Page 11 of Shadow & Stars
“There should also be some robes for us in 668,” Xavier added, ignoring the fluttery fucker.
“Keep up that sweet talk,” Darcy responded.
Butterfly cleared his throat. “Tell us what you know, Roman. I cannot sense things as clearly as I would like.”
He possessed the ability to sense things, including his own death back in the day.
I sniffed, my nose a little itchy. “You can still sense things?”
“In broken waves, yes. It is not a full magical ability, like Xavier’s heat. But it is strengthened by magic, so is now rendered unreliable.”
Despite wanting to find the nearest pointy thing and drive it into his throat, I explained what brought me back here, laying out all the gory details as I understood them.
“How fascinating,” he answered.
Saying those things out loud made this more real. Going forward, keeping a leash on my thoughts would be the best course of action. No wishing, no wanting. Everyone inside this elevator needed to stay alive.
Temptation stirred within me, soft whispers pushing me to ask for anything and I shall receive.
Go kiss a pylon!
But you can haveanything…
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
“I don’t…” I tried to speak, a spike of panic tightening my chest. “I can’t…”
“Breathe, Roman,” Darcy said gently. “Just breathe.”
I took my bestie’s advice and closed my eyes, drawing in long breaths, trying to empty my mind while driving a stake through temptation’s heart.
Keeping a lid on this wouldn’t last. I had to come up with a better plan or get a handle on this power.
Xavier stared at me, his gaze piercing my soul.
Man, I just wanted to hold him in some cozy nook. Shut the door on everything and be in his arms. Rewind to the sweet moment of our first date in the conservatory, bathing in those happy vibes.
I missed them so damn much.
Margarite spoke up, making me blink out of my dreaminess. “I can do your bidding for you. Once a day. I’m counting down the minutes until I can help you again.”
Whoa. Just whoa. “How are you even alive?”
“Because you killed me. In my death you gave me life in servitude. Strange turn of events, isn’t it?”
Once again, my temples throbbed. “How is that possible?”
She pointed at my chest. “That thing inside you.”
God, I really craved a cup of chamomile tea and a nap.
Butterfly clapped his hands together. “Whatever Una did, she made the device better.”
I wouldn’t say that.
Xavier stared at me, his nostrils flaring. He exuded a tense, frosty energy. A taut rubber band ready to snap and take some eyes out in the process.
“How fascinating,” the fluttery demon added.
