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Before I could answer, the shouting behind him grew louder. The drunk apparently had friends with him, and the dance floor was turning into a brawl. Bel and Lucian were outnumbered. The blond giant’s eyes narrowed into slivers of ice.

“Hold on,” he said and turned in time to intercept a sloppy punch aimed for the back of Lucian’s unsuspecting head. The rest of the club’s bouncers descended at the same time, diving into the fray. The guys could hardly tell friend from foe in the chaos, and I screamed when Bellamy prepared to deck Jake.

“Bel, stop!”

He pulled his punch and his eyes found mine, nearly glowing with rage. He softened a fraction at the terrified look on my face.

“Please!” I shouted again, knowing now that he could hear me. “You need to stop. You need to go. Let security handle it!”

His face twisted in a snarl, and he fought his way closer to me. “Not. Leaving. You.” Something wild had possessed these men. They were fighting like they were prepared to kill for my honor, and that terrified me.

“Bellamy, go!” I felt my magic threading the words. “I am telling you to go. I’ll find you, I promise. Just go. Now!”

His bright gold eyes burned into me for a breath longer before he gave me a sharp nod. Then I was distracted by my name being shouted and Lana’s panicked face. She gestured for me to get out of the cage and, head still swimming, I stumbled down the steps and made my way over to her on unsteady legs. She was careful to keep her hands to herself and waited until we were back in the dressing room before pinning me with eyes wide as saucers.

“What the actual fuck is happening out there?” she breathed.

I pulled my mask off over my head, distractedly impressed that it had stayed put. “Some drunk reached into the cage and grabbed my hair,” I told her, voice wavering. “Out there is the aftermath of his stupidity.” I hugged my arms around myself. Adrenaline was still racing through me, my breath coming in little pants. I felt like a live wire. Like an exposed nerve.

I flinched when a car horn blared outside on the street, and Lana tutted. “Okay, hon. Change your clothes and go home. You’re done for the night.”

“But I’ve barely started! What about the cops? Don’t I need to be here?” I tried but failed to keep my lower lip from trembling as much as my words. I didn’t want to lose this job.

“Don’t worry about it.” Lana waved a hand like a dance floor brawl was no big deal. Maybe it wasn’t. “If you want to press charges, I’ll talk to them and get the details. Alicia will call you tomorrow after you’ve calmed down and gotten some rest. We’ll sort it out. Need me to call you a ride?”

I shook my head, even though I was grateful for the offer. “No, I don’t live far.” The words sounded fragile, and she gave me one more careful look before leaving to continue damage control. I opened my locker and grabbed the loose joggers I wore in. I fumbled into them with shaking hands, my balance shot, and pulled my hoodie over my shoulders before haphazardly stuffing my feet into my slip-ons.

All I needed right now was to be warm and comfortable and safe. The need pulsed in my chest like a living thing, and I let my feet follow it as it led me home.

17

CORDELIA

A dog barked in the distance, and I stumbled. Had I been sleepwalking? Where was— This was the crosswalk where I first met Bellamy. Then I saw him huddled on the other side of the street, pacing in the glow of the antique-style streetlight until he noticed me. He looked like a devastated god under the light.

He staggered the few steps to meet me when I stepped onto the curb. The chaotic events of my night had no effect on the ache of longing that was permanently lodged in my chest. My magic clawed at me as it begged, desperate for me to give in.

“We need him. Claim him.”

“I’m scared,” I breathed, answering my magic and admitting defeat at the same time. I was so tired of fighting. “I won’t forgive myself if I hurt him.”

“You won’t hurt me,” Bel said softly, unaware of my dual conversation. His dark amber eyes burned with conviction, no trace of doubt in their depths. “You can’t.”

I hung back, clinging to resistance with whatever strength I had left. “You don’t know that!” My lungs hitched as the air grew thin, panic clutching at my throat. I couldn’t do this. Couldn’t risk it. My pulse crashed in my ears with throbbing pain, and my head spun. “It’s too— it’s too much— I can’t⁠—”

“Breathe, Blue.” Bellamy took a slow step forward, hands in front of him like he was approaching a wild animal. I felt like a wild animal, caught in a snare, desperate to escape. “Baby, I need you to try and calm down before you pass out.”

His foot slid forward, and I knew I had to run and never look back. I couldn’t do this anymore. Every muscle tensed, preparing to sprint away, but Bellamy was faster. Without any warning, he reached for me. It was enough to startle me, and my magic seized the opportunity to take control and shoved me into him.

I face-planted against his chest, and his arms went around me. He reached a hand up under my disheveled hair to stroke the back of my bare neck, and that was all it took. Something warm and golden surged in my chest the second his fingers touched my skin. It was nothing like the icy wash of dread I’d come to expect. I could almost see the golden aura encompass Bel, and then his lips captured mine.

It all happened in the space of one suspended heartbeat before I shattered, collapsing against him, overwhelmed completely as my fingers clutched at his shirt. His lips parted against mine, his tongue coaxing me to open to him, and when I yielded, the world dissolved into nothing but this. Nothing but Bellamy. I tasted the cocktail he’d been drinking at the club, felt the gentle scrape of stubble against my chin as he tilted his head to find a better angle.

My magic hummed with satisfaction, sending vibrations straight to my core, and my knees wobbled beneath me. Nothing in my sad life had ever felt so right, so certain, like a dislocated joint settling back into place. In this breathless moment, I finally understood that I was always meant to surrender. I understood that Bellamy had been missing, and now I’d found him.

Found home.

A sob wrenched out of me, and he backed us up to a bench, sitting down and pulling me into his lap. I burrowed further into his hold while he shushed me in between gentle kisses pressed to my head. His hands rubbed soothing circles against the back of my sweatshirt, and I wanted to wrap him around me like a comfort blanket. All of the fear, the anguish, the confusion and desperation–it all drained out of me in a flood of tears.