Page 13 of Touched

And if I am just having a complete mental breakdown, I can do it in the privacy of my own damn home.

She takes a small step back, putting distance between us. “I’m not sure that’s a wise idea.”

“You would be perfectly safe. I won’t touch you. I promise,” I reassure her.

A giggle escapes her, and I’m taken aback as warmth floods my stomach at the sound. She quips, “Oh, it’s notyouhurtingmethat I’m worried about. You should be more concerned about what I could do to you.”

I lift my brows.

What? What does that mean?

Is she hitting on me, or warning me about something?

Her lips purse before she sighs. “There’s so much you don’t know,” she whispers. “If I were to fill you in, there would be no going back… and that’s what should concern you.”

Is she trying to look out for me?

That’s genuine, and not something you see in many people these days. My eyes narrow on her as I reply, “I might shock you with the things I’ve had to witness as a police officer and detective. I can handle whatever it is you can dish out.”

She lifts her brows and tilts her head. “I very seriously doubt you’ve ever faced anything like this,” she says. Before sighing and blurting out, “Meet me by the oak trees, behind Jackson Square, tomorrow afternoon. If you can find me, I’ll share my secret with you.”

I look at my feet for a moment and consider her offer.

What could she tell me that I’ve never seen or heard?

And if I can find her?

What the hell?

My phone trills in my pants pocket, causing me to jump with a start.

Looking down and seeing my lieutenant’s name, I pull it out quickly and answer.

Shit! I never called him back!

“LeBlanc.” I look up, intending to ask her to wait, but she’s gone. Whirling around, I rake my eyes over the entirety of the property. I cannot spot her anywhere. Turning completely around, making a circle, I look again. Nothing. She’s managed to just… vanish. A burst of air swirls around my face and neck, and I recognize Aeris’s scent within it.

“You left me hanging, LeBlanc! We need you back at the station. Now!” my lieutenant barks.

“Got it,” I retort and disconnect the call. Glancing around the area once more and seeing absolutely no sign of Aeris, or proof that she was ever really here, I let out a long sigh and reach for the back of my neck, squeezing it and sigh with frustration.

Where the hell did she go?

Was she ever even here?

I losing my damn mind…

This fucking case has finally done it…

My heart hammers within my chest as I carefully slip past the wards and re-enter Laric.

I’ve never interacted with a human before. Never, not once, in my time traveling in their world has anyone ever been able to see me. I always thought I would remain invisible to humans unless I removed my Glamor. That is how it’s supposed to be.

I should be protected… invisible to humans. So how is it that Callum could see me? Not just see me, but hit me with his vehicle? I’ve flown around the streets of New Orleans many times, and never has any human from their world been able to touch me.I was always just an observer.

There must be something about him… Something that makes him different from the other humans. There must be an explanation for him being able to see me.

I bumped into him. I felt a jolt and when he turned… he saw me. He hadn’t seen me before that. I’m certain of it. He looked right at me. And he did not see me. I saw the confusion in his beautiful eyes.

---