“Hey.”
One creature that could only be described as a biblically accurate angel merged with the creature from the Black Lagoon blinks all twelve of his eyes at me out of order. Theblip blip blipof their opening and shutting makes my skin do a little crawl.
“Jade.” Rhazan whip-cracks my name and my gaze snaps to him.
He throws a towel over his shoulder and walks out from behind the bar. I stand my ground, remembering why I came despite all the wondrous things I’ve seen so far.
“Why can’t I leave the café?” I ask, holding up my wrist.
Woah, my body is…body-like. No longer pink energy, but something solid and alive.
He grabs my arm and pulls me close. “Don’t show that off.”
“Why, you don’t want everyone knowing you’ve put me in some sort of magical slavery?” I ask, seething up at him.
He growls and turns, pulling me with him.
I protest, but he ignores me.
“Ten minutes,” he says to another creature behind the bar, who nods.
We march through the back beyond the pantry I saw through the realms the first time, and keep going. Beyond that is a long hall that seems to extend well beyond the bounds of the cafe. We pass several doors, some of which sound like they have interesting things happening behind them.
The door at the very end of the hall has two flaming wings branded on them. It flies open with a flick of his fingers and he drags me inside. Thewhompof it shutting behind us is only dampened by his smoky wings snapping out.
I glance at my surroundings, taking in the space that’s one part office, one part bedroom. The entire back wall is shelving for files on one side and books on the other near his bed. It’s not much more than a pile of pillows and blankets on a slightly raised cot, like anest.
“What are you doing here?” Rhazan barks.
“I asked first,” I say again, holding up my wrist. “What is this, and why can’t my astral body leave the café?”
His jaw muscles bulge. “It’s a power share.”
I shake my head and throw my hands out. “That meansnothing.”
“You can use my magic.”
“And the whole no leaving the café?”
“I’m…” He crosses his arms with a huff and his flaming gaze turns toward the wall of books. “Your astral body is fueled by my magic now. It has the same limitations as mine.”
“Which are?”
He hisses a sigh as he looks away, then runs his tongue over his fangs like he’s thinking. He swallows hard and his red cheeks flush deeper. His gaze flicks back to me, then away again.
Is he ashamed?
I grimace. Part of me is feeling like he deserves all the gross feelings he’s feeling for what he’s done to me. But hate and smugness aren’t going to get me answers. I grab his forearm, and he looks back at me with pain in his furrowed brow.
“What is it?” I ask, my voice soft and curious. “No judgement.”
“I deserve to be judged for what I did. And I have been.”
“You’re not going to tell me, are you?” I ask.
He frowns but says nothing.
I bob my head and let my hand slide away from his muscled arm. “Fine, but you owe me, dude. I can’t fly anymore. Night flights were my favorite.”
