Something in his tone made my chest tighten. Rey and I, we went way back. Centuries. To him, I was his snarky, tough-as-nails second-in-command, the one who always had his back no matter what. Which I was. He’d grown on me, and I had apparently grown on him too.
"Hey," I said softly, reaching out to punch him lightly on the arm. "I’m ready to kick butt and take names. You really think a little power nap would slow me down?"
Rey's lips twitched, a hint of his usual mischievous grin breaking through the serious moment. "Guess not." He turned to Cathy then, pulling her into his side and pressing a kiss to the top of her fiery hair. "And now it's the three of us, yeah?"
Cathy leaned into him, her slim frame fitting perfectly against his dancer's build. "Damn straight," she said, her tone fierce despite the laughter dancing in her green gaze.
The sudden lump in my throat made swallowing hard These two idiots... They had no idea how much they meant to me. How much I cared about them, even if I'd never admit it out loud.
I stood up from the bed and pulled them both into a tight quick hug, my arms wrapping around their shoulders as I tucked my face into the crook of Rey's neck. "Back at you both," I mumbled, my words muffled against his skin.
But even as I released them, another face flashed through my mind. Sharp features, dark hair, ice-blue eyes that seemed to see straight through me... Luce.
I couldn't explain it, this pull I felt toward him. It was like gravity, inevitable and inescapable, drawing me in.
Then I’d enjoy the ride.
"I gotta go," I said briskly, avoiding their confused stares as I grabbed my leather jacket from the back of a chair and shrugged it on.
"What? Rissa, wait—" Rey started, but I was already moving, snatching up my keys from the bedside table and heading for the door.
My boots thudded heavily against the wooden floorboards as I strode toward the door, single-minded in my determination.Behind me, I could hear Rey and Cathy's hurried footsteps, their bewildered questions filling the air.
"Rissa, hold up! Where are you going?" Cathy called out, a note of concern in her tone.
"What's going on? Talk to us," Rey chimed in, his usually playful demeanor replaced by an order.
I paused at the threshold, my hand gripping the doorknob tightly. A part of me wanted to turn back, be comfortable and familiar. But I wouldn't. This was something I wanted.
"I just... I need to take care of something," I said over my shoulder, my words clipped and vague. "It's important."
"But you just woke up! You shouldn't be going anywhere alone," Cathy protested, her brow furrowed with anxiety.
I forced a smile, trying to reassure her even as my heart raced with a sense of urgency. "I'll be fine, Cathy. Don't worry about me."
Rey stepped forward, eyes intent on me. "At least check in with us, Rissa. Let us know you're okay."
I nodded tersely, my jaw clenched with tension. "I will. I promise."
And with that, I wrenched open the door and stepped out, letting it slam shut behind me. I could still hear their muffled voices, their pleas for me to come back, but I pushed them aside, focusing instead on the task at hand.
Luce. I had to find him, had to make sure he was safe. Everything else could wait.
12
MS. FORTUNA
I sipped my pinot noir,the rich notes of the wine coating my tongue as I settled into my plush armchair. On the flatscreen before me, the latest exploits of the Kardashian family played out in its dramatic and scripted fashion. A smirk tugged at my lips. My reality was far more interesting.
The monster integration program was exceeding all expectations. My affinity for matching monsters and humans had proven quite...fortuitous. Heh. Their pairings were thriving, connections deepening by the day. The humans required more finesse, but I relished the challenge. Luck in love was my forte, after all.
My musings were interrupted by a jingle from my phone. I glanced at the screen. Oh, how delightful! One of my matches was experiencing a significant moment. I aimed the remote at the TV and pressed a button, anticipation swelling in my chest.
The screen split in two, each side displaying a different scene. How peculiar. Normally, significant moments warranted the full screen treatment, as my charges were often in the same place forsuch revelations. I leaned forward, curiosity piqued. What could fate have in store for them now?
On the left, Rissa swung her leg over a sleek black motorcycle, her short raven hair whipping in the wind. Not a helmet in sight. That girl had a flair for the dramatic and a stubborn streak to match. Her leather jacket hugged her athletic frame as she revved the engine, green eyes glinting with determination.
To the right, Luce slid into the driver's seat of his polished BMW, movements precise and deliberate. He exuded an air of command, even in solitude. Dark brows furrowed over deep-set eyes as he gripped the steering wheel, his sharp features set in concentration.
