Chapter 5
Those of usborn post-veil-shattering have been confined to the human sectors all our lives. We don’t know anything different outside of the tall walls that keep us secluded from the supernaturals that took over our world. I’ve caught rare glimpses here and there of what the once-human lands look like now, but those peeks were fleeting. The gates closed far too quickly for me to see more.
Now, though? Trepidation infuses my veins, sending my blood sluicing to my ears.
Axel’s car glides smoothly through the streets of the human sector, working our way toward those gates. And once they close behind us, that’s the end of my human life as I know it. But I really shouldn’t look at it like that, though. From what Neptune’s Lagoon revealed, I never actually was human to begin with.
Which begs the question… Who are my parents? Why didn’t they want me?
I have so many questions tumbling around in my head like the super spin cycle of a washing machine, but where the hell will I actually find the answers?
Since the moment Axel and I climbed into his sports car, neither of us has spoken a word. Part of me believes it’s to help me wrap my head around everything that’s happened today. The other part, though, worries that he might be disgusted with the weakness I’ve shown so far.
Who the hell cries when they find out they have supernatural powers? Me, that’s who. This wasn’t what I wanted for my life, but there’s no changing it now. It’s not like I can go back and beg for a different outcome.
All I can do now is try to make the best of it.
Starting now.
The car slows to a stop, jolting me out of the thoughts swirling around in my head. My spine straightens as I lean forward, watching with rapt fascination as the gates disappear, giving me my first unencumbered view of the world I’ve been irrevocably thrust into.
Back in motion, Axel drives through the gates without stopping to speak to the guards. He’s probably the first person—supernatural or otherwise—I’ve ever seen not stopped by weapons leveled at his head.
Who is this guy?
Someone important, obviously.
My breath catches in my throat as the gate closes behind us, locking away the humans once more, but I can’t tear my eyes away from what’s in front of me to look back.
It’s literally a whole other world.
As far as the eye can see, there are futuristic buildings built with glass and steel, the sun glinting so bright off the silvery metal that my eyes water, but I can’t look away. It’s all just so…beautiful. Many of the structures look to have open areas with balconies hanging over the side, floors and floors above the ground. Supes dart in and out of those spaces, moving with a speed that’s too quick for my eyes to track.
Yikes. That would be one hell of a fall. Thank the Gods I’m not lugging a pair of wings on my back.
Wait. I don’t have wings. Right? If I did, I would know. Right? I shimmy in my seat, rubbing my back against the expensive leather, feeling for anything amiss. Right. I’ll go with I don’t have any until proven otherwise. Axel’s smooth chuckle slides over my skin like the finest silk, but otherwise, he doesn’t comment about my antics.
Interspersed with the towering establishments are imposing trees, most of them far larger than any I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. Magic has to be involved—that’s the only way to explain it. Most of the trees appear to be hollowed out and used as businesses or residences.
But there’s one thing that catches my eye that I can’t seem to look away from. Everywhere I gaze, there are supernaturals in their true form. Wings, claws, fur, different skin tones, and more. There’s no one they need to hide from, so they can be themselves. And I can’t fault them for that. I would hate to be anyone other than myself.
Tears once again well in my eyes at that thought, and I close them, willing them not to fall. I don’t even know who I am anymore. One minute, I was Bailey Matthews, a twenty-one-year-old human. Now, I’m just a giant freaking question mark.
A chill sweeps across my skin as fingers interlace with mine. Opening my eyes, I look down, watching as Axel’s thumb lightly brushes the top of my hand. I lose myself to the soft motions, forgetting about my upside-down world, if only for a little while.
The car rolls to a stop, and without letting go of my hand, Axel throws the car in park and shuts it off. The smooth, rumbling vibrations die out, leaving me tense once more. Axel must feel the difference as he gives my hand a quick squeeze before speaking. “I know this is a shock to you, Bailey. But I can promise you that it’ll get easier with time.”
I snort a disbelieving laugh but don’t reply as one of the tears I’ve been trying to hold back finally breaks free, tracking down my cheek. Axel leans over and dashes it away, leaving a cold spot behind.
“I know you might not believe it now, Bailey, as all of this is new to you,” his polished voice rumbles, that thumb of his sweeping across my hand again. “But I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you’re okay.”
“Why me?” I croak, more tears falling, leaving wetness in their wake.
“Because you’re special, cor meum. More than you even realize.” His touch disappears, and I choke back a whimper at the loss. A click is loud in the silence of the car until the belt holding me to the seat disappears, and then I’m almost floating as Axel pulls me onto his lap. His cool hands cup my face, dashing away more tears as he tilts my watery gaze to his blood-red one. “One day at a time. That’s how we will do this. Okay?”
My lack of reply speaks volumes as to how I feel about that. While his comfort is doing wonders for my frazzled state, a voice in the back of my mind whispers that he’s a supernatural and could be easily lying to me. Tracking my eyes over his features, I look for any outward hint of his words ringing false, but there’s nothing.
Either he’s telling the truth, or he has one hell of a poker face.
Only time will tell.
He gives my head a little shake, pulling me out of my thoughts. “This is the point where you say, ‘Okay, Axel. Anything for you.’” A giggle escapes before I can stop it at the audacity of this man. “Much better. I thought you went comatose on me for a minute.”
Needing to distract myself from the handsome vampire whose lap I’m currently sitting on—with a hardness that’s poking me, tempting me to wiggle around—I do what I do best.
I change the subject.
“So, where are we?”
A flash of hurt is there and gone before I can even blink, but instead of drawing attention to it, he clears his throat, his hands falling away from my face. “We’re at my office. There are a few things we need to go over before I take you to Stonewell Academy. I also need to call Jasper, the headmaster, and update him so he can be prepared for our arrival.”
That sounds easy enough, but I’m still lost as to what we need to go over first. Besides the answer to the one question I am dying to know.
What the hell am I?
One would think he’d have told me by now, but it’s not a subject we’ve broached yet. Making me think it’s not something good. Though I haven’t asked yet either, more out of fear than anything else.
“All right, let’s do this. The faster I get to the academy, the sooner I can sleep for a week.”
His chuckle, as smooth as honey, precedes the driver’s side door of his car opening. Before I can clamber out of the vehicle, he stops me. “I need you to do me a favor before we go in there.” A pair of dark sunglasses appears in his hand, almost like he plucked them out of thin air. “I know you don’t understand yet, but I need you to wear these until we get to my office and put your hood up.”
Oookkkayyyyy. Cryptic much?
Or maybe he’s ashamed of my appearance and doesn’t want anyone to associate me with him.
Damn, doesn’t that make a girl feel like shit.
“I’ll explain why once we’re behind closed doors.” He must see all the horrible ideas I’m coming up with as to why because he continues before I can retort. “You may not believe it, but it’s for your own protection. Again, this is something you will learn once we get upstairs.”
“Fine,” I mutter, snatching the stupid glasses and putting them on. Before tossing my hood up, I pull my messy bun free, white locks tumbling down around my shoulders. Once the hood is up and over my head, I gather the rest of my hair and tuck it inside, concealing it as much as possible. “Well?” Yep. My answers are short once again because, at this point, I’m frustrated as fuck.
All I want are answers and a bed. Is that too much to ask for?
When I shift my gaze back to him, his lips are tipped up in a smirk that shouldn’t be sexy. Heat pools in my core, and I shift in my position, clenching my thighs for friction.
A groan that almost sounds like the growl of a predator who’s caught their prey rumbles through his lithe frame, sending a jolt of heat licking up my spine. A wicked fang peeks from between his plump lips, enticing me to close the distance between us. To know what it’s like to kiss a vampire.
He moves first, though, erasing the minuscule space between us, but that movement is enough to knock me out of the trance those sinful lips put me in. I scramble backward, right out the open car door, and land on my ass with a pitiful cry.
Axel stares down at me in wide-eyed shock, his hands hovering like he meant to catch me but couldn’t. “Shit, Bailey, are you okay?”
Smooth, Bailey. Really fucking smooth.
With as much grace as I can muster, I climb to my feet, brushing off the butt of my joggers, hoping like hell I didn’t ruin them. Not what I need today. Everything else is already ruined. I don’t need my favorite outfit to be on top of it all, too.
“Yep. We’re go—I’m good! I’m good. Let’s get this show on the road.” I clap my hands in a chop-chop motion, belatedly realizing that I’m ordering around a freaking predator. My hands quickly drop, and I shove them in my pockets, rocking on my heels.
It’s official. I’m going to fucking die. My self-preservation skills suck fucking balls.