Page 11 of Darkness Rising
I watch him as he strides off into the night just like the others.
A line creases my brows. His odd behavior churns curiosity through me.
Is he jealous? Is that what jealousy looks like?
A swirling calm begins to drift through my mind. It pulls all through my tired body.
His magic.
I turn slowly in his arms until I’m looking up at the glittering stars, struggling to keep my eyes open as I look up at Cameron. His palm settles over my stomach.
“You’re okay,” he says quietly.
My lashes flutter, sleep pulls at my mind.
“What are you?” I mumble.
But my thoughts slip away before he ever replies.
Chapter Seven
Quiet Rage
I wish I could say I dream. I wish my mind gifted me beautiful things to believe in. Only hours of emptiness come. It’s peaceful and nice.
My body jostles awake. A chirping sound filters through my thoughts early the next morning. My eyes open as Nollix kicks hard at Cameron’s leg.
“Wake the fuck up, Thief.”
Three shadows block out the morning sunlight.
It takes me a second to realize my face is buried in Cameron’s soft shirt, my hands pressing against his chest between us.
Quickly, I roll away from him, sitting up before I’m even fully awake.
“We think you’ve overstayed your welcome.” Nollix glares down at Cameron, and I peer up at the three of them and their aggressive behavior.
Cameron sits up slowly, his squinting and tired eyes held on the men of the Wild Hunt. He’s right to be apprehensive. As powerful as I think Cameron is, these three are deadly.
“We made an appointment with a Warlock this morning,” Jeriko says with a smile that makes me think of the devil himself.
“A Warlock?” I stand slowly and my attention settles on Link. He’s the reasonable one.
“Warlocks will be able to break this bond.” He nods to the space between Cameron and I.
A strange feeling of loss fills my chest. It presses in on me until I swallow it down hard.
What if I don’t want the bond broken? What if I like having someone alive to remind me that I too am alive.
My arms fold slowly over my chest as I realize I’m being irrational. I can’t keep this man like a pet.
Even if he is a really good pet.
***
The house ahead of us is small but adorable. Adorable shouldn’t be a word used to describe Warlocks should it?
Tiny blue flowers dot the white picket fence line. The heavy floral smell guides our path as our boots stomp up the sidewalk. It’s the only house in sight. It rests happily atop a sloping hill. Secluded and alone.
