Page 99 of Touched

"I know your mind's not fully here," he starts, his voice low. "The situation at the port, the bodies here… it's a mess, and it's personal for you. I get that. But I need you focused. We can't afford any slip-ups."

I nod, understanding the weight of his words. "I'm on it, LT. My personal concerns won't interfere."

Lies. I’m straight-up lying to a man I respect.

He studies me, his eyes moving over my face though he never breaks eye contact. He seems to be weighing my conviction.

I ensure my expression remains composed. There's a storm of emotions brewing within me, but I keep them securely locked away. It's crucial to present a façade of calm and control in moments like these, especially under the scrutiny of my superior.

"Good," he finally says. "Because we're sailing into uncharted waters here. Whatever's going on, it's bigger than the usual turf wars or smuggling rings. And I can’t shake my gut feeling that you're right at the heart of it." His weirdly light eyes lock on me.

A frown involuntarily crosses my features, betraying a flicker of my inner turmoil before I can rein it in

The implication of his words sends a shiver down my spine.

He's right.

I am at the heart of it.

He also knows I’m hiding something.

With the Dark Fae in the mix, this is no ordinary criminal investigation. It's a battle against forces humans don't even believe exist.

My frown deepens.

When did I stop thinking of myself as human?

My world is spinning with relentless change, each moment ushering in something new and unforeseen. First, there was Aeris, tumbling into my life as if by fate, and then, the revelation of my Sylph lineage, opening doors to realities I never imagined. And now, I stand at the precipice of God knows what else. Each day unwrapping another layer of this ever-evolving mystery.

Lieutenant Antoine sighs, his tone softening slightly as he says, "Make sure you keep yourself safe, LeBlanc. We can't afford to lose one of our best, son."

Giving him a tight smile, I nod, appreciating his concern. "Will do, LT."

"I'll give you a ride back to the station," he offers, already turning toward his car.

I shake my head. "Actually, I'd prefer to walk a bit. If you don't mind."

He pauses, studying me for another moment with his discerning gaze. After a brief silence, he gives a curt nod. "All right. But don't go MIA on us again, LeBlanc."

A small smile tugs at the corner of my mouth, but I choose to remain silent, acknowledging his concern with a respectful nod.

As he walks away, I find myself staring off, into the night. The city might be humming with life, but beneath its vibrant surface lies a coiled snake waiting to strike.

And somewhere out there, in the heart of the bayou, is Aeris, safely tucked away in the Preserve. I can only hope that our bond is strong enough to keep her that way until I can return to her side.

With a deep breath, I steel myself for the tasks ahead. There's much to do, and time is a luxury we don't have. The night is deepening, and with it, the sense of impending confrontation grows stronger. I must be ready for whatever lies ahead.

I pause, focusing my thoughts, reaching out across the distance. "Aeris," I whisper into the night, hoping that somehow, someway, our bond is strong enough to connect us.

Ispend the night attempting to clean up my apartment. The whole place is trashed.

Dark, coarse fur dangles from the shards of glass near the busted window. I have no idea how to explain that. Splatters of blood trail through the apartment, coating the floor, too. The dark, almost black, liquid looks freaky and ominous. I meticulously work to remove the stains from the hardwood and get some sort semblance of order back to the place.

Once this is over, I don’t know where I’ll be, but I certainly can’t stay here.

How did my landlord miss this shit? No one called him? No one heard the commotion from the altercation the other night? I suppose I’m lucky I’m the only tenant in the building and the lower floor is used as storage for some medical company based in Midcity.

The Trahans would have certainly murdered anyone who came along to see what was happening had I had the misfortune of having neighbors.

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