Sometimes, she speaks to thin air. At first, I was worried for her sanity, but over time, I’ve accepted she’s just talking to herself. It’s almost endearing.
A boy carries over some surfboards, and I bite back my laughter. This should be interesting. My little mortal is not coordinated.
Fuck! THE little mortal. Not mine – never mine.
My eyes trace the soft curves of her body, accentuated by her wetsuit.
It isn’t difficult to see why Leon became infatuated with her. She’s so fucking stunning, I think even sirens would be jealous. But this mortal isn’t Cassandra.
Will Leon appreciate who she is now?
Will he lie awake at night, thinking about how her ocean-blue eyes light up whenever she opens a new book, or how she bites her lip while she studies?
Will he see how fucking far she’s come, how hard she’s fought to be okay?
Bile rises in my throat as I picture them together.
Fated – they’re fucking fated.
She’s going to love him.
But what if she doesn’t?
From what I’ve seen, she isn’t interested in men or women. She might read a lot of sex, but she doesn’t like to be touched. I don’t let myself continue down that trail of thought.
She’s in the water now, laughing at the loud boy.
His eyes have been lingering over her for longer these days. I’m itching to turn his thoughts, but the mortal is doing a good job of handling him.
She doesn’t need my help.
Last night, when she almost drowned in a cave? She definitely needed it.
Most nights, I apparate back to the Shadow Realm. The little mortal becomes temptation incarnate when she gets all hot and bothered from reading. But yesterday, she filled her car with gas, and I was too curious to leave.
Thank the fucking Fates I stayed.
I’m sure the Mortal Realm scientists are going to be confused when they notice the tides slowed. I bought her the time she needed to find her way out of the caves. I’m not leaving her fucking side again. I’ll stay and pass the crucible if it means keeping her safe.
The fog presses in, and I pull on my power, just enough to see her. These waves are too big for a beginner. Where the fuck are her friends?
But the little mortal doesn’t seem concerned. She paddles out even farther, and anxiety twists in my chest.
Without hesitating, I jump into her friend’s thoughts and whisper concerns over safety. I’ve just dissipated enough fog for Sarah to see her, when there’s a flash of red hair and my little mortal disappears under a wave.
Fear pierces through me, cutting deeper than any blade. I’m under the water in an instant, ready to drag her up – until I see them – trails of blue energy, coiled around her wrist, extending into the depths.
Leon. She’s finally found him, and she’s his Keeper.
Something stabs at my gut, but I ignore it.
Fated or not, that asshole is going to kill her if he keeps dragging her down.
Briefly, I consider ending his immortal life while he’s vulnerable. Then, I could keep her.
Fuck. No. Can’t kill her fated. She’s not mine.
Instead, I cut the threads, just in time for her friend to drag her to the surface.
