Page 56 of To Crave Darkly
I watched him attempt to melt into the crowd, but he failed miserably. He drew attention from the women around him and I couldn’t blame them. He was hot. But I had decided I wasn’t going there. I was already tangled with Jasper and Orion, adding someone else to this mess had disaster written all over it.
I tore my gaze away from Fenris and wandered deeper into the club. Bodies swayed to the beat of the music, men and women grinding their bodies together in a sensual dance of pleasure. I found a booth at the far end and took a seat, my eyes finding Fenris at the bar. As if sensing my gaze, he looked across at me, and he flashed me a grin before turning back to the bartender to grab the drinks.
I scanned the crowd again and my eyes snagged on some movement in the corner at the back of the club. Panic rushed through me but as the strobe lights flashed, I saw it was just two people making out. I was getting twitchy and every little thing was starting to spook me. This whole prophecy thing had really knocked me for six. I didn’t know what was right anymore. Iwantedto do the right thing, but I wasn’t sure I had the stomach for it. Martha had raised me to believe that doing right in the face of all the odds was still the right thing to do, no matter how hard it was. But if the cost of doing the right thing was my life, did I really want to pay the price?
For the first time in my life I felt deeply and morally conflicted. I knew I had a decision to make but it could wait. Fenris was here with drinks, and I was going to get shit-faced. I needed to forget about the world for a few moments and Fenris seemed perfectly happy to aid me in that venture.
Half a bottle of whiskey later, and I was barely tipsy.
What the fuck was that about?
“Fenris, I should be halfway to the floor now. Why am I not even feeling the effect of this?”
“It’ll be your demon. Supes don’t feel the effect of alcohol like humans.”
That sucked. The whole point of drinking alcohol was to help me forget and it was barely taking the edge off.
“I wanted to forget everything for a while. I wanted to just pretend I was normal, just for a minute.”
His shoulders rose and fell as he took a deep breath. “I know. But you’re part of something bigger now. You can’t just walk away from it.”
Anger flickered to life in my chest. “I know that and I’m trying. But I’ve got a demon who is lashing out, magic I can’t access, and a connection to someone who holds my life in their hands. It’s not exactly a walk in the fucking park.”
“Lori, we are trying to figure it out. We are trying to help, but you’re the one who has to get on board.”
Annoyance flared through me. “Don’t you think I have been trying to do that?”
“Have you? Have you really been putting your all into it?”
I flinched backwards. His words felt like a slap in the face.
“Lori, I didn’t mean that.”
“Then what did you mean?” I snapped.
“I meant thatyouhave to want to be part of this and untilyouaccept that there is no going home you will never be able to be the person you were meant to be.”
“I never asked for this! I wasn’t given a choice!” Anger burned through me and my fists clenched on the table. I’d had enough of this. I was going home. “Fuck you, Fenris.”
I climbed out the booth and strode out the club. I could hear Fenris calling my name behind me, but I didn’t care. Forget the prophecy. Forget the Devil. Forget the fucking Sin Reaper. This was a huge fucking mistake and I needed to go home.
“Lori! Wait!”
My legs broke into a jog to get away from Fenris. It was unlikely I would make it far. He was a trained hunter and I was what? A human merely playing at being a demon.
My feet stumbled beneath me. Oh, great. My demon was finally joining the party.
“Now you show up? Where have you been all week?” I mumbled to myself. A passer-by gave me a funny look but kept on walking. I felt a phantom hand travel up the back of my neck and I spun around. But no one was behind me. Great. Now I was going crazy too.
I felt the hand trail along my arm and settle in my own hand. Was she holding my hand? This was beyond weird but at least we were talking. Communicating? I don’t know what it was but it was a start I guess. I turned around and looked in the direction I had run from. There was no sign of Fenris. Perhaps he had given up following me. I’d have given up on me too. There was another caress along my palm and it eased the guilt that was making my stomach plummet.
“Ok, so you’re here. What do I do now?” I asked myself. My body lurched forward, which was unsettling to say the least. She wanted me to go back and she was right. I needed to smooth this over. I wasn’t one for running away and storming off when I knew I could be in danger. That was a fucking dick move.
I walked back the way I came, and the demon settled back under my skin. When I got back to base she and I were going to have a long chat. A rumble echoed through my mind which sounded decidedly like a laugh to me.
I rounded a corner and warning bells went off in my mind. Something was wrong. Where was Fenris? My eyes darted around the street and then I heard a male cry rip through the air.
Fenris.
