Chapter Nine
Zander
Iwaseitherasleepor dead. I didn’t know which. The pain of the multiple fangs replayed in my mind. I was sure Daren and his friends had killed me. I was a husk of myself. I couldn’t connect to my power. The magic I was born with was missing. I prayed this was just a bad dream—that this wasn’t death. If I was dead, this was hell, and I didn’t belong there.
A presence, a force pulsed over me, and I felt it—my magic. The old energy stirred within me, and the breath of life filled my lungs. Another wave of power washed over my body, and my strength grew. I didn’t know who was there, but I needed to see them. I needed to know them.
I inhaled and slowly pushed my eyes open. My eyelids were like thousand-pound weights, but my desire to know this power moved me forward. I wouldn’t give up.
The room was dark but for a tiny light on the bedside table. I looked down and was lying on a soft bed covered in white linen sheets. I blinked several times and shook my head. I needed to pay attention and find the person in the room. I heard a large inhale and soft sobbing. My vision cleared and I focused on the sounds.
My heart raced and my magic pulsed. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t know how it was possible or where this young man came from, but I knew he was my spark. He was a part of my soul. That was why my magic yearned for him.
“Who are you?” I asked. My voice was rough to my own ears, and I swallowed several times.
The man jumped from the bed and twirled around. He was stunning to my sight. He was around five-nine or ten, with shaggy brown hair and soft brown eyes. He had a few extra pounds but was perfect. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped. Fear shone in his expression, and I realized he was human.
I cleared my throat and hurriedly said, “Don’t be scared. I won’t hurt you.”
“I-I, um… who, what are you?” the man asked, pushing a wild strand of hair out of his face.
I pushed back on the headboard and sat up, allowing the sheet to fall from my chest and pool at my waist. “My name’s Zander. I’m an imp. Please don’t be afraid.”
If possible, the man’s eyes widened more at my words. “Zander,” he whispered. “They said you were hurt.”
“They? You know me?” I asked.
He slowly nodded, but it turned into a half nod, half shake. “Yes and no?” He said as if in a question. I furrowed my brow, confused at his words. “Colin said you were here, and you were our soulmate, but I don’t really know you,” he continued.
“Colin? You know Colin?”
He tilted his head again and stepped forward beside the bed. “Yes, I met him yesterday.” He raised his hand but stopped. “Your skin is so beautiful,” he whispered.
“You can touch me, sweetheart,” I said.
He jerked his eyes to mine. “I-I can? I—”
“Of course, you can. I’d love to feel your hands on me. That is, if you tell me your name,” I said with a smile.
His cheeks tinted a light red. “My name is Reggie.”
He leaned forward and skimmed his fingers over my arm. I shivered, and my cock hardened at the feel of my spark. I wanted him. I needed him.
Reggie glanced up. “It’s so soft. Not what I expected. But then again, I didn’t know what to expect. Everything’s been a little surreal.”
I placed my hand over his and stopped his movement. “I can change it to more like yours if it will make you feel better.”
“No, don’t. I like it. It’s beautiful. You’re beautiful. I- damn. I don’t know anymore. This need, this attraction, it was like this with Colin, too,” He replied, shaking his head.
“I feel it too, the attraction. But it’s more intense for the paranormal—trust me. It’s not every day we run across the one meant for us. Or, in our case, the ones,” I paused and took a deep breath before asking the question I didn’t want to ask. “Where’s Colin?”
Reggie bit his bottom lip and gave a nervous glance. “I left him—”
“You left him?” I asked, shouted.
“I was scared. I-I… there were so many scary people. A man with purple fire, another had black scales, and then another shimmered. The energy was too much. And they were all yelling. I couldn’t…. I ran.” Tears streamed down his cheeks.
“Hey, it’s okay. I’m sorry they scared you. I’m sure they wouldn’t hurt you,” I said.
