve built up over the years all but claiming, ‘who needs walls when I’m here to protect your heart?’
But that’s what I wanted, right? Even if it’s absolutely terrifying to let someone in.
Wetting my lips, I glance away from the stop light to tentatively ask, “So, what about you? Do you have any abilities? Is that rude to ask?”
With the wicked scar on his cheek, his grin is downright deadly. “I'm your shadow demon.”
I blink. “Like... horns and a tail, damnation stuff?”
Arson chuckles, the sound dark and gravelly. “Sorry to disappoint, angel, but the most dangerous monsters are the ones that look like everybody else.”
I've seen enough awful things in the world to know he's right.
Finally finding a parking spot, I shut off the car and give him my undivided attention, soaking up every bit of information I can get my hands on. “What kind of things can you do?
Shadows slowly creep up the dashboard, spreading across to tint the windows and block out the rest of the world. A small tendril snakes up my arm, leaving a trail of goosebumps behind from the chill until wrapping loosely around my throat, holding me captive. But I couldn’t have moved even if I’d wanted to, rooted to my seat in awe as Arson blocks out everything in the world but the two of us. The backs of his fingers gently brush my cheek as he leans in, capturing a lock of my hair to twirl around his finger.
“Whatever you need me to, angel. I'm yours to command.”
My heart hammers, both desperately wanting him to lean in a few more inches and kiss me, and afraid to take the leap.
“We barely know each other.”
“That’s half the fun, isn’t it?” he argues. “The thrill of the chase and taking the leap to date a total stranger and hope they won’t murder you, but become your entire world?”
I snort. “Is that what dating is to you? Gambling between murder and marriage?”
“If anyone’s stupid enough to check out your ass while we’re here, it might be both.”
I shove his shoulder playfully, grabbing my purse. “You’re not my keeper.”
“Buuuuuullfuckingshit,” he drawls, scowling. “You break it, you buy it. Three fractured ribs means I'm officially your problem now. Hospital said so.”
Rolling my eyes, I open my car door. “You're never going to let that go, are you?”
“Why would I?” he argues. “It was the best day of my life. If you hadn't run me over, I wouldn't have met you”.
My heart swells. This smooth talking son of a bitch will be the death of me.
Swallowing back my fears, I thread my fingers through his. “Come on then, let's see if they have what you're looking for.”