And another thing… How was he still alive? He’d touched me a handful of times already. It had only been a few hours since I ran into him at the hospital, but here he was again aggravating the hell out of me because he wanted to touch.
He was the freaking Grim Reaper’s son! And he felt something when we touched too.
Twitchy fingers.
I raked my hands down my jeans trying to calm myself. The ogre couldn’t drag me back now. Yes, the Reaper—Sebastian I believe it was—could have gotten rid of it. But I only trusted me when it came to getting rid of my troubles.
Seeing imps and an ogre after a decade living in the human world was a little disturbing. Julius would send every demon at his disposal to get me back. I hated… No, loathed the Underworld. The very thought of going back had my hackles rising, so when Sebastian turned around with a questioning scowl on his face, my instinct was to protect myself.
For all I knew, Sebastian could be someone Julius sent. I didn’t know anything about the Grim Reaper other than the whole dealing with the dead thing. He could be just as evil as Julius and his son too.
Once the thought seeded itself into my brain, I felt not only worried but hostile. I watched Sebastian take out the imps without a care or much effort. And he had the ogre on the ground before the giant knew what was what.
Of course I was the one who got rid of it, I reminded myself. I could be a badass too. The only problem was I knew nothing about Sebastian. I had no idea what he was capable of. My only advantage was that he had no idea whatIwas capable of either.
I have a feeling we can help each other.His words were confusing. Was this about our touch again?
“I have no interest in touching.”
He smirked, stepping closer. “That’s a conversation for later.”
This day had been a nightmare. I hadn’t taken a minute to pause and let myself think. Instinct and survival were the only two things my body allowed. Without even blinking, I turned my palm up and spelled the portal chip he took from me to come to my hand.
He disappeared from his spot before the portal chip was firmly in my hand. He materialized behind me, sliding in with so much refinement that shouldn’t have been easy for someone as big as him. He gripped my wrist, and I swung out to hit him. Sebastian blocked my punch. He smirked as he ripped the portal chip from my sweaty palm.
I seethed. Magic crackled around my hands. “Why are you doing this?” I hissed. I was equal parts pissed and tired, so who knew if I sounded like I was giving up or just flat out scary to him.
“I can help you.”
I blasted him with my magic for the second time today. The blast was strong enough to send him flying into traffic, but I didn’t take the chance of leaving even though I could try. I had a feeling running from Julius was a lot easier than it would be trying to get away from Sebastian. He shared smiles, careless words, but I had a suspicion he was so much more than that. That’s why he made me nervous.
He landed on his feet. My magic didn’t faze him. He never even stumbled, just calmly walked across the traffic back to me. Every vehicle slipped through him like he was a shadow. I thought of the cloak he wore earlier when I first met him and realized that maybe he was like a shadow.
Magic still crackled around me. My heart beat was erratic as the adrenaline spiked my blood.I can help you.He didn’t know what he was talking about. Or maybe this was a trick. I tried to think of who Julius was acquainted with and came up blank. I couldn’t remember anyone he didn’t use just like me.
I watched Sebastian slip my portal chip into his jeans pocket before he held up his hands. “I get it. Something’s got you seriously distrustful of everyone that approaches you.” He didn’t try to step any closer to me once he crossed the highway. “It’s not hard to see someone’s after you, and considering it was a swarm of imps and an ogre, I know it’s someone from the Underworld. I can help you,” he said again. “If you let me.”
“Why would you want to help me?”
“Well, for starters, we encountered suspicious imp behavior right after I left you the other day,” he started.
“It’s still the same day for me!” I couldn’t help but snap at him.
“Right.” He nodded. “The time difference is vastly different.” He dropped his hands and waited for me to say or do something. “But more importantly, it’s because we’re friends, you and me. Of course I’ll help.”
I sputtered. “We just met.”
“Yes, but that’s kind of how people become friends. Not to mention, your touch gives me—”
“Please stop with that already.” I slapped my hand over my face.
“It means something, you don’t just get energy like that from touching someone.”
I laughed, amazed at how much easier it was dealing with his randomness than my own problems. “What is our touch supposed to mean?”
He scratched his chin, contemplating. “Well, it could mean all kinds of things.”
“You’re full of shit.”
