Page 60 of Their Reckless Thief
Celeste took a tentative bite of her food, lost in thought. I didn’t push, allowing her the time to say what she wanted at her own pace.
“When they didn’t come home, our neighbor came to stay with me. She called the cops and reported that my parents nevercame home. Days went by and they never came back. I knew in my gut I’d never see them again. Part of me felt like they’d abandoned me, that it had all been an elaborate plan to break free of the one thing tying them down in this life.”
I reached across the table and put my hand on hers. “No way. There’s no fucking way anyone would see you as a burden, Celeste.”
She took a sip of her wine. “I don’t know about that. I wasn’t exactly the easiest child, always wanting my way, throwing a fit if I didn’t get their attention.”
I scoffed. “Sounds like typical only-child behavior to me. I wouldn’t know since I have a sister, but still. You were just a kid.”
As she sipped more of her wine, I could see the tension from the conversation slowly melting away. “This is honestly the best Italian food I’ve ever had,” she admitted as she took another bite.
“I don’t settle for anything less than the best. You deserve that.”
She rolled her eyes, but I could tell she appreciated it. “Smooth, Voss. Real smooth.”
Dinner was so easy and natural, that for a while, I forgot about everything else—the missing women, the tension in The Below, all the bullshit that came with my world. Sitting across from Celeste, hearing her laugh, and seeing her smile, made everything else fade away.
After dinner,we strolled through the park. The soft sounds of rustling leaves and the distant buzz of the city was muffled by the night. I led Celeste to the edge of the park, where the treesthickened, and the path turned darker. It was the time of night when the creatures from The Below liked to roam about, looking for unsuspecting humans to attack. Sometimes it was to eat or feed off energy, but sometimes, they did it for kicks. They all knew better than to fucking mess with me, though. Celeste was safe.
Celeste glanced around, her face a mask of curiosity as she tried to figure out what the hell I was up to.
I stepped into the shadows beneath the tall oak trees. “All right, this is where things get serious.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Serious? What the hell are you talking about, Dorian?”
Without answering, I began stripping off my jacket, then my shirt, folding them neatly before handing them to her.
She took a step back, eyes wide as she clutched the bundle of clothes to her chest. “What thehellare you doing?”
I grinned as I shed my pants and handed them over. Stripping for Celeste and hearing her heart rate pick up was my new favorite hobby. “I’m going to shift.”
She looked down at the clothes in her arms, then back at me, her confusion turning into incredulous laughter. “Shift? And you expect me to…what…watch? Hold your stuff?”
“No, you’re going to climb onto my back.” I kicked off my shoes and took the clothes from her. “It’s the only way we’re getting to my special spot. Fastest way to travel, I promise. Oh, and no need to hold my stuff, I have a nice little pocket where I put them when I shift.”
With a wave of my hand, I stored my clothing in the pocket of reality I’d used so many times before, yet I knew it was shocking for Celeste to see. Before she could ask more questions, I started to shift, my bones cracking and reshaping into a larger, furrier form. Her eyes went wide as my body morphed into my wolf form. I towered over her, my fur gleaming under the moonlightfiltering through the canopy of leaves. She crossed her arms, her expression skeptical as ever.
“The hell I will,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m not climbing onto your back like some… some…”
I cut her off with a low growl, making her jump. I lowered myself to the ground, nudging her leg with my snout.
She stared at me for a long moment, and I could see the wheels turning in her head. Finally, she let out an exasperated sigh. “You’re fucking unbelievable, Voss.”
After a bit of hesitation, she swung a leg over my back. Her arms wrapped around my neck tightly, her grip strong yet hesitant.
Finally.
With a powerful push of my hind legs, I took off running, my paws pounding the soft earth as I dodged trees and ducked under low-hanging branches. The night air rushed past us in a blur. Celeste gasped, her grip tightening around me, and I couldn’t help the thrill that coursed through me, knowing she was trusting me with her safety.
In under five minutes, we reached my special spot—a small, secluded clearing with a still pond at its center. The moon hung low in the sky, its reflection perfectly mirrored on the surface of the water. A soft blanket was already spread out next to the pond, along with a picnic basket filled with dessert and wine.
I shifted back into my human form, catching Celeste’s shocked gaze as I grabbed my clothes from the pocket and got dressed. “Told you it was fast,” I said with a smirk. “I found this one night when I was exploring the human world. I like to explore every chance I can get away from my duties in The Below.”
She stared at the scene before her, her eyes wide. “This… this is beautiful, Dorian.”
I spread my arms. “Only the best for you.”
She took a step toward the pond, the moonlight dancing off the water illuminating her face. “It’s the most romantic thing anyone’s ever done for me.”
