But you shouldn’t be feeling this way. You know he’s just being practical. It doesn’t mean anything.
After all, if there was one dangerous beast out there—that thing he called a skaddler—there’s probably more.
And if you’ve learned anything from all the books and media you’ve consumed, now that you’ve had contact with magic, they’re probably going to keep hunting you down. So you’d better take him up on his offer while you’ve got the chance. And it’s not like you have much choice but to set him free anyhow, unless you want to be stuck with him forever.
“Deal,” you say before he can change his mind.
The book glows in your hands, growing so warm, you nearly drop it. The pages flutter open as you hold it out, staring down into them.
Now there are new words on the otherwise-blank pages.
In glowing, golden print, the rules of your deal stare back at you plain as day:
She will find a way to set him free. He will protect her.
Mysterious Hot Book Guy cocks an eyebrow at it. “What happened to being an ordinary human?”
“I am!” You protest.
At least, you’re pretty sure you are.
After all, until tonight, you were certain magic didn’t exist. Not outside the dozens of fantasy and paranormal stories stacking your bookshelf.
“Sure,” he says. “An ordinary human who just bound me to my words without even trying.Veryordinary.”
“I didn’t do it on purpose!”
“Yeah, yeah,” he says, but this time he just shakes his head. Like maybe he’s already resigned to his fate.
It’s getting late. Any later, and it’ll be early.
“I think I need to sleep,” you mutter, shaking your head. This is all too overwhelming. All you want is to go home and take a nice, hot shower. And then catch a quick nine-hour nap. “How about we pick this up in the morning?”
“You humans and your weak bodies.” Hot Guy scoffs, clasping his hands behind his head. “Fine. If you insist.”
“Good. Then I’m going home.”
Mysterious Hot Guy trails along behind you as you head back up the alley, toward the street. Of course he does.
After all, it seems you two are rather attached. Literally.
He continues to follow you all the way back to your apartment, but you don’t try to stop him. It’s kind of nice having someone bound by magic to protect you.
He’s basically your personal magical bodyguard now, you realize with a smile.
What a strange night this has been.
The streets are still especially deserted, and though you’ve finally reached an area where the lamps are lit again, the lonely breeze brings fresh goosebumps sliding down your arms. Even the shadowed branches of trees look like monstrous claws stretching to reach you as you round every corner.
Even with Mysterious Hot Guy there to begrudgingly protect you, you’re eager to get home where it’s safe.
Finally, you reach the beacon of mundane city life that is your faded apartment building.
The golden cuff at your wrist isn’t glowing so brightly by the time you make it up all six flights to your front door. In the light of the apartment hall, it looks just like an ordinary piece of jewelry.
An ordinary piece of jewelry that happens to connect you to a mysterious, magical hot book boyfriend.
“Hey. One more thing.” He leans in over you, one palm on the door above your head. You freeze midway through digging foryour key. “Don’t get the wrong idea or anything,” he says. “I’m only protecting you because our life-energies are tied together. That means if you die, I die. AndIwant to live.”
