Chapter 7 Reese
REESE
Breaking News! Empress seen out and about with a new otherworldly lover? No statement from her agent makes us think this might be the real deal.
"Do you think you can convince your shadows not to shroud her this time?" Mauve asks, her lips pressed tight as she glares at Zill.
It's kind of ridiculous that she's shown him more attention in the short time he's been here than she normally gives me in a whole year of having her as my agent.
Sure, he's her son, but it's still strange to witness.
Stranger still is that her coldness seems to be a genuine trait of hers and not one solely used for work.
Zill looks at me, sitting next to him in the backseat of the transport. We were followed from the restaurant. Of course, we were. And now that we've been stopped for more than a few minutes at the public parking for the beach, the vultures have all come out.
I've had more skin showing at my shows, but this feels more intimate than all of that, more revealing.
The sundress I'm wearing isn't even short, and the bikini underneath won't get any time in the sun if I have anything to say about it.
Zill looks unhappy, but he's in attire more fit for a bodyguard.
It's here at the beach that we need to make it clear we're an item. And that's not going to happen if he keeps just glaring and snarling at everyone.
"You can do it," I tell him, smiling softly.
His fingers are still linked in mine, a residual from when we got back in the transport after we finished lunch.
He was supposed to keep his shadows under control when we left the restaurant, so there could be a few pictures that show us out together.
It went about as well as entering the restaurant.
No, it was actually worse because Zill at least looked happy when he helped me out of the transport.
Leaving the restaurant, he looked like he wanted to murder anyone who might be outside at the same time we were.
It was actually impressive how intimidating he could look, especially since I'm so used to him blushing and biting back smiles. I thought I switched dramatically, but Zill could give me a run for my money with his different sides.
He opens his mouth to ask something before cutting a look at his mother, his lips pressing back together as he swallows hard.
"Just spit it out," Mauve says. "Whatever it is, it's not going to scandalize anyone in this transport. Have you heard what the girl sings about?"
"Grown woman," I cut in.
Mauve suppresses her smile about as well as her son does when he attempts it. "Have you heard what this grown woman sings about?"
I'm actually curious about that as well. Does Zill know anything about me besides what Mauve told him when she hired him to watch me? I wouldn't expect him to know anything about me. He's not someone who was in my primary listener demographics.
No, that was firmly in the women aged 18-32. There were pockets of men, of course, but for as risqué as what I sang about and looked like, it was women who flocked to my music.
That didn't stop some guys from being creepy about me, though. As far as I'm aware, they weren't big listeners. They just enjoyed reducing me to an object, but that would've happened to some extent even if I covered my body head to toe in baggy clothing.
Zill doesn't answer Mauve about whether he's heard any of my music before, but he does voice what was on his mind earlier. He turns to me, his voice hushed, though it's not like Mauve isn't right there listening in. "Are you planning on taking off the dress?"
"Zill, I raised you better than to tell a woman what she can and can't wear," Mauve snaps with more heat than I expect from someone as cold as her.
"I didn't tell her what to wear." Zill rubs his temples in frustration. "They're going to freak out if people are taking pictures of her like that, though."
"It's none of your shadows' business."
"I know that, but you try talking sense into them."
I cut in on the two of them arguing, since it's my decision about how much of my body I do or don't show. "I was planning on keeping the dress on."
I turn to face Mauve, not even thinking the next words out of my mouth would ever, ever be uttered, but lots of things have changed recently, what's one more? "As fake as this relationship is, please refrain from intruding on it."
Mauve's brows rise, or attempt to, as she blinks a few times.
She looks genuinely surprised by my words, but not at all like she's upset, which is good considering I don't want to upset her.
She's always been on my side, and I don't want that to change just because she's invested in both my safety and her son's life.
Zill snorts, making light of the situation. "Bet dad's laughing, too."
"Leave your father out of this," Mauve snaps at Zill, but there's no heat in her tone. When she looks back at me, she's back to her cool and collected demeanor. "You're right. I'll keep my thoughts to myself."
"Good," I say, smiling at the two of them before throwing my door open. "Now let's see if you can get your shadows to behave," I tell Zill with a wiggle of my brows before getting out of the transport.
I hear him call my name as I close the door, but he's out and at my side before I'm even two parking spots away.
"Wicked thing," Zill whispers in my ear as he wraps an arm around my waist, his shadows dripping from his arm and across my body as though they belong there.
I turn to look up at him, a genuine smile crossing my lips as I look at him, his head tilting in my direction.
We stand like that for a moment, and if I were to stand on my toes, I could reach his lips with mine.
His smile softens, his eyes dropping to my lips as though he's having the same thought.
I swallow hard, eyes fluttering closed, but when I lean into him, his entire body stiffens.
My eyes shoot open, and I look to where Zill is glaring over my head, to where I'm sure a group of paparazzi has congregated.
His shadows haven't covered me in a smoky curtain, so he's at least trying to play by the rules.
I lift higher on my toes, nuzzling against his neck. "I want to walk on the beach. Just ten minutes and we can leave."
Zill's arm wraps me tighter to him, tucking me against his body as his lips find the crown of my head. It's a quick gesture, one I'm pretending is for my comfort and not for the cameras that I'm sure are capturing this whole thing.
"Ten minutes," he relents, his hold on me softening enough that I can pull away from him.
His shadows, which I didn't realize could make themselves more solid, wrap around my waist and allow me approximately six inches of distance from Zill before I'm stopped as though a rope is tied around my torso.
I turn to face him, my eyes wide, a smile splitting my lips into what I'm sure could almost be an unhinged smile. "That's not very fair."
Zill tilts his head to the side, his eyes narrowing a fraction. "Who said anything about fair?"
Once he's not looking at the paparazzi, his demeanor softens, but he still looks more on edge than I want him to. It makes sense that he'd be on edge, especially if he were my security or just an overly protective boyfriend.
He steps up to me again, arm banding back around my hip, but his shadows stay squeezed tight around my midsection, almost like a security blanket. Some of them drift downward, but they move in an almost cyclical way of being around me, falling, drifting right back up.
I need to ask Zill how they do that so I don't look so surprised when they do something. If we've been together for any length of time, especially if I'm pretending to be bonded to him, I should know a lot more about him and his species than I do. I'll have to remedy that.
"I'm thinking we walk down by the water, and then kiss," I tell Zill as the wind blows some of my hair into my face. I don't see his reaction as I push it back.
"You're the lead," he reminds me, his voice gentle.
My sandals sink into the sand a little as we walk further along the coast. I take us at more of an angle, wanting to know just how much of my lead he's willing to take.
He doesn't say anything about not making a beeline for the water.
Doesn't even complain when we walk further down enough that I can't even see the transport anymore.
There are people on the beach, ones just here to have a fun family outing or friends lying out on towels together.
It's nice just to be out and about, and with Zill at my side, I feel safe enough to pretend that there's no one with cameras following us or recording us.
I can pretend we're just two normal people.
"It's a nice day," I say, closing my eyes and turning my face to the sun, feeling its warmth against me. When I open them again, Zill is looking at me, an unreadable expression on his face. "What?"
He shakes his head, that little smile he's constantly suppressing threatening to make an appearance. "Nothing, just we can stay out for longer than ten minutes, Reese."
"I don't want to make you uncomfortable," I tell him.
His smile dims slightly. "I'm not uncomfortable. And even if I were, I'm here for your safety, not to hinder what you want to do."
"What if I wanted to spend hours out here?" I ask, wondering how much he's willing to put up with.
He leans closer to me, his blue eyes glowing something fierce even in the brightness of the day.
"How many times do I need to tell you that I would do anything for you?
" His voice is teasing, but our footsteps slow, his face still close to mine, and this time, there's no stopping the pull I feel toward him.