117
Lucy
As we drove back to the city, the air felt heavy in the car. I sat in the passenger seat next to David, wrapped in a thick blanket. Though I had showered and dressed, I couldn’t shake the chill that had gripped me. David drove. He didn’t say much of anything as he stared ahead into the dark night. Duke was in another blanket, leaning against the door and fast asleep, but I could hear Amy and Sarah in the backseat talking about something.
The witch’s message was still on my mind, and I couldn’t help but feel scared and worried. I kept wondering why they wouldn’t leave me alone and what I could really do about it.
Suddenly, David reached out and gently held my hand. He laced our hands together.
“You should rest,” he said. “You’ve been through a lot.”
I swallowed. “I’m okay for now, I think.”
He nodded slowly, but he didn’t let go. His warmth seemed to spread up my arm. I felt it washing into me gently and pushing at something. Then, I realized that it was the knot of the restraint that was usually held back by my anchor. He was channeling magic into me. One of the books from Luke told me that it was hard to do and very taxing. It could also be very dangerous.
I gasped and looked over at him. “David—”
His lips twitched. “Easy, just relax. It’s fine.”
“But---”
“I promise,” he said. “I’m basically a furnace.”
I blinked, not fighting it any longer. If he was telling me that he had the power to spare, I could believe it from what he’d done in the water.
As we got closer to the city, the chill started to peel back, and even the ache in my leg started to fade. He guided the car through the city until we reached an apartment building. Sarah groaned, stretching in the back seat.
“First stop, ladies,” David said, turning back to look at them. “Keys out. I’ll get your bags.”
He looked at me with a concerned expression. “Is there somewhere I can drop you off?”
My lips twitched. I wanted to tell him to take me to Stacy’s building, but I held back. Something didn’t feel right just yet.
“You want to crash with us for the night?” Amy asked. “I’m sure you’d rather not be alone…”
I smiled at them. “Would that really be okay?”
“The more, the merrier!” Amy said. “I’ll text Michelle about some extra blankets. Our couch is pretty comfy.”
I nodded. “That’s great.”
David nodded and squeezed my hand before he got out of the car and rounded the car to get to the trunk. He pulled out all of our bags as Duke groaned awake. He blinked and rubbed his eyes. I got out of the car and walked to the back of the car as Duke climbed out.
I took my backpack from him and smiled. “Thank you for everything, David.”
David nodded and closed the trunk before he leaned close and slipped something into my hand.
“A panic button. I’ve stationed some people nearby.” I looked up at him. “Is that okay?”
I tightened my grip on it and hugged him tightly. “Thank you.”
He squeezed me to him and stroked my hair. “Try to get some sleep, okay?”
“I will.”
I turned toward Sarah, who wiggled her eyebrows as Amy smiled. Duke came around the car, looking nervous. David clapped him on the shoulder.
“Shotgun for you, Duke.”
He shot me a nervous glance, and I smiled. “David’s a good guy.”
He scoffed and flushed before rounding the car and getting into the car. I followed Sarah And Amy up to the door and into the double doors. Once we were inside, David cranked up the car. We waved them goodbye from the window before heading toward the stairs.
“We’re on the top floor. Sorry in advance.”
I picked up my backpack. Sarah led the way. “We should have gotten him to carry our bags up.”
“You’ll be fine. We carried them down, didn’t we?”
I chuckled. We walked up several more flights of stairs. I was panting by the time we got to the top. My legs hurt, and Amy leaned against the doorframe as she unlocked the door.
“Welcome home!” Michelle called out, her eyes bright. We walked into the apartment, and Michelle greeted us with a smile. “Hey there, sorry I couldn’t make it. Work was crazy.”
“It’s okay. Next time for sure!” Sarah said. “I brought you souvenirs… Well, David bought them.”
Her eyes widened. “David’s the guy from the orphanage?”
“Yep, he’s super wealthy now. We stayed at his beach house with his private beach….” Sarah gushed as I set my bags down and sat on the couch, listening to Sarah tell Michelle about Shell Cove. I tried to pay attention, but my mind drifted to Duke. I wondered how long he’d been getting dreams from the Moon Goddess.
Had she been with him when he was a child? When he was taken to those people?
“Hey,” Amy called, putting a hand on my leg. “You alright?”
I nodded. “Just… processing, I guess.”
Michelle came back with mugs for all of us. “No processing. It’s time for hot chocolate and then to bed!”
“But I hadn’t even gotten to the best part!”
Michelle handed me a cup and then settled on the floor beside the low coffee table. “Does it involve a man?”
“Of course it does! His name’s Henry and he’s got a brother named Julian. Based on their Dad and their grandpa, they’re going to age well.”
Michelle shook her head and took a sip. “I’m not entertaining any matchmaking tonight, Sarah.”
She pouted. “You’ve got to get over that guy, okay! He cut you off like nothing. We come crawling back because they always do. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to say you’re occupied?”
“I think a general no would be enough, honestly.”
Amy burst into laughter. I drank quietly, listening to them talk about what Michelle’s been up to while we were away and what Sarah’s scheme to get Michelle set up with Julian was. When I finished my cup, Michelle took it back into the kitchen. I took off my shoes and climbed under one of the blankets she had for me.
Soon, I couldn’t even keep my eyes open and drifted off into sleep.
I heard a howling in the distance and sat up in the dark. Sarah, Amy, and Michelle had already gone to bed. The refrigerator hummed, but whatever woke me was something else. I looked around, listening for the sound, before I stood and went toward the door, listening. There was a thumping sound that was pretty distant.
I walked toward the door, straining my hearing to try and figure out what it could be, but I didn’t hear anything more. Instead, I felt something. A surge of something went through the door. Then, I heard someone sigh.
“Miss Graves, I work for Alpha David. My apologies for waking you.” I swallowed, gripping my panic button tightly. “It is alright if you don’t believe me, but I am here to look after you and your friends for the night. I understand you may be sensitive to magical fluctuations, but please don’t be alarmed. They’re all protective.”
I swallowed. “D-Do you know if Duke is okay?”
“I can contact Alpha David and ask if you wish.”
“N-No, I’ll call.”
“Of course, ma’am. Please rest. If you need anything, I will be standing guard for the rest of the night.”
“Thank you.”
I withdrew from the door and went to get my phone, texting Duke.
Are you with David? If so, could you ask him about the security he put outside?
I waited in the dark for an answer. My heart was racing when the phone started to ring. I answered.
“You should be asleep,” David said gently.
“I-Is Duke okay?”
“Currently, I’m waiting for him to give in,” he said softly. “What did you want to know? Did they wake you?”
“I don’t think so. I… I heard howling. A-And then I felt something. There was a thud.”
David said nothing for a moment before he sighed. “Ask him for his codename.”
I walked back to the door. “Uhm, hello?”
“Yes, Miss Graves?”
“W-What’s your codename?”
“Knives.”
David chuckled in my ear. “Knives is a tactical mage, much like Dagon. I assume he neutralized a threat. If you can’t sleep, feel free to… talk to him about the protective ward he put up on the building… But I would really like it if you slept.”
My heart was pounding. “I… I just…”
“You’re scared, and that’s perfectly reasonable. Would you like me to stay on the line until you fall asleep?”
My jaw trembled as my eyes pricked with tears.
“Thank you, Knives.”
“Of course, ma’am.”
I walked back to the couch. “Could you tell me a story?”
He chuckled. “How nostalgic. You always loved my stories.”
I smiled, climbing beneath the blanket with a sigh and letting David’s voice lull me into sleep.
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