That I would find myself, and I would live.
I had so much to live for...so many things I hadn’t done...
Slumber dragged me into its depths once more, and the darkness swallowed my light whole.
CHAPTER8
Valory
I watchedas Endor fingered through the racks of men’s clothes at the City Mission Thrift, passing up shirt after shirt.
“For God’s sake, Val, it’s not a fashion show,” he touted as I pulled out a shirt from the women’s rack that had bright yellow bananas plastered all over it.
Not really my style...
“Excuse me if I like to be comfortable,” I nipped as I finally selected a black top.
The fabric itself was smooth, luxurious, and the faint, metallic lace spoke to me.
The deep v that cut all the way down to a cinched waist looked like something a dominatrix or something would wear, and I thought it was equal parts sexy as it was elegant.
In life, I would have never even dreamed of walking out of my house wearing something like it, even though I would have secretly wondered how it would have looked on me.
“Finally find something you like?”Endor griped, and I stole a glance at him as he threw a plum silk button up over his arm.
I arranged my shirt over my jeans.
After the battle, after we’dlostMercy to the wolves, it was more than apparent that Endor and I needed a plan.
A plan that started with replacing our tattered, bloody, mangled outfits that made us look like off-brand Halloween costumes.
I watched as he casually picked through the racks, standing out against all the patterns and bright colors of the thrift shop.
His dark hair was a mess, and his tan looked almost golden in the artificial shop light, and for a moment he looked...mortal.
Like any other hot guy.
Memories flashed in my brain of our interlude this morning, before everything had gone to Hell in a handbasket.
I’d woken up, pressed against him, his arms encasing me.The deep, spicy scent of fire and cinnamon flooding my lungs, the warmth of his body pressed against mine...
Even as I let my thoughts wander now, the heat sparked, like the beginning of a whirlpool.
I’d never been so close to anyone before, and I kind of...liked it.
Just as I had likedkissinghim.
But I couldn’t afford to get distracted by Endor, not now.Not again.
I needed to keep my eye on the prize, and he wasnotit.
No matter how badly my inner teenager wants to climb the brooding, puissant demon like a tree.
There were more important tasks at hand.Starting with rescuing my darling Mercy.She must be so scared...
“I’m going to try these on,” I said, knowing we needed to move.Endor barely acknowledged me, but then again, I wasn’t sure he knew how to converse with me if he wasn’t scrutinizing me.
We’d both been out of our league today, and we both paid the price.Though I’d tried my damnedest to call my smiting power, it was no use.I could not for the angelic life of me, do the one thing I was supposed to be able to do.
