Yeah, better cash in on that trip while you still can.
Though now that Ziros asked, you’re thinking of all the other possibilities you could do together. Heck, you’re not even sure he’s ever been to a movie theater.
Maybe he’d freak out. If so, it might be fun to see his reaction.
Another day, perhaps.
“You want to go on the yacht?” Ziros asks with an incredulous laugh, glancing at the window.
…The window currently being pounded by the relentless spatter of windblown rain, the sky dark and stormy above the rooftops.
Yeah.
He’s probably got a point.
But his eyes darken like the weather isn’t all that’s giving him trouble, and you can’t help but ask, “Why? Do sea monsters come out in storms or something?”
He snorts, folding his arms.
“Sea monsters?Human. What do you think this is, Loch Ness? No. I’d be more worried if my damn twin had water powers, but rest assured—he doesn’t.”
“You talk like the Loch Ness monster is real.”
“And your point is?”
You blink.
Well then.
“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised,” you say, shaking your head.
After all, if there’s giant pinchy-scorpion-monster skaddler things roaming the streets behind your workplace, why wouldn’t other kinds of monsters exist, too?
That’s a chilling thought.
“So does that mean there’s other monsters we should be worried about? Stuff underwater we might encounter?”
You shiver, suddenly having second thoughts about your choice to cash in on your private yacht adventure.
Ziros grins, pushing off the wall where he’d been leaning.
Taking your jaw in one hand, he turns your face toward his. “Don’t worry, human. I’ll keep you safe.”
His eyes are such a captivating shade of steel blue, and there’s something about the protective, fierce way he’s looking at you.
Combined with the grip of his hand on your jaw, your heart races so fast, you can barely breathe.
Swallowing hard, you say, “That didn’t sound like a ‘no’.”
“That’s because it’s not.” Stepping back, he lets your chin go as he exhales a rough sigh. “There’s always gonna be monsters after you, human. Wherever you go. Some places more than others.” Pausing, he adds, “But as long as you’re with me, you’ll be fine.”
“What about—” You hesitate, realizing you’re asking a question you’re not sure you want to know the answer to.
A question that reminds you he won’t always be by your side.
That you’re supposed to be figuring out how to let him go.
“About what?”
