CHAPTER 8
Frankie
“Hey bighead, pass the syrup.” Jess holds her palm out, impatiently flapping her fingers.
“That’s no way to talk to your elders.” Ronin slides the bottle further away.
Sunday mornings have been like this every week since we decided to make it a thing.
Those two bickering back and forth, Zarreth refilling my coffee like the enabler he is.
But this morning is different. I’m lighter, steadier, almost sane…
which is kind of disturbing considering what we did last night.
“You’re such a shit.” She stands to grab the syrup, nabbing two pieces of bacon as she drops back into her seat.
He swats at her hand “Hey! Not the bacon!” Technically, grown demons don’t need food, but spending so much time in the Mortal Realm has turned him into an addict.
“That’s it! I’m feeding you to the hellhounds as soon as we’re in the Dark Realm,” he teases, shielding his plate in case she steals again.
“Don’t remind me.” Her body deflates, letting her forehead fall into her palm. “Is there at least electricity and running water there?”
A chuckle escapes Zarreth’s lips while he leans against the counter. Ronin and I share a look, silently arguing over who’s going to break the news. True to form, he speaks up, unable to resist teasing her. “Nope. Our princess will have to rough it.”
Zarreth flips the last pancake on the plate and sets it on the table with the others. “It’s better than leaving you here, unprotected, while Dante’s on the loose. Fairhaven may not be luxurious, but their walls and warriors offer better protection than this house will.”
“I was just curious; obviously I can rough it!” When she sees the doubt on our faces she adds, “Seriously. I’ll prove it. Let’s go camping tonight for Nate’s birthday.”
I push past the sound of his name. He always loved the outdoors, but Jess on the other hand… “You hate camping. You always go home at night and return freshly showered in the morning with a face full of makeup.”
She pushes her chair back, reaching for the empty plates. “I don’t hate it, as long as I don’t have to sleep on the ground, or wear those floppy fishing hats you love so much.”
I make my way to the sink and start running water. The boys made breakfast this morning, so cleanup is ours. “Maybe we can go to Beauty Lake. Nate loved it there. Also, you’re in luck because, somehow, my awesome fishing hats have mysteriously disappeared.”
She gives me a guilty look. “Really? That’s so weird,” she says, feigning innocence.
I roll my eyes and try to find an excuse for the guys to give us a moment of privacy. I understand their need to protect us, but I need some girl time. “Hey, would you want to search the shed for camping gear?”
Zarreth steps behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Sure…” He drops his voice, leaning in. “Maybe I’ll find something to restrain you with later.”
“Zarreth!” I admonish, playfully flicking soapy water at him.
As soon as the boys leave, Jess hops on the counter. “You two have been flirting all morning. Did you guys try that tantric thing I told you about?”
My cheeks burn as I hold back a smile. “Not exactly.” I settle onto the counter across from her and tell her everything. Well, almost everything. I leave out how crazy I was when I killed Cronus…and the cutting.
“Oh my God! My innocent bestie is a freak!” She squeals with genuine excitement. “It makes sense, though. You’ve been fighting your emotions for so long, trying so hard to keep them bottled up. It was only a matter of time before you lost control. But you didn’t. You just handed it over instead.”
“It felt so good to let go. I know I have a long way before I can safely wield my magic, but last night was a huge step.”
“It totally was. Have you seen Grandpa G? He looks so much perkier this morning.”
She’s right. His leaves are no longer drooping, and his color looks a little more saturated. For the first time in a long time, I’m hopeful. Maybe I didn’t lose my light magic after all. Maybe it’s just buried under all my grief.
My feet dangle above the water while I cast my line. The sun hangs low in the sky, spilling a warm glow over the lake. Beside me on the old, weathered dock, Jess holds her rod, waiting for a bite.
“We better catch something or we’ll never hear the end of it,” I joke, glancing sideways at her.
The concentration on her face breaks when she scoffs, “I can already hear Ronin mocking us.” She deepens her voice to mimic his. “I’m a girl, I don’t need help fishing.”
“Not bad.” His voice makes me jump. They must’ve finished setting up the tents already. He’s so quiet, I didn’t hear him coming. “But next time you need to add some more grit. I’ve been told my voice is quite smoldering.”
“Ha, the only thing smoldering on you is your ego.” I duck when he ruffs up my hair, then sits on the other side of Jess.
Zarreth squats next to me. “Come. I have a surprise for you.”
“You do?” I kind of like the excitement in my voice. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this good. I reel in my line, handing my fishing pole to Ronin. “Here, maybe you’ll have better luck than me.”
He eyes the fishing pole, doubt flickering across his face. He quickly drops to his stomach, staring at the shimmering surface.
A flash of silver darts by and his hand is in the water so fast I didn’t even see him move. He pulls it out with a wriggling fish between his fingers like it was nothing. It flops against his palm as he flashes us a cocky grin. “I’ve always been good with my fingers.”
I make a fake puking noise. “Gross, I don’t want to think about what you do with your fingers.”
Jess laughs and says, “Dammit, I can’t let you beat me. I’m trying new bait.” She reels in her line and reaches for the cup of worms we bought on our way here.
I grab my hoodie from the dock and pull it on. Zarreth laces his fingers through mine and leads me down an overgrown path where trees crowd close to the water. Did he actually find something to restrain me with? Rope, maybe? “Do you really have a surprise, or are you just trying to get me alone?”
He looks down at me, a big grin on his face. “A guy can’t even do something nice for his mate without her mind going in the gutter,” he teases.
We walk until my favorite stump by the lake comes into view, the one that once held the tire swing Nate and I used to launch ourselves from into the water. I open my mouth to ask how he knew about this when it hits me. Of course he knows. He followed me out here once when he was a crazed stalker.
A new tire swing hangs from a tree branch nearby, and I instinctively rub the matching tattoo on my wrist. Tears threaten to roll down my cheek. “You did this?”
Nodding his head, he says, “I know it’s not the same one you and Nate had when you were kids, but I wanted to do something special for you. Give you a place to sit when you’re out here.”
I run my fingers over the swing. It’s more than just rope and rubber. It’s a sanctuary, a place to go when I need to feel close to Nate. Like the sanctuary he gave me last night, only that one was darker, much darker.
My fingers shake while I cup his face. “Thank you. Not only for this, but for everything, for being mine.”
He leans in, his voice steady. “You don’t have to thank me, Melita. I’d give you anything.”
Our lips hover close when Jess’ voice rings out, ruining the moment. “Zarreth! We need a fire!”
He groans, dropping his forehead to mine. “Your friend really does have a knack for ruining the moment.”
“Tell me about it.” I pull back, looking him in the eyes. “You go ahead. I need a moment alone, anyway.”
I watch him struggle between granting my wish and hauling me back with him to keep me safe. “Don’t take too long,” he finally says, pressing a kiss to my head.
After he leaves, I make my way back to the stump belonging to Nate and me.
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out an old rabbit’s foot I found at one of those fake antique shops.
Poor bunny. But if we’d found this as kids, we would’ve thought it carried all the luck in the world.
It’d definitely be one of the better birthday presents, that’s for sure.
Way better than the box of condoms I unknowingly gave him when he turned eleven.
I smile when his face flashes through my mind, mouth hanging wide open when he realized what they were.
I was nine and thought they were balloons.
I was convinced I hit the jackpot—magnum meant they were really big ones, right?
Between the balloons and the package of swiss cake rolls, it felt like an actual birthday party.
“Frankieeee!” A voice rings through the trees, pulling me back to myself.
I blink hard and look around. What the hell?
I’m standing in the middle of the woods.
The lake is nowhere in sight. My vision swims, my cheeks are wet.
What happened? I was just on the stump. And where the hell is the rabbit’s foot?
“Frankie, Where are you?” Jess’ voice is urgent, scared.
“I’m here!” I yell, the sound carrying through the trees as I move toward their voices. “I’m over…”
Zarreth instantly appears by my side and pulls me to him. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” The panic in his voice makes me wonder how long I was gone.
“I’m fine. A little confused, but not hurt.”
He pulls back, keeping me at arm’s length while he looks me over, making sure I’m really okay. “What happened?”
I shake my head, still a little disoriented. “One minute I was thinking about my brother, and the next I heard you guys calling my name. I don’t remember anything."
I’m grateful when he picks me up and burrows his head in my neck. I can’t handle seeing the fear on his face any longer. “For twelve fucking minutes, I couldn’t find you.” His voice cracks. “I’m never letting you out of my sight again. I…I thought…fuck!”
“Shh.” I squeeze him to me as close as possible, but it’s not enough. “I’m here. I’m safe.”
“Do you smell that?” Ronin asks, appearing out of nowhere, setting Jess down in the cloud of smoke next to him.
Zarreth pulls back, eyes black with rage. “Yeah, smells like a shifter.”