“I can,” Caspian replies, “Remember that day the two of you went shopping and I stuck to your side all day to ensure I wasn’t found?” Bel nods. “She almost spotted me several times. Not only was she aware of my presence, but she sensed exactly where I was standing at any given moment. Now that she knows what that sense feels like, I’m sure it’s becoming more and more honed.”
“Especially after spending so much time with us back home,” I add. “Almost an entire week she had to adjust to knowing we’re there.”
“I guess that’s true. You gotta stop teasing her about Eamon though, because I think she’s just about had enough,” Bel laughs, nudging me with her shoulder.
“I’m telling you, it’s only a matter of time.”
Bel giggles again, “Until what? They kill each other?”
“Kill each other in bed, maybe,” I nudge Bel back. Her eyes, glittering with humor, meet mine, and my breath stutters in my chest. Even in the dark, cast in shadows and hidden within her all-black recon get up, she’s a vision.
She lets her gaze drift back to the task at hand, but I can’t. All I can do is watch her, wondering again what this strange, hot, stifling feeling in my chest is. I’ve never felt anything like this before. I can’t breathe half the time, but I… I like it? Absolute nonsense, but it’s perfection. Having my sweet Songbird is like sweet agony. Like a beautiful dream that hurts because it might be ripped away at any moment.
It feels like an eternity and no time at all that I’m lost in her when Caspian eases onto his feet, announcing Isla’s arrival. I barely notice his exit, staring at the fucking angel in front of me even as she watches him go.
When her eyes return to mine, I can see her cheeks pinken before she giggles out, “What?”
“What what?” I tease.
“What are you staring at?” Her shy smile pulls me closer, forcing me to lean in without any conscious effort.
“Just you,” I lean in and kiss the corner of her mouth.
“Oh.”
“Oh,”I repeat, the rhythm of the teasing sentiment so comfortable that it feels like home, which is to say wholly unfamiliar as nothing has ever felt like home before. I open my mouth to say something else, though I’m unsure what words were trying to escape before we are interrupted.
“Sup, fuckers?” Isla whisper-yells as she plops down beside me.
“Isla,” Bel playfully chides, “We are on a stake-out.”
“Yeah, yeah, very serious stuff. Here.” She reaches a hand past me towards Bel, giving her what appears to be a flask.
“You brought booze?” Caspian asks, incredulous.
“Of course, I brought booze. This is going to be a fucking snooze-fest,” Isla shrugs, taking the container back from Bel and waving it in front of my face in offering.
“Okay, maybe just a little,” I concede. Such a small amount won’t actually do anything to me anyway. “Fuck, what is this?”It’s got a little bite.
“It’s just Bacardi,” she scoffs, “I didn’t realize demons were such babies about their booze.”
“You’re just carrying around 151 like it’s nothing,” Bel laughs for a moment before Caspian slaps a palm over her mouth.
His sudden change in demeanor has me peering toward the humans we were supposed to be watching before this turned into a fucking rager.
They’re mobilizing for something, the main entryway finally swinging open to reveal at least a dozen of them filing out. Their headgear looks awfully strange, though, so I peer closer. “Are they…”
“Wearing blindfolds,” Caspian supplies. “Can’t risk them being captured and telling the demons where their hideout is located.”
“Hey guys?” Isla asks, “If I could feel that you’re here, don’t you think that they’ll be able to too?”
“What?” It suddenly feels as though a weight has landed in my stomach.
“Well, yeah,” she rolls her eyes, the rum she’s been drinking for who knows how long clouding her common sense even though it clearly doesn’t cloud the fact that she’s way fucking smarter than the rest of us. “And like, I’m not even trained for this shit. They are. You didn’t think that through?”
“We have the compass though,” I supply. “How could they-”
Isla looks at the three of us again, explaining this like we’re children. “Well, I’m sure the compass helps, but if they can sense you, I’m sure they could figure out where you are by other means. Do you know for certain that you have theonlytracking device they made?”
