Page 7 of Paranormal Protectors: Atlas

Leaning forward, Atlas brought their mouths together. It was a simple press, the soft, warm skin of Gavin’s lips molding to his like they were finally where they belonged. He pulled back all too soon, but he needed Gavin to really understand. “You’re not a burden,” he said into the warm space between their faces. “You could never be.”

Gavin swallowed hard, eyes suspiciously shiny. “The lady said something about feeding me? I’m starved.”

“Come on.” Atlas stood up straight and reached out for Gavin’s hand. “I’ll give you the tour on the way to the kitchen.”

“What are all these doors?” Gavin fell into step beside him.

“This room is one of the reasons we call this the Hub. They’re gateways. Doors to other cities where the seers and mages have a presence.”

“Wow.” Gavin’s head swiveled around, looking at the different doors. They weren’t labeled in any way, but they were each unique. He’d passed through several during his time here, going to assist other mages or using a door as a means to travel quickly. It certainly beat standing in line at the airport.

“So, the other cities, do they have rooms like this, too?”

“No. We really are the main Hub. Seers, mages, and others pass through us if they need to go to a different city where we have a presence.”

“Others?”

Atlas bit at this lip, afraid he’d said too much too soon. New carriers didn’t always take the news of some of the mage affiliations well. “Allies.”

Gavin hummed. “How many mages work here?”

“Live here, really. There are only three of us right now. Me, my brother Lark, and Pike. We each have quarters in the building. There are also common areas. A big kitchen, a gym, and a rec room. The seers have their own space, but sometimes they join us for dinner and movies.”

“Sounds nice,” Gavin said as they reached the door to the hallway. “Charlotte is my roommate. We’ve been living together for a couple of years now.”

“You’re close?”

“Oh yeah, she’s practically my sister. Will she be able to come here after she finishes up at the shop?” Gavin shook his head. “I still can’t believe that. I can’t believe they’d just attack the shop like that. I haven’t even done anything.”

They made it to the elevator. Atlas pressed the down button. “I know. Hate makes people do senseless things.”

“Charlotte will be alright, won’t she?”

“Yes. Lark and Derek will stay with her and help deal with the police and getting the coffee shop secured. I’m sorry that I dragged you away, but—”

“No, I get it. Please don’t apologize for saving my life.” Gavin squeezed his hand. “Thank you, by the way.”

Atlas squeezed back. “You don’t ever have to thank me for that.”

* * *

Gavin settledon a stool at the island in the largest kitchen he’d ever been in. The appliances were all shiny stainless steel, and he’d never seen a bigger refrigerator in his life. The ones in the back of the coffee shop weren’t even that big. “How many people live here, again?”

Atlas shot him a smile over his shoulder. “Three of us mages and two seers full-time, but lots of seers come through here.”

Gavin frowned. “The seer I just met…she never told me her name.”

Atlas’s gaze turned apologetic. “Yeah, sorry about that. They don’t give their names away easily. It’s a seer thing. You can call her Violet. That’s generally what she tells people.”

“What do you have to do to learn her name?” Gavin leaned his elbows on the island, more curious than he’d imagined feeling when they were on their way here. It was like a whole other world. A world that had apparently always existed right here, but he’d been clueless about it. Now, he might be a part of it.

Atlas turned from the fridge, setting deli turkey, cheese, and a couple condiment bottles on the island. “If you choose to unlock your power, she’ll tell you. The other one, though…he’s a little more finicky. We call him Fred.”

“Is his hair a normal color?”

Atlas chuckled. “Not exactly.”

“It’s not nice to talk about people behind their backs, you know.”

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