Page 5 of Gambling with Time

Bellamy had split off from us and headed back to the pawnshop, which wasn't far from the warehouse Alastor was taking me to. He went to enter our numbers into his phone, only to find us both already saved, as well as Lex and Raiden. We could just call him. I had suggested it, but Alastor wasn't sure it would work.

It was how I ended up picking the lock to the dragon's home and letting us inside. My lips parted as I took in the large room. One side had a basic living area, with a couch, armchairs, TV, and a small kitchen off to the side. Another two doors split off from the main room, one leading to a bedroom and another to the bathroom. I wasn't sure how I knew that without looking, but I did. The other side of the room had an enormous pile of treasure. Mostly shiny things: gold, gems, and expensive-looking watches.

Slowly making my way around the pile, I examined everything, touching none of it. I paused as my gaze caught onto something I recognized. An art project from the third grade that I had done. More proof we knew each other. It sent a flutter of butterflies in the pit of my stomach. I couldn't connect the brute he had been with the idea of caring so much that he'd steal my schoolwork. Because why else would he have something like that?

I moved on. My attention snagged on something else. I knelt down and moved a few items off of it, but it was so familiar. I'd sold it in a garage sale when I was a kid for some extra money. Three dollars was a lot of money to me back then, but parting with the music box had been hard. I flipped it over, looking for the engraving that would mark it as mine. SJO. Samantha Jade Orion. My finger traced over the letters.

My heart caught in my throat. I turned it back over and opened the lid. The tiny princess danced in the middle, and the inside held some small trinkets I remembered. Half of a best friend necklace, some butterfly clips, a hair band, and a plastic ring. It was the last thing that punched the air from my chest.

I held the tiny ring between my fingers. It couldn't be. Could it? The memories the cheap plastic brought to me were worth more than the finest gold. A boy breaking my heart had devastated me. It was rare because I didn't let them close. They were all trolls to me growing up, all of them but Tyler's best friend. Rai. He'd found me, crying and sad. He wiped my tears, promising it would get better. When I disagreed and told him I'd be alone forever, the dramatic pre-teen that I had been believed, he'd pulled this tiny ring from his pocket.

He'd said, "Sammy, this is a promise ring. It is my promise to you that you won't end up alone. Because I won't allow it." Then he'd slipped it onto my finger, and I had thrown myself into his arms, hugging him. He'd let me hold on to him until Ty came and ruined it all. If my crush had been bad before, it had grown by monumental levels after that.

I slipped it onto my pinky finger before closing the music box and putting it back where I'd found it. When I turned, I found Alastor watching me. I wiped at the stray tear that had formed and then held up my hand, showing him the ring.

"I remember things. I think the key to getting them back is seeing places or things that bring them to you. As long as the mage could keep us out of places we knew, he could control us. There is so much missing. It feels like a piece of me has been carved from my chest."

Alastor closed the distance, a soft smile on his too-handsome face. "We will get them all back."

He traced his fingers along my cheek and then brushed the stray hair away from my mouth. His thumb ran along my lower lip, and my eyes naturally dipped to his. Would he kiss me? And if it wasn't our first time, why did the nerves jump around in my belly like jumping jellybeans? I didn't get nervous with guys; sex and physical touch, it was all a natural part of life. Everyone did it, why not enjoy it? But this felt different somehow.

"Remind me of you, Alastor," I whispered.

He captured my lips in a kiss so tender my toes curled and a flood of warmth spread throughout my whole body. It brought to mind lovemaking, not sex, but the slow and sensual love of our bodies moving together. I loved this man. My whole being knew it. I didn't need the memories to remind me when I knew it down to a cell level. Still, the flashes of an apartment with all of them and laughter, food, and comfort assaulted me as I fell into the heart-melting touch of his mouth on mine.

A clearing of a throat brought us apart, although it was slow, with tiny promising kisses shared before my brother cleared his throat again.

"I see this is going well," Ty said drily. "Do you remember, sis? Or are you still wanting to murder me for letting him kidnap you?"

"No to both," I replied. "I have some fractured memories. But I know there are things missing."

"Rai hasn't shown up yet?" he asked.

It was an obvious question, since he wasn't here, so I didn't answer. Instead, I sank into the soft cushions of the sofa. Cerberus flopped down at my feet, while Alastor brought us each water from the fridge.

"How long do you think it will take?" I asked.

"That depends. How long have you been here?" Ty perched on the arm of the chair, his bottle of water held loosely between his fingers.

"Maybe ten minutes before you arrived," Alastor replied.

Ty nodded, his attention flicking back to the door. "Well, last time the demons broke into his warehouse, he added spells to alert him of anyone entering without him. So, I'd say he'll be here shortly."

Not even a minute after he said the words, Raiden showed. He came in, ready for a fight. I studied him with my new knowledge, trying to see the kid from my memory as a child. He was there. The broad shoulders and scruff on his face were new, obviously, but I could still see him attempting to cheer me up.

"You will regret entering my home," he growled.

"Rai, what are you doing, man?" Ty stepped forward.

Confusion shaded his face. "Do I know you?" He sounded unsure and some of his anger faded.

Ty scoffed. "We are best friends since childhood, and you don't remember me? That is one fucked up memory spell."

I stood up, and his gaze snapped to me. "He's telling the truth."

CHAPTER 4

Raiden

---