Page 57 of Crimson Promises
I lifted my shoulders a fraction. “Probably wasn’t anything. She was with someone else that night.” Connor was more observant than I thought. It would do me well to remember to be extra cautious around him.
While he seemed like a great guy, having someone figure out what I truly was would only further complicate the Rubik’s cube of a situation I continued to put myself in.
As much as my pulse raced each time I thought of Aurora and me under that quilt, I knew it couldn’t be anything, no matter what.
“There’s something there that wasn’t there before,” Connor crooned.
“Are you quoting Beauty and the Beast to me?”
“If the lyric fits.” He snorted. “In case you didn’t realize, you are the Beast in this scenario.”
The crack of the ropes caught our attention. A broody guy was holding two ropes together as a few guys popped into the ring. “Are you guys done here?”
“Yeah, it’s all yours.” I stood and held out a hand to Connor. The guy was going to be sore tomorrow.
He grabbed my hand and winced when he stood upright. “Thanks.” He shifted from side to side. “Can you…uh…not say anything to anyone about why I wanted to start boxing?”
“For sure. It’s none of my business. From now on, anything we discuss in the ring, we leave in the ring, for both of us, okay?”
Connor’s confident demeanor slipped a tad. “Appreciate it. And you got it. For both of us.”
“Cool.” I walked to the edge of the ring to give the others a chance to spread out for their drills, contorted my body to get through the ropes, and jumped down to the concrete. “I gotta get going. I won’t be able to come by tomorrow, but the day after, I’ll text you when I’m coming, and if you want to join, you can.”
“Sweet. I’ll be here. Not like I have a job or anything.” Must be nice.
I handed him my phone and said, “Put your number in.”
While Connor punched in his number, I recalled the name I used when I put my number in Aurora’s phone. I couldn’t help but smile.
He handed it back to me. “For what it’s worth, I think you should shoot your shot. Better to not have any regrets.” He grabbed the two ends of the towel he threw over his shoulder, holding it as a neck rest. “Think about it.” He called as he backed into the changing room.
All I did was think about it. Her. The entire way home. My head and heart were locked in negotiations. The bond was still dormant. She had to still be sleeping.
I checked my phone. No text from Michael yet. It wasn't like him to not respond. I had texted him right after the second demon attack. Initially, I wanted to talk to him about an amendment to what I was getting out of the deal. Almost twenty-one years as an invisible bodyguard was payment enough for being bestowed with the powers of The Gifted. If I had to battle demons that were likely sent from Hell or some other fucked up evil entity, that upped the ante and Michael had to offer more.
After last night, my anxiety about meeting with Michael was tied to Aurora’s welfare. Michael must know a way I could track these demons or have some advice on how I could defeat them. Perhaps he knew why, after all these years, they were hunting Aurora. We’ve never outwardly discussed her healing ability, but that night we made our arrangement, he stipulated “the powers she possesses, or who she truly is. Only when she reaches her age of maturity and remains mortal will the bargain be fulfilled.” He must have known or suspected she had some spark of power, but the information was controlled. The fact that she had rare healing abilities was an ace I preferred to keep up my sleeve. Being at the mercy of an Original, one needed all the advantage they could get.
Demons were usually sent in waves: the first from the car accident was a foot soldier, and the second was Behemoth—The Watcher. The threats would surely continue. To think of who they would send next sent a shiver down my spine.
I rubbed my eyebrow, my selfishness replaced with concern.
For the thousandth time since his death, I wish Jos were here. He’d know what to do. Fuck if he were, I wouldn’t be fighting a shadow war. Alone.
I removed the glamour from my wings.Occulare. Since Saddle Mountain, it was the first time I left my wings out instead of retracting them into their slats. At home, I didn’t have to hide that part of me from the world. I lay on the couch, exhausted from my workout, as my wings draped over the purposely chosen low-bearing sofa. I stared at the popcorn ceiling, enjoying this moment of solitude before I had to trek to a class shortly.
My ass buzzed. I lifted my hips and whipped out my phone. The name on the phone made my breath catch in my throat. It was Aurora. I double-clicked the message. Too caught up in my own thoughts to realize the bond was no longer static.
Aurora: So, friend, are we going to plan some time to get more work done on the project?
Friends, I crucified myself with that one.
Ben: Whenever you want.
Translation: I’m hopelessly yours. Tell me when and where and I’ll be there.
An instant reply.
Aurora: How about tomorrow?
