Chapter 8
Lola
“Well, I’ll be damned.”
“Aren’t you already?” I chuckled, happy to just lie on the mat to catch my breath.
“Ha-ha,” Marcus said, in the same position next to me.
Although his tone was sarcastic, a smile played on his face.
Other people were still sparring around us, their whole body sometimes hitting the ground in loud but muffled thuds.
“Where was that fighting spirit when you were attacked a few weeks ago? You’ve got impressive moves. ”
“The issue the last time I was attacked was not my lack of moves. It was that I was so weak I could barely walk straight or see clearly. Not sure I could have done anything even with a weapon of some sort.”
Marcus hummed distractedly as he stared at the ceiling of the building, an obvious addition to what was already there before.
This part of the camp looked more recent, the outside built with similar stones as the second floors of the town center, and inside covered in dry walls and relatively new white paint.
I wondered if this whole circle in which the training center, armory, huge parking garage, and different schools were located was added way after Arc and the Guardians decided to settle here.
Probably.
What use would a sect have of a building like this one? This whole area was a far cry from the City hall, Arc’s house and all the shops on the first floor of the main town area.
“We were so sure you were just—well, completely defenseless.”
I shrugged. “That’s fine by me. No matter what people think, they’ll always attack me when their brain is poked by my pheromones. I always found it easier to get out of the situation when they don’t expect me to fight back.”
“If only your pheromones acting up weren’t an obvious sign you’re getting weaker…” he mused. “How long has it been since the last time you—well, you know.”
My throat bobbed. Considering the barrier was draining me at an insane speed, too long. I’d need to find something—someone soon. The energy I got from both my one on one time with Dimitri and the strange moment with Arc and Carter was wearing thin.
“That bad, huh?” My obvious lack of response was answer enough. He sighed. “Have you considered that maybe—”
“Not sure what you’re about to suggest, but I’d rather you don’t.”
Someone being slammed on the floor next to us almost concealed his annoyed grunt.
“Well, sorry. Just trying to be helpful and ensure the pheromones don’t get out of control in a public place or at our house.
I don’t think I could erase the sight from my mind if I ever see Aymeric or the girls make a move on you.
” Marcus winced, the idea bringing the same kind of grimace to my face.
“You know that you being a demon and all, you’d be the most receptive in this situation,” I pointed out, only half joking.
He pretended to retch on the floor. Well, fuck you too…
“Don’t worry, threats have already been made.”
What? I frowned. “What threats?”
Marcus rolled his eyes, crossing his hands under the back of his head, like we were simply having a casual conversation while tanning at the beach.
“Carter said he’d kill me if I touched you. So trust me when I say, the second I have even the slightest inappropriate thought about you, I’ll call him to come pick you up. I quite enjoy being alive.”
My jaw dropped as a scoff of disbelief breached my throat. He turned his head to face me with an arched eyebrow.
“What? Yeah, I’m your friend. But I also value my life, thank you.”
I couldn’t believe this. How dare he?
“Wait, are you mad at me?”
“W-well, yeah a little!” I stammered.
“Why?” he drawled. “Am I not allowed to look out for my ass while also making sure you’re not a detonating—sex bomb?”
I gasped. “You’re Immortal, you dumbass!”
He leaned closer, whisper-yelling in my ear.
“You and I both know what could happen to me if I make the wrong move. Why do you think both Arc and Kai put you with me? Because I know what awaits my sorry ass if I do something inappropriate. Because they know I’m trustworthy.
So yeah, at the first sign your pheromones become unmanageable, I’m out, Carter’s in.
You’re my friend, and I’d rather it remains that simple. ”
My mouth opened and shut a few times, like some blobfish left out of the water for too long.
Was I still upset? Yes. I didn’t like the idea of Carter making threats about things like that when he’s been clear about where he stood.
But did it make sense? Sure. Marcus had been nothing but respectful on that point, and I understood his fear, especially if he knew what Arc was capable of.
But the thing was, Arc wasn’t here. And I didn’t know if or when he would come back.
I reached my limit.
Not that I was getting tired or sore from all the running and sparing and whatever else Marcus made me do in the last three mornings. No, I started to feel my energy level getting too low. Some heads started to turn when I passed, eyes following me, nostrils flaring.
And yeah, I was also getting annoyed that every training session brought me back to a time where it was Dimitri who taught me how to fight. How to defend myself. How to find the best opportunities to attack when threatened.
Marcus was right; I’d been complacent over the years, counting on my shifting powers more than actual technique and skills. But in my defense, the world had evolved and men got dumber over the centuries.
Good thing my body still remembered the whole year Dimitri had trained me relentlessly before I sold my soul, and the decades that followed.
Muscle memory was definitely a thing.
The knock on my door that morning made me want to die.
“Lola, are you up?” Marcus said through it. “Hurry up, I’m waiting for you downstairs.”
“Can I get a break?” I groaned, hugging my legs tighter against me, my arms feeling numb and limbs trembling from the lack of energy. “I-I don’t feel so good today.”
Marcus remained silent for so long I thought he’d already left, until he spoke again, his voice firm.
“Come downstairs, breakfast is ready.”
My shoulders slumped, defeated. Why did I have to become friends with the most stubborn person in this damned place?
I pushed myself out of bed and braided my hair to hide the tip of my ears.
I didn’t know why I was still doing it…After all, I didn’t mind if Marcus found out.
But the only people who knew about it here were Kai, Arc, and Dimitri.
The more days passed, the dumber I felt about suddenly admitting it.
Maybe I should have told everyone from the start.
Saying it now was only going to make it awkward, right?
No matter that my reasons still felt valid.
The last thing I wanted was people to expect more from me.
Closing my door, I dragged my feet down the stairs to the kitchen where Marcus was waiting for me, his whole arm inside a cereal box. I see we switched from corn flakes to some chocolate thing.
“Can we train somewhere…less crowded?” I asked, letting my ass fall on the stool in front of my scrambled eggs. “I—”
“You’re going back to Arc’s house,” Marcus grumbled, munching on a handful of cereal.
“During last night’s evening shift, three other guards made references to how biteable your ass was and how they wished they were the ones sparring with you but without clothes on.
My ears and mind will never recover from that mental image. ”
His eyes were focused everywhere but on me, his voice strained.
“Oh…” Shit. “You—”
“Yeah.” He sighed as I started fumbling with the food on my plate.
“I’d rather you go for a few days before these thoughts start crossing my mind.
We’re not kicking you out,” he quickly added, looking at what appeared to be a particularly interesting glass of orange juice.
“Once you…do what you need to do, you can come back here. Whether it’s outside with some random human, or—Carter. ”
I knew it was for the best. I could be reasonable. But it still stung. It was exactly why I never managed to keep friends for long. Things always got…complicated.
“Okay.”
I cursed the weak voice that whispered this word, as he finally looked up to stare at me, pity in his eyes.
“Lola…I’m—you know I’m…” He let out another long exhale, shaking his head. “You’re my friend. The last thing I want is for you to start feeling threatened around me. Aymeric would never forgive himself if he was to have inappropriate thoughts too.”
“Yeah. I know.”
“I—Fuck, I’m sorry. We’re still your safe place, you know that? That room upstairs will always be yours. Just—”
“It’s fine, Marcus.” I stood up, my stomach now too knotted to consider eating the breakfast that was probably lovingly prepared for me by Aymeric. “I get it.” And I did. It just didn’t stop all this from being painful. “I’ll go upstairs and pack my bag.”
“Come back, okay?” he said, standing up abruptly. “After you…you know. Just come back.”
I forced a smile and nodded.
Closing my bedroom door softly behind me to make sure I didn’t wake the girls, I looked at the small space.
At the comforter I bought the day before thinking it was time to make my room homier.
At the couple of sage candles that Ann dropped at the Archives for me after my mates went missing, even though our relationship still felt strained.
She said the smell would comfort me in a way.
I never even lit them, but I somehow felt the urge to take them every time I lounged in the living room.
I never called her back to chat like we used to, even though I knew she probably had nothing to do with the damn chip embedded in the guard’s uniforms.
Yeah. Friendship wasn’t my strong suit.