Page 40 of Torn Between Two Worlds

She nodded and kissed him again. “I understand. Alcott had it happen once before where he had to story progress because another Word Speaker was reading his series.” She bit her lower lip and sobbed. “And it's not that I want you to abandon them, but it's just that I don't know what will happen to you.”

He lets his hands run through her hair. He tugged her to him for a brief moment before letting go and standing up. If he didn't get dressed and leave soon, he might do something stupid, like ignoring the summons, which he could tell was coming from Heaven.

Tugging on his clothes, he offered her a lopsided smile to ease her. “Sweetheart, these don't take long. A day or two max.” He kissed her again before walking to a doorway she’d created while he dressed. “Should something ridiculous happen, go seek out another Guardian. However it is you do it. If I don't come back.” He paused trying to force the words out. “But, don't worry. I'll be back for you. I love you.” He didn't wait for her to say it back. He could still hear the first time she’d said it in his mind.

Appearing at Demarcus' house on the far side of the island they shared, he saw his brothers waiting.

“I see they do have reception out there,” Jameson quipped.

He slugged his brother before they flashed to the location the angels had told them, pissed that his shared blood made him someone's pawn. He'd always known that's what he was for, but when it took him from her, from someone who saw past the demon part, it pissed him off even further.

21

She tuggedthe blanket around her body as she sat up. Her face was blissful, and she could feel the contentment swirling in her body. Reaching out to her nightstand, she grabbed her phone. The satisfaction couldn't last too long, and she blew out a slow breath.

“Being an adult sucks.”

She texted Gina first.

G, I've got to talk to you. Have a minute?

Once that was sent, she pulled up Derrick's overseas number and texted a very similar message. She wanted to be the one to tell him that she was with someone else, particularly as it had barely been two weeks since they'd ended. Even if she wasn't going to send it until she'd talked with Gina. Saving it to drafts, she put the phone down and lay back down in the bed.

Everything was different.Two weeks before, she was ready to flay the skin from her new Guardian's body, and now she wanted to do something completely different to his skin. She had wanted to resist him, wanted to keep her crazy world as normal as she could by being with someone normal. But she was meant for Stryder, he had known it. His brothers had known it. Was she finally fully ready to accept whatever weird fate she was caught up in?

She was grateful for her shift in powers and Alcott's disappearance. Even if she wished she could curl up next to him and ask him what to do. She'd come to that decision in the most immature of ways. In fact, she wanted a do-over, wanted to treat Stryder properly and never let the idea that he wasn't real or not the same species get in the way because, even if she wasn't ready to buy into the mate idea, she was completely in love with him.

The phone rang, and she didn't bother to check the name, just slid her finger over the screen to answer the call. “G, I have an issue.”

“So I gathered. Do you need me to come grab you for some single-girls-blues-wine?”

“No, actually, it is about Derrick…” She let her words trail off and waited for her friend to say something. When she didn't, she sighed dramatically. “G! You're supposed to ask me what's up, not force me to tell you something uncomfortable right away.”

Her friend’s laugh on the other end made her smile. “Girl, that defeats the point. Spill the beans now.”

“I'm glad he left. Don't worry, no little girl whining moment is coming.” The silence on the other end was slightly what she had expected. But when it stretched on beyond a few minutes, she cleared her throat. “Um, G?”

“Oh, I'm here I'm debating whether aliens invaded and stole your brain or if I should ask what's up.”

Gina loved Derrick but was always telling her to try something new before taking the plunge. What would she think of her now?

“I met someone, G. Not like I saw someone cute and want to meet him. Like I've slept-with-him-and-met-his-family met someone.”

The silence continued on the other end before a long, low whistle. “I don't know what to say, Ci. Why? When? And are you sure?”

Her friend didn't sound judgmental, but she had a feeling it was definitely happening. Tears stung her eyes. Choosing Stryder in her heart and head had been one thing. Choosing him aloud made her heart squeeze tight, and tears spilled down her cheeks. It was so quick and had technically happened with Derrick still in her life.

“Right before he left, G. I hated the guy at first. He was hot as hell, but annoying, arrogant and didn't belong here. But something happened. I don't know what, and suddenly, we were in bed together. And then it happened again and again.”

“Well, why him and not Derrick? Why not write this off as a fling?”

She had been asking herself Gina's questions since the first night when she'd allowed him to touch her as she had. Just thinking about it ashamed and heated her blood. “It just is, G. I wish I could explain. I wish you could meet him even, but…” She ran her fingers through her hair and exhaled. How would this even work if no one would know he was around? They would just think she didn't want to be alone and had made someone up when he was never around to meet them.

“Okay hold up, back up. Why can't I meet this mystery man?”

“He doesn't live around here.” It wasn't a lie, and Gina accepted it, but it wasn't the truth either.

“Okay fair is fair, there's always time later. Girl, if you really feel that way, you need to go with it.”

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