CHAPTER 2 #4
“It’s nothing, just a scratch,” I assured him as his dark brows pinched with concern.
I watched as he toyed with the metal ring in his bottom lip with his tongue, finding myself mesmerized by the sight.
Thoroughly distracted, I didn’t even notice as he unwrapped the bandage to stare at the slice along my palm.
It was deeper than I recalled, already red and puffy along the edges.
He wore a complicated expression as he eyed it, and I suddenly felt...
guilty. Rubbing the back of my neck with my free hand, I added, “I can fix it. Just let me...”
I reached out to pluck a delicate little flower from the bundle of chamomile I had on the center of the table.
Twirling it between my thumb and forefinger, its white petals shimmered before the plant wilted in my grasp.
My magic soaked up the flower’s life, pouring it directly into my palm as it tingled with warmth.
When it was completely withered, I set the crunchy brown stem down.
I turned my gaze up just in time to catch his eyes widen with wonder as he watched the wound knit itself back together before healing entirely.
“See?” I flexed my hand where it still sat resting in his. “All better.”
A small, shy smile curled at the corners of his lips. “Better,” he said with a deep voice like silk.
My cheeks heated and I had to force myself to look away. I glanced back to my phone and it had me wondering about Cam’s.
I made a mental note to ask Alice about his possessions and if they’d survived his accident.
It probably wouldn’t be a good idea to give him his phone though, what with him being dead and all.
What if someone from his past came calling?
Then they would find out what I had done and turn me in to the Association of Arcane Studies and I’d be branded a dark mage.
Or worse, the Briarwood Police Department would find me.
Nope. No way. I wouldn’t survive prison. I just knew it.
Apparently, I had been making a face, because Cam released my hand and reached out to poke my cheek.
“Are you... alright, Victor?” he asked me gently, expression soft.
I practically melted.
“Totally. Right as rain.” I cleared my throat, feeling my cheeks grow even warmer with that unexpected flush. So, as per usual, I deflected, “What I want to know is how you’re feeling. Any strange side effects? Any weird cravings for brains?”
He didn’t appear convinced but also didn’t object when I changed the subject. He even huffed with what I swore was amusement at my lame attempt at a joke.
“I feel,” he flexed his hands in front of him, “heavy.” He then proceeded to poke at his buff chest and muscled abdomen.
I chuckled a laugh, “Yeah big boy, you’re heavy alright. Trust me. But, other than that.”
He seemed to think seriously for several seconds before deciding on what to say, then, “I feel alive.”
I gave him a beaming smile, “That was the goal.” Then my grin wavered as I nervously tapped my finger on the table.
“Well, there is one thing you, uh, kind of need to know.” His eyes blinked slowly but no longer discordantly – progress – as he waited patiently for me to explain.
I wondered if his eager obedience was a natural trait or if it was a side effect of coming back from the dead.
“Okay, so, here’s the thing. What I did to bring you back was...
” I couldn’t exactly tell him it was illegal, what if he thought I was crazy?
I needed him to like me, not make him think I was some deranged criminal or mage-gone-mad.
“Well, let’s just say we can’t tell anyone that I brought you back to life, okay?
I’ll get into,” I cleared my throat, “a lot of trouble if anyone finds out.”
He nodded then I proceeded to down coffee like my life depended on it.
Which, I mean… it did. Okay, maybe that was a touch dramatic.
But I was a criminal now, damnit. I was basically running on fumes and needed to remain alert if I wanted to get us home in one piece from what I had already planned for the day.
I looked back at Cam to catch him watching me set my “I Give the Best Boo Jobs” coffee mug with its cartoon ghost on it down.
I felt bad about taking him out dressed like that, but I really needed to get him some stuff.
Like his own clothes, toiletries, any foods he liked...
I couldn’t very well go by myself and leave him on his own yet.
What if something had gone wrong with the resurrection spell and he, like...
exploded or something? I had a fixation on things exploding, but with good reason.
Or... What if he wandered off and someone found him. I was more worried about what they would do to him than what he would do to them, though. This guy was a freaking puppy.
A giant puppy who looked like he could kick some serious ass with his muscles, tattoos, piercings, and scars. Decision made, I smiled up at him causing him to tilt his head in that curious way of his as I cheerfully announced, “We’re going shopping!”