“I know. Me too.”
I smile faintly. “Paddington helps.”
“Paddington always helps.”
We sit like that for a long time. The movie ends. The silence settles in. He stays with me until my eyes grow heavy, and I let myself drift, his hand wrapped around mine like an anchor.
If I’m going to make it through this, if I’m going to stay myself, it’ll be because of moments like this. Because of him. Because of my friends.
Because I am not a tool. I am not a weapon. I am not a door.
I am Jade. And for once in my life… I think I might be worth saving.
Chapter twenty-four
Flyn
Wow, I thought Gray was one scary guy, but this new dude takes the biscuit. He’s got the same dark eyes, dark hair and pale skin combo as my new little demon friend. He is also incredibly beautiful, just like Gray. But this guy takes the scary factor and dials it up to one thousand.
Right now, he is simply stalking around the dungeon, staring at the blank walls. Well, they look blank to me because I can’t usually see magic.
I’m sitting on the edge of the bed with Jade and holding his hand tightly because he’s staring at this Silas-guy like he is Lucifer himself.
Red and Brodie are the only other people down here. I think everyone else was too scared.
Silas runs his hand over the wall and for a moment, a symbol glows red before fading away to nothing. He keeps on examining the same spot, and it’s eerie as hell to think he can see stuff that’s invisible to me.
A shiver trembles through me. Life has taken a very strange turn lately. All this paranormal stuff is amazing, but it is also a lot.
Silas takes a step to the right and begins peering at a different section of stone wall. I watch him work and try to get my head around everything.
Silas looks like a very hot emo boy. Leather trousers, studded belt, tight black tee shirt. It’s a damn good look. But apparentlynot only is he a necromancer, he is a wolf shifter like Red, and, the big boss of the paranormal world.
It makes me wonder how many ordinary seeming people I’ve passed in the street who were actually anything but ordinary. Not that Silas looks ordinary. Or gives off ordinary vibes. But still, if I had met him before I knew about the paranormal world, I would have assumed he was a slightly unhinged hot emo boy, one that shouldn’t be messed with. I never, ever would have guessed all the other stuff.
Just like I didn’t have a clue about Jade. I knew Jade was sweet and shy and awesome. Gorgeous, with a dark past.
But all this? Imprisoned and abused by an asshole? Part fey? The potential key to ending the world as I know it?
I was oblivious to all of that. And if I hadn’t seen proof with my own eyes, I never would have believed it.
So yeah, life certainly has taken a strange turn. But through the craziness, I get to have Jade, so it is all very much worth it.
Suddenly, Silas turns around. He ignores Jade and me, and looks only at Red and Brodie.
“Alright. These wards are strong enough. Jade can stay here, on the condition he never steps foot outside of this dungeon.”
“Of course,” agrees Red, his tone eager and keen.
Brodie adds his assurance and the three of them leave, shutting the ancient door behind them.
“Phew!” I exclaim loudly.
Jade’s eyes are bright. His relief is palatable. No magic jail for him. Just a magic dungeon, but I’m here too, and so are his friends. He gets to stay with people who love him.
“Hopefully, you won’t be stuck down here for too long. Silas seems like one capable dude, he’ll figure out how to stop the fey permanently,” I say brightly.
Jade flashes me a weak smile. He’s not convinced by my optimism. I hate the sadness in his eyes. I want to chase it away.
