Chapter 13 Allie #2
“I remember you couldn’t name a single constellation.”
“I still can’t. That’s what I have you for.”
He pointed upward. “That’s Orion. The three stars in a row are his belt.”
“Okay, I do know that one. But everyone knows that one.”
“Fine. That cluster there—see it? That’s the Pleiades. The Seven Sisters.”
I squinted. “I see like...four stars.”
“Your mortal eyes are failing you.”
“Rude.”
He laughed softly, and I leaned into him, letting my head rest against his shoulder.
The night was cool but not cold, and his body was solid and familiar beside me.
This was what I needed. Not demon hunting or prophecies or trying to figure out why eight demons had attacked my birthday party. Just this. Just us.
“Do you ever think about what it’ll be like?” I asked quietly. “Years from now, I mean. When I’m older, and you’re...not.”
His arm came around me, pulling me closer. “Sometimes.”
“Does it scare you?”
“Yes.” The word was simple. Honest. “But not enough to make me walk away.”
“Even though I’ll get old? Gray hair, wrinkles, the whole thing?”
“Even then.” He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “You’ll always be beautiful to me, Allie. At seventeen or sixty or a hundred and six.”
“I probably won’t make it to ninety-six, much less a hundred and six. Most humans don’t. And demon hunting isn’t exactly a longevity-friendly profession.”
“Then I’ll enjoy every moment I have with you.” His voice was steady, but I could hear the edge beneath it—the fear he usually kept buried. Because let’s face it, my job was definitely a hardhat kind of gig. Only I was never issued a hardhat.
I tilted my head up to look at him, this immortal being who looked as fragile as the rest of us.
Human. He looked it because that’s what he used to be, and it was sometimes easy to forget that he’d shed his human cloak a long, long time ago.
“I love you,” I said. “You know that, right? That it’s true, and not just pretty words?”
“I know.” He kissed me then, soft and slow, and I let myself sink into it. Let myself forget, just for a moment, about everything waiting for us back at the school.
When we finally pulled apart, the stars had fully emerged, scattered across the sky like diamonds on black velvet. I curled against his side, his arm still around me, and we sat there in the quiet cemetery, watching the universe turn overhead.
“So about that movie,” I said eventually. “The one with...atmosphere.”
I felt him smile against my hair. “Still interested?”
“Maybe.” I traced a pattern on his chest, feeling his stillness beneath my fingers. No heartbeat. No breath. Just Jared, steady and eternal. “We should probably head back before they send a search party.”
“Probably.” He didn’t move.
Neither did I.
The movie could wait. Everything could wait. Right now, I just wanted to stay there, suspended between the earth and the stars, pretending that the world wasn’t about to fall apart around us.
It wouldn’t last. Nothing ever did.
But for now—for this one quiet moment—it was enough.
He squeezed my hand, and we started walking back toward the mansion.
We’d made it maybe halfway up the path when I spotted him—a figure sitting on one of the old stone benches near the cemetery gate, head tilted back, looking up at the sky.
Zane.
“Hey,” I called out as we approached. “Eliza said you were down here.”
He turned, and for just a second—so fast I almost missed it—something like irritation flickered across his face. Then the easy smile slid into place, and he waved us over.
“Couldn’t sleep,” he said. “Figured I’d get some air.”
“Still thinking about the attack?” I asked.
Zane grimaced. “Is that weird? It’s been days, but I can’t get it out of my head. Seeing that true demon.” He shuddered. “I mean, I feel pretty damn powerless against something like that. Like it’s there all the time, right there with me. Hidden and just waiting to pounce.”
“That’s the way of demons. And it’s not weird at all to be thinking about it. But you need to focus on the positive. We got through it, remember?”
“She’s right,” Jared said. “It would be weird if you weren’t still thinking about it. For one thing, you’re new to this life. For another, eight damn demons? They’re not creatures that usually hunt in packs.”
“Seriously scary packs,” Zane said. “I mean, I watch TV, but that was beyond.” He shrugged. “But I guess that’s going to be my new normal.”
“It doesn’t have to be,” I said. “We found you because you fit a profile, but you can opt out.”
He shrugged, then shook his head. “Honestly, I don’t think I can.” He paused for a bit, then rushed on. “I mean, now that I know. Hard to walk away when you know what’s hiding in the dark.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” I said truthfully. And then, because he was finally opening up, I decided to forego a bit of alone time with Jared. “I think you’ll be an asset.”
“Thanks.” He stood, brushing off his jeans. “How’s your dad doing?”
“Better.”
“Glad to hear it.” He started moving past us. “I’ll get out of your way,” he said with a glance between Jared and me that looked a little like a leer, though I was probably making that up. Residual embarrassment stemming from where I hoped this walk with Jared would lead.
I started to tell him he could stay, but he was leaving to give us privacy, and, honestly, that sounded pretty good to me.
“I’m just not sure of him,” Jared said quietly after Zane disappeared up the stone steps toward the mansion.
“Really? Why?”
Jared shrugged. “Can’t put my finger on it.”
I laughed. “Must be a guy thing. I’m pretty sure Sophie and Ana and Mindy are all half in love with him. Oh, and Signora. She always gives him a bigger portion.”
“But not you?”
I met his grin with one of my own, then hooked my arm through his. “I remain immune.”
He laughed, and we were about to start walking again when I noticed the small pile of dirt beside the bench. “Maybe he was smoking,” Jared suggested. “Made himself an emergency ashtray.”
I cringed. “Mom’s going to have a cow. Hunters don’t smoke. Reduces breath capacity.
“Well, don’t say anything to her yet. No point getting her worked up if it turns out a family of moles has moved in.”
“True enough,” I said, though the idea of a mole infestation didn’t make me happy. I loved the colorful flower beds that surrounded the mansion. And, yes, a horde of demons had already destroyed the side garden, but demons I could fight. Moles, though? That sounded like a landscaping nightmare.
And I had enough nightmares to juggle already, thank you very much.