Something sure to stir Fate.
24
JOLIE
When my alarm goes off the next morning, I burst out from my covers, eyes darting around the room. Squinting, I make out Jax’s shape in the darkness. Grabbing my phone, I shut off the blaring music, then notice a notification on my lock screen. A text message.
Ballet Potomac:
Studio closed today for inclement weather. Will update once we reopen.
I scrunch my brows together. It was supposed to be getting warmer outside. How could there be inclement weather?
My eyes snap to Jax’s. They glitter with mischief. “Was this what you went off to do last night?”
“I needed more time with you,”he says, like it’s a matter of fact and not him personally deciding to mess with the seasons.“I couldn’t give up the chance to see you before I’m pulled away and spring steals the show.”
I dash over to the window to see what he’s done.
There are people slogging through a foot of snow on the ground, a few trying uselessly to dig their cars out. A few slip,falling on their asses. DC isn’t equipped for weather like this. There’s no way people are going anywhere today.
My gaze shifts to the balcony next to mine where a little girl and her mother are building a snowman together in its corner. She giggles, stuffing a mozzarella stick into the middle of its face, then takes a few small rocks, arcing them into a lopsided grin. The girl waves at me and I give her handiwork a thumbs up before stepping away from the window.
“So…you decided to kick up a blizzard?” I ask, turning to my frosty mischief maker. “How long will we be snowed in?”
“I’m hoping I bought us a few more weeks. Depends how much I’ve angered the Blooms and how long it takes them to thaw everything out.”He shrugs. This one hundred percent interferes with the lives of mortals. He’s already explained how it’s the key tenet of his kind, so I don’t see this going to go over well with whoever he reports to.
That’s also a lot of missed rehearsals withGiselleright around the corner. After last night’s revelations, I’m more motivated than ever to thrive at Ballet Potomac and shove my reclaimed soloist position in Blake’s smug face.
I also don’t want Jax to get in trouble on my behalf. What if he’s punished again and I don’t get to see him again? What if they take away his memories of being here and refuse to return them? I haven’t been able to stop thinking about our almost kiss, and even though I’m slightly exasperated by him right now, it hasn’t changed my desire for the chill of his lips on mine.
Unfortunately, I still can’t see him anymore than I did in the moonlight.
“Okay, I feel like we have some things to talk about.” I groan, swallowing down the part of me that already feels rejected. I had a lot of time while I couldn’t sleep to think over my questions. Once the initial shock of Jax’s news about ourconnectionstartedto sink in, I wanted more details. “You said that I was your mate.”
“I did.”He plops down on the bed next to me, and I drag the covers over my feet, tucking my knees into my chest.“What do you want to know?”
“What does all of this even mean? You can always sense me?”
“Harbingers have heightened senses that come along with our earthside beasts. I can scent you, track you, sense your emotions.”
“And feel my heartbeat?”
“Yes, though that’s unique to you and I.”He holds out his hand, its outline beckoning to me. Once I slip my palm against his, shivering for more than one reason, he continues,“Harbingers’ hearts no longer beat. But your heart, your beautiful fucking heart, I can feel from anywhere.”
“Even in your world?”
“Yes.”
I mull over his words, then my eyes snap up to meet the sparkling silver of his. “You said scent me… You can smell me?” My hands fidget against his as I try to maintain eye contact.
“I can sense your feelings. Anger, truth, desire.”
My body warms, and his attention drops to the pink spanning my chest.
“Does that bother you?”
“Um… Not really, though it’s a bit embarrassing.” I release his hand and cross my arms over myself, rubbing away the goosebumps peppering my skin.
