Page 2 of Touched

I want to go today.

“Aeris, don’t go out today.” My head whips, my eyes meeting his.How did he know?“Something is off. Can you not sense it? As your elder brother, I’m telling younotto sneak off to the city. I know you are technically an adult, but you must stay within the colony today.” Cyrus’s voice is intense. Something in my demeanor must have given me away.

I meet his green eyes, not breaking contact. He stares back at me just as intently. “Aeris, give me your word you’ll stay within the wards today.”

I continue to stare, saying nothing.

I cannot give you my word, Cy.

Our word is everything. A Fae cannot lie.

“Aeris…”

Smiling slightly, I quickly reply, “I’ll be careful, Cyrus. I promise.”

He sighs loudly. “I should know better than to even attempt to reason with you.” Standing, he holds out his hand. As I place mine within his larger palm, he pulls me to my feet. Leaning forward, he presses his lips to my forehead before tipping back, rolling onto his heels, and saying, “I should go with you. Make certain you’re safe and smart. But it’s my turn to check the barrier.”

As if he would leave the colony.

Squeezing his hand, I smile once again. “I’ll be fine, Cy. They won’t even know I’m there.”

Another hearty sigh escapes him as he glances down at the book in my other hand. “Make certain you hide that well. And please be careful.” Before I can respond, he waves his hand, raising the thick oak branch over his head as though it’s a feather, and walks out from under the cover of the centuries-old tree.The branch glides back down and settles against the ground, as though it never moved at all.

A short while later, I skirt the edge of the colony, hugging the tree line, taking a quick glance around to make certain no one has noticed me. Seeing no one about, I slip through the glistening wards, unfurl my wings, and take off into the sky.

* * *

The streets in the Quarter are packed with vehicles. This is my fifth time circling several blocks when I see a car’s brake lights come on.

“Yes. Finally! Why the hell are there so many people out and about today? It’s a damn Wednesday afternoon!”

The car backs out, and I notice another driver coming from a connecting street is eyeing the spot, too. I can see on his face that he’s about to gun it. Hitting the gas as the car’s brake lights dim, they start to pull onto the street from the wrong way and I cut the wheel. Hard. I jump into the open spot on the curb. The other driver lays on the horn and flips me off. I see their lips moving furiously, in what I’m certain is very colorful language, as I put my truck in park.

Too bad. I saw it first and I’ve been driving around for half a damn hour already.Besides, it’s a one-way street! All of the French Quarter streets are.

Your dumb ass would get into the spot and not be able to get out.

Probably a fucking tourist. Should have let them park and watched as the rental got towed.

Nah, no time for that shit.

Tipping my nonexistent hat, I nod to the driver as the tires squeal past me. He yells out, “Fuck you, prick,” from their open window.

Definitely a tourist.

It’s hot as balls out here. And it smells just as bad as balls after a heavy workout.

Why the fuck would you have the windows down?

And why do I always have to meet my informants in the Quarter? There’s a whole ass city here. But no, they always want the Quarter.

You’d think they’re asses would prefer more low-key, less high-traffic areas.

A chuckle escapes me as I mutter, “This Louisiana heat isn’t the only thing on the rise. The hotter it gets, the shorter the fuses on the tempers get, too.” Swiping my hand along the back of my neck, I grimace as sweat covers my palm.

The bar is three blocks down and I have to hoof it, in triple-digit temps, while the sun is still blazing. Not that it cools off once the sun goes down. It damn well doesn’t. At midnight, it’s still at least eighty-five degrees with 110% humidity.So, it still feels like it’s ninety-five.

That’s just life in “The Boot” as we natives say. Just Louisiana to everyone else.

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