Page 34 of Buried Secret 295

He nods, but then shakes his head at me once again. “No, I can’t leave until I know you’re okay. So, I will at least follow you to your destination at a safe distance. I weirdly need to know you’re okay, and I don’t want you to be alone.” He clears his throat. “You’re not alone.”

Fuck. He is really a golden retriever. Simon’s blood is helping, yet I still want Gage like an addict. I can’t look at him as I cry, so I tilt my head down, and he wraps his arms around me, holding me close. We stand that way for a few moments before he kisses the top of my head. “Go on, tell me to fuck off. It will make you feel better. I will pretend like you truly mean it, and only you know I am right behind you. You don’t have to be on the lookout for anything because I will ensure nobody talks to you. Then tomorrow, we will talk.”

I laugh, yet my lip quivers as I look into his gray eyes. “Gage, fuck off.” My voice has no bite, and part of me is mad at myself for avoiding him all week. Before I can overthink it, I walk off and breathe, trying to calm myself down. Knowing he was nearby felt nice, even though I didn’t want him to follow me. I didn’t even look back at him when I opened the door to the building. Why do I feel so sad knowing he won’t be out here when I leave?

Chapter twenty-three

I’ve managed to avoidGage for two days now. I am questioning why I am torturing myself by flipping my schedule around to continue avoiding him, which means training before my Species of Fae class. Could it be because I am terrified of being seen by Gage? The man makes me feel things I don’t want to confront. So, instead of being an adult about it, I am still sneaking around, and my whole body aches as I sit in class. I heal fast, but Samuel put me through the wringer this morning. Every part of me wanted to skip this class afterward, but I sat in the back row with my hood up.

The hair on the back of my neck stands as I try my best to listen to Professor Craven. My eyes glance around as if there are eyes on me. I pull my hood back and glance behind me, even though no chairs exist. I pick the back of the room because I don't like people where I can't see them. There are onlybookcases and random items a professor might need for the class behind me. I clench my jaw, slightly annoyed, wondering if Constantine is following me from within the veil again. Boundaries. I turn once more and flip off the air behind me. Usually, that’s all it takes, and he leaves.

Professor Craven claps her hands together. “Salem? Are you with us?”

I shake my head and nod. “Sorry, yes I am.”

She narrows her eyes on me but continues before turning to the board. “Please, read about the first shifters. Next week, we will learn about the wolf wars. There will be a quiz on the shifter chapter on Thursday.”

Ugh, that has me groaning internally. There is so much that I don’t know right now. Whenever I open my textbooks, my eyes practically glaze over with boredom. They could make it sound more fun or exciting, but no. Everything is factual and written from an outsider’s perspective. I want to read from an actual shifter’s perspective.

I gather up my books and once again feel a presence behind me. The building is bustling with people, and instead of going into the crowd, I veer off to the right, walking towards an old stairwell they keep primarily for emergencies. Most people use the open stairwells at the front of the building. I walk faster, darting around people.

As I get closer to the stairwell, I form a plan. At least, it's a half-assed plan of springing myself on them. Every part of me doesn’t think this is Constantine following me around anymore. I put my hand in my pocket and grab my pocket knife that Constantine insisted I carry.You know what to do.I tell my shadows. If you didn’t know better, you would have thought we rehearsed it a million times, yet it is our first time. I flip the blade outwards as my shadows pull me into the veil. We launch ourselves forward.One hand pushes someone against the wall while the other holds the blade to the unknown person’s throat.

My hand grips the blade tight as I try my best not to look shocked by how handsome he is. I don’t think handsome is the correct word because he is beautiful. Deep green, almost emerald eyes stare at me. He appears shocked yet unphased as a blade is at his throat. His shoulder-length hair is wavy and light brown. I lick my suddenly dry lips before I shake those thoughts off and try to look sinister. “Why are you spying on me?”

The guy has the nerve to smirk at me. His eyes heat slightly as his gaze almost darkens. “Well, aren’t you full of surprises?” His voice is smooth like honey, with a slight growl to it. He arches an eyebrow at me almost challengingly.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” It’s my turn to be confused, and I pull back the blade slightly. He doesn’t feel like he is a threat or out to hurt me. At least not yet. A small amount of blood drips from where I accidentally nicked him. I watch the crimson slide down his neck and lick my lips once more. Awareness takes over as I realize I am chest-to-chest with this man. My shadows purr practically, dancing over my skin, wanting to touch him as well.Stop it, you slut.I growl at them in my head, though it doesn’t have a bite to it.

“I am curious about you. Nothing surprises me much anymore. This is quite the surprise.” The right side of his lip curls upwards. “Only a few people have access to the veil. Did you see me outside of the veil?”

I shake my head and then want to slap myself for telling him the truth. I am already this far, so I might as well carry on. “Felt your eyes on me.”

“Like I said, very curious. Consider me a friend, at least for now.” He says cryptically.

“What would cause you not to be a friend?” I push him backward before I step backward, wanting and needing mydistance from him. “You work for Marcus or Lulu?” Maybe he is one of her fuck boys that follows her like a sick puppy.

He straightens himself and rolls his eyes. “We don’t run in the same circles. Trust me on that.” His fingers reach up and brush my curl back out of my face. “If you fuck with my people. That’s the only way we wouldn’t be friends.” He practically growls out the last part.

“Well, how am I supposed to know who your people are? I am very good at pissing people off.” I shrug. “It’s a gift.”

He leans forward, closer to me, and lowers his voice. “My people aren’t giant pussies like Marcus and Lulu. We do our dirty work ourselves. If you piss them off, you will know.”

Why am I still talking to him? Why don’t I want to leave him? Fuck it. I lean forward and lick the drop of blood that has been taunting me off his neck. A moan leaves my mouth as I move upwards towards his ear. “Well, I look forward to meeting them. Stop stalking me.” With that, I manage to teleport myself outside. I am improving on short distances.

My Faegram vibrates in my pocket. I take a deep breath as I open the message from Gage.

Gage:You have been able to hide. Tomorrow, you’re not getting away from me. Count on it.

I groan and can’t deal with today anymore.

Chapter twenty-four

I am exhausted andrunning on fumes. Yet, I push through and don’t complain to anyone because this is my burden. I will gladly take on all the burdens for my family; it feels like the least I can do. The pressure to help my family isn’t something that I take lightly. I will do everything in my power to protect and help them in any way I can. Maybe it’s guilt, along with gratitude, that makes me the way I am. I reflect on this in my spare time in the void as I wait for something to happen.

The guilt began long ago as the five-year-old boy who couldn’t save his mother. All I wanted from her all my life was to be loved by her. I wanted her to stop using drugs or maybe love me more than the drugs. Yet, she never did. I would accept the scraps of affection she would give me. I wouldn’t even cry out when she would leave me for days at a time, even though the pain from hunger and the loneliness would almost be overbearing. Shealways came home. Even though she returned, she was always strung out and stumbling when she arrived.

Along with her scoring drugs, she would give me food before passing out into oblivion. I would eat and snuggle beside her, pretending she loved holding me. One of those days, when I woke, the arm I pulled around me was cold and stiff. No amount of crying and begging would wake her. It didn’t stop me from trying over the next few days. If it hadn’t been for the smell and overdue rent, I believe I would have died with her.

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