Page 2 of Beautiful Soul

Her tablet gave another ding.

KJ: Are you still there? Or did you manage to fall back to sleep?

She took a breath and started typing, needing to connect with another human being, though she still wished she knew more about this new online friend.

LW: I’m here. Just not sure how to describe where the stress is coming from. Bad dreams and loneliness and … just everything piling on to remind me I am all alone in a city of millions.

Before he could respond, she went on to quickly type another note.

LW: Sorry. Did not mean to dump all that whininess on you.

The screen showed the scrolling three dots that meant he was typing for a long time before words appeared.

KJ: You weren’t whining. You were answering my question. I, probably more than most, understand how you feel. I’ve been alone and relatively isolated for many years.

LW: What do you do? Are you a night guard or something? Am I pulling you away from your work?

KJ: I suppose you could say I’m a negotiator and consultant of sorts. My customers work nights, therefore I must as well. And no, sweet Lena, you are not taking me from my business. In fact, you are a light in the dark places of my life. I wonder, would you be interested in meeting face-to-face?

His latest request caused Lena to freeze. Meeting him in person? Would it be safe? Or was he the front to some crazy human trafficking ring who stole mature women?

But she was curious about the man. His profile showed a picture of what appeared to be a cartoon of a wizard and there were no other pictures, just inspirational memes or comments about manifestation and magic.

Lena took a deep breath and blew it out in a huff. She had lived long enough to know better, but she was tired of her hermit life. Tired of hiding from the world. Tired of being alone and lonely and safe.

Maybe it was time to step out of her isolated, insulated world. Even if it led to her being kidnapped and sold into slavery, it would be more exciting than staring at these four walls for another night.

LW: Yes, I’d like to meet you face-to-face. But it needs to be somewhere public, please.

KJ: Wonderful. I’d offer to send my car, but I want you to feel comfortable. How about we meet at Mystic’s All-Night Café, just off Madison between Ninth and Tenth Street?

LW: Okay. It will take me about an hour to get there. Is that okay?

KJ: I’ll be waiting for you. Just give my name to Mystic when you get here.

LW: See you then.

After closing the connection, she turned off her computer and set it aside. Throwing back the covers, she jumped out of bed, surprised by the amount of excited energy that surged through her body. Opening the closet, she stopped and sighed. What was she supposed to wear to meet a stranger at an all-night café?

She did not own any fancy, dressy clothes, or club wear. Most of what hung in her small closet barely fit. Since the attack, she rarely left the house. It was night, and chilly outside, so she decided yoga pants, sneakers, and the one oversized sweater she owned over a white t-shirt would have to suffice. She already knew that once KingJames saw her, he would make any excuse to get away from her. And that would be the end of what could have been an interesting friendship

Once dressed, she draped a bright blue pashmina scarf around her her head and neck, to hide her face as well as she could. She did not bother with makeup. Only a plastic mask would be enough to cover her scars.

Pulling her Glock from its hiding place in her nightstand, she tucked it into her purse, then checked to make sure her can of pepper spray was still in the outside pocket of her purse. Pulling out her wallet, she confirmed she had a hundred in cash, and her ID.

Okay, she was ready to go meet the stranger who called himself KingJames.

Chapter Two

“What are you doing, Mage?”

Kingsley looked up to find Jefferson Carstairs, alpha of the city’s shifter pack, and Livingston Daniels, prince of the local vampire coven, staring down at him. Not wanting the two men to see his conversation with Lena, he closed his computer. No need to advertise the fact that he had just set himself up on a blind date.

“Nothing important. Are you two ready to resume negotiations, or shall we continue this another night?”

“We’ve got a question on the contract that needs an answer before we can continue discussions. A legal question that we need Dickerson here to answer. He can’t come now, so we’ll reschedule for two midnights from now, if that’s acceptable to you.”

Kingsley nodded without bothering to check his schedule. “Midnight day after tomorrow will be fine.”

---