Page 41 of Written In Flesh

Skully

EVEN WITH ALL the images for my next project laid out in front of me, and half of the paper that goes along with it sitting on my laptop, I still feel restless. There’s a tension under my skin that pulls and irritates me like a bad itch. It causes a sixth sense that something is happening, but I don’t know what it is. I’ve been back in River Falls for two months, and I still don’t remember the lay of the land or the rules. Except for Heath’s explanation of the Gate, the rest of it doesn’t make sense to me. And I’m tired. I’m so tired of watching my back, trying to figure out who the enemy is and worrying about things that no one seems to want to talk about.

Since I’ve been here, I haven’t heard a thing about the Nexa or the explosion. None of the paranormals are gossiping about it. Or maybe, it’s just me that no one wants to talk to about it. I want to talk to Baylee, but I’m not sure if I can. Azriel hasn’t called or texted me back yet. Aunt Loreli has been busier at the hospital and we rarely have a chance to check in apart from making sure the other is alive. I’m on a college campus; yet, I feel all alone. That is the only reason I am looking forward to my shift at the Gate with Madden. The absolute only reason. Thankfully I was able to get my shift changed with someone else so I could make it. Still, I hated missing out on Friday night tips. Just another reason that Madden is an asshole. I’m still pissed at how he showed up and forced me to leave with Heath too. The only thing that made it slightly better was that he sent Lily home with Aero.

My fingers touch the edge of one of my images again and I take a deep breath before exhaling, wishing that all these issues would just go away.

“You seem down, little devil.” Killian’s smooth, deep voice is suddenly right by my ear. My skin pebbles, and I jump sideways in my chair. His tall, brooding figure leans over the table, his hand centimeters from mine. “Jumpy.”

I roll my eyes and push down the initial feelings of paranoia that bubble to the surface when he’s around. “Not jumpy, Killian. Maybe warn a girl next time you decide to scare her to death.”

“Wouldn’t be half as fun that way.” He shrugs, while his dark brown eyes sparkle with mischief.

He sits, watching me, and I feel like he’s waiting for something. My brow arches as I turn to him again. “Can I help you with something, or are you just going to stare at me all day?”

His lips twist up into a cocky smile, one that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Just trying to figure this all out.”

“Figure what out?”

“You.” He shakes his head, leaning his hip against the table. “Everyone said you lost your memories, but I’m thinking that’s not it.”

A flush rises up my chest and burns my cheeks. “You think I’m making it up? That makes a lot of sense, Killian.” My legs unfold from under the table, and my fingers scramble to collect the images spread across the desk.

“Why are you upset?” His head cocks to the side, his dark eyes growing in their intensity.

My head snaps in his direction, my eyes widening in disbelief. “Are you joking? You just accused me of faking that I don’t have my memories. Like choosing to be here again is really something I wanted, and just to add in some fun I decided to pretend I forgot almost a whole year of my life.”

Tears fill my eyes, and I hate that one sentence from him caused this much turmoil. I don’t even know Killian, not really. But if what I’ve heard is true, it’s probably better that it stays that way. “Go away, Killian.”

He reaches for me at the same time I utter the words. His hand freezes in midair, his fingers instantly curling in on themselves. “Look at me, Skully.”

I shake my head, keeping my chin pointed to my chest, while I neatly pile together my pictures. “I think it’s better if you just walk away.”

Killian laughs, but the sound is dark, almost sad. “So you’re really going to believe him this time. Do you trust what he says?”

I turn toward him, my gaze clashing with his, and my hands land on my waist. “Are you talking about Madden?”

There’s a flash in his eyes and his head tilts contemplating. For a minute it’s as though this is a game, a familiar conversation that happened in another life. “Who else would I be talking about, little devil?”

My shoulders shrug. “I don’t know. My dad. Heath. Someone on the council.”

Killian scoffs and dips his head. “Cute. But I think we both know who I mean.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to argue, to defend Madden, even though I don’t know why, when he’s given me zero reasons to be on his side or earn my respect. Still, something deep inside me wants to guard him now.

“I don’t remember and right now I don’t care about anything that happened back then. I’m here to get my degree, do the job my dad wants and then I’m gone.”

He watches me, thoughtfully, his gaze heavy on mine. I don’t give him the chance to speak again, grabbing my bag and walking around the table to leave. A hand reaches out and snatches my backpack. My body swings forward with force, and once again, Killian is towering over me.

“Did you ever think that maybe you didn’t lose your memories?”

My eyes widen, flicking over his face. He looks torn, watching me, with so many different emotions sorting behind his gaze. My heart races in my chest, and my magic swirls under my skin. I want to ask him, to dive into this theory, to maybe have answers, but then I feel it. Heat races over my skin, the air charges with energy. Thick, ropes of black shadows touch against my peripheral and lightly skim over my skin. My own magic reaches out in response. Madden is here.

Killian’s hand drops from my backpack, and he’s shoved out of my space. “I told you to stay away from her.”

Madden’s body is at my back, and I can feel the heat of his skin through our layers of clothes. Killian stares over my head, and his lips twitch up in a smirk.

“Still jumping to conclusions. You have no idea what you’re talking about, Madden.”