by J. N. Baker
Alec took a step back and I immediately missed the feel of his skin against mine. He pulled his hand from behind his back and the intoxicating scent of the flowers overwhelmed me. Wildflowers. Something about wildflowers spoke to me. Perhaps it was their ability to grow where they wanted, be what they wanted. They didn’t have to live up to any special rules—they were free. Alec knew how much I loved them.
He smiled softly at me, tucking the vibrant colors into my long hair like a crown. He searched my eyes for what felt like hours before placing a gentle kiss on the corner of my mouth. “You are beautiful, Zoe,” he whispered. “And never doubt your gift. The ability to see into the future is a great one. Only you know what will happen next.”
He took my hand in his, pulling me back to the cot and pushing me down onto the rough fabric without another word. His golden eyes stayed glued to mine as one hand found my cheek, slowly stroking my jawline.
“Alec, I—”
He picked up the rubbing alcohol bottle and resumed his torture. “Don’t worry, it just takes time for your body to fully adjust, to learn what it needs to do. Within a year, you’ll be able to heal much faster.”
I hadn’t been on a date in a long time, longer than I cared to remember. It was Cindy’s favorite thing to pester me about. I couldn’t count the number of times she’d tried to set me up with one of her he’d-be-perfect-for-you friends. It wasn’t just because of the “accident” or my not being human anymore—although those were a large part of it. I was just never big on dating. I hated the wasted hours spent on awkward conversation, being overly self-conscious, and the dreaded goodnight kiss. It all made me incredibly uncomfortable.
I hardly knew the man sitting in my living room. I hadn’t seen him in over five years and there he was, right back in my life, trying to steal my heart all over again. Did I have a heart to steal? Either way, he was doing a damn good job. There was something about Alec, something I couldn’t quite explain. I was drawn to him. Like a moth to a flame, he called to me. Last time, I flew too close to the fire and got burned. And yet, here I was, flying right back into the inferno.
Every move I made felt unnatural—clothes strewn across my bed, thrown over the computer chair, piled on the floor. After trying on the seventeenth outfit, I settled on a look—mainly because I had run out of outfits to try. I took a deep breath, staring at my reflection in the mirror. What the hell was I doing?
“You’re a vision.” Alec’s eyes roamed my body as I emerged from the bedroom in black leggings and a tunic sweater that threatened to slip off my right shoulder. He took my hand in his, bringing my palm to his lips. As his fingers grazed the dagger’s sheath strapped tightly around my wrist beneath the protection of my knit sweater, his eyes met mine. He cocked a brow at me, a smirk dancing on the edge of his lips.
“Never know when you’ll have to defend yourself,” I quipped, pulling free of his grasp and making my way to the front door.
Alec put his hands on his hips, shaking his head with a laugh. In a flash, he stood in front of me, opening the door with an overly dramatic bow. “I will have to be on my best behavior then, my lady.”
I had to laugh at his ridiculousness. “Where are we going anyway?”
“There’s a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant downtown,” he answered as he escorted me out of the apartment. “It isn’t too far from here.”
I paused, hands lingering as I turned to lock my door. “Downtown? I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Alec.”
Alec took the key from my hand and finished locking my door. “Yeah,” he said, placing the key back in my palm. “William said the same thing.”
“William said that?” I felt heat rising up my neck that had nothing to do with Alec. I shoved the key into my purse and stormed down the stairs toward the parking lot. When I reached the bottom stair, I turned to see Alec still standing outside my apartment. “You coming or not?”
Without warning, Alec stood behind me, his strong masculine scent invading my nostrils. His breath on the nape of my neck sent chills down my spine. “Too good for the stairs?” I mumbled, turning to face him.
He smirked, his bright golden eyes damn near glowing in the growing darkness of nightfall. I thought I felt my heart skip a beat. “Whatever gets me closer to you fastest,” he whispered.
“You don’t wear contacts out in public?” I hadn’t noticed until then.
“I take my chances,” he said with a wink. “Just don’t tell William.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“You should try it,” he purred, his gaze falling to my lips. He raised a hand to my face, a rough thumb stroking my cheek. “Eyes like yours shouldn’t be covered up.”
I pulled away from his touch, making my way into the parking lot. I needed space—to put distance between us so I could think clearly. “Are we going?” I asked, scanning the parking lot for his car.
“Of course.” Alec motioned for me to follow him down the row of cars. We walked up to the back of a neon orange Dodge Challenger lined with black racing stripes. I started making my way to the passenger side when I realized that Alec had kept walking. I trailed after him, passing by a few sedans, a super-charged SUV with rubber band tires, and a minivan with salt-damaged paint before Alec stopped and pointed to his ride.
So much for distance.
“You’re joking, right?” I gaped at the black motorcycle.
“Don’t worry,” he said, his hand finding the small of my back. “I assure you, I’m an excellent driver. Trust me.”
“I did trust you once, Alec,” I started, “but that was a long time ago.”
His face fell. Alec picked up a spare helmet from the back of the seat and placed it over my head, strapping it firmly in place under my chin. “I plan to earn that trust back, Zoe.”
Alec grabbed his own helmet and pulled it over his head before swinging a long leg to straddle the motorcycle. Kicking up the stand, he held the bike steady as he coached me onto the back of the narrow seat. “You ready?” he called over his shoulder.
I gave a stiff nod against his back and that was all the permission he needed. As he turned the key in the ignition, the roar of the engine rattled every bone in my body.
“Hold on tight.” He flipped the face shield of his helmet down and hunched into the handlebars.
I wrapped my arms around his firm waist, gripping onto the bottom of his shirt with white knuckles as we exited the parking lot. The second we hit the street, Alec revved the engine and we were off, slicing through the wind like a bullet. My heart quickened as the salty air blew against my face.
We dodged cars, weaving in and out of traffic as we raced across town. For the first time in a long time, I felt alive. It could have had something to do with the man whose hips I was straddling, but it was easier to blame it on the thrill of the ride.
I couldn’t help but feel a bit cheated as the motorcycle came to a grinding halt. Alec wasn’t kidding when he said the restaurant wasn’t far. I already missed the fresh air in my face, the vibration of the bike against my thighs. Maybe I needed to buy a motorcycle of my own.
Alec dropped the kickstand and twisted on the bike, offering me a hand to help me ease off the motorcycle. As I placed my hand in his, electricity pulsed between us. I recoiled, rubbing my hand against my thigh to try to erase the sensation burning through my flesh.
“Thanks,” I mumbled, “but I’ve got it.”
Alec watched me carefully as I slipped off the bike before hopping off himself. He reached up and yanked off his helmet, revealing his naturally messy hair. My fingers itched to run through it. He moved toward me as if reading my mind. He reached out, unbuckling the helmet strap under my chin, his fingers lingering along my neckline for a minute before pulling the helmet off. I ran my fingers through my own windblown hair, resisting the urge to bury them in his.
Alec turned and led me toward the restaurant. We got all of two feet before he grabbed me by the wrist and spun me around, slamming me int
o the side of a white minivan parked along the street. The motion left a dent in the passenger door. The impact might have hurt if I were still human. I opened my mouth to speak when Alec’s head dipped, his lips connecting with mine.
His breath was hot, igniting a fire deep within me. I knew I should push him away, I just couldn’t get myself to do it. My hands snaked around his neck, pulling him closer. The taste of his lips was intoxicating. It consumed me until all I could think about was the sensation of his fingertips caressing the nape of my neck, of his body pressed firmly against me, the way his mouth moved against my own, of his body’s strong reaction to mine.
My heart fluttered wildly. His lips moved over mine with a passion and hunger I hadn’t experienced in years. Years—because he’d left me. I broke away, gasping for air. I couldn’t bring myself to look at him.
Alec’s forehead fell against mine. “I’m sorry, Zoe,” he breathed, his voice heavy with desire. “But I couldn’t resist any longer. Words cannot express how much I’ve missed you. I’ve done nothing but count the days until I’d get to see your beautiful face once more.” He released a weighted breath, one hand gently stroking my cheek. “Leaving you was the biggest mistake I’ve made in my long life.”
“But you did leave,” I whispered to the ground, my voice shakier than I would have liked. I took a deep breath and steeled myself, looking him square in the eye. “I can’t just pick up like that never happened, Alec. Clearly whatever the hell this is between us,” I motioned back and forth from him to me as he took a step back, “is still there. I’d be a fool to deny that. But I need time. We’re different people now—”
He opened his mouth in protest and I held up my hand. “I’m a different person. I know five years probably doesn’t feel like a long time to you but, for me, it might as well be a lifetime.”
Alec ran a hand through his messy hair, the other hand rubbing at the back of his neck. “I know. You’re right. I’ll do better,” he said, giving me a small smile. “However long it takes, Zoe. I’ll wait for you. I’ll prove I’m still the man you knew five years ago—that I’m still yours.”
“How about we start with a date first, or whatever the hell this is supposed to be.”
He slowly, almost painfully, took another step back, as if fighting some sort of magnetic pull between us. He turned and walked to the door of the restaurant, swinging it open as dramatically as he had the door to my apartment and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you like Italian food?”
“Adore it,” I answered, prying myself from the side of the van and strolling past him. And just like that, we were like a normal human couple. Not that we were a couple, or human, or even remotely normal.
There was nothing overly fancy about the restaurant. It was nice—bigger than it looked from the street, stretching back in a long rectangle with a bar on the left. About twenty round tables were scattered around the dimly lit dining room, each draped with crisp white tablecloths. A few patrons had already been seated for their evening meal. A young hostess greeted us at the door. She flashed a bright smile at Alec as she led us to a cozy little corner in the back of the restaurant and placed two menus in front of us. “Your server will be with you shortly. Enjoy!”
“Order whatever you like,” Alec said. His fingertips brushed against mine as he reached for his menu. That was all it took—the tiniest damn touch—and my stomach was fluttering. I’d forgotten the pull that used to be between Alec and me all those years ago—that was still very obviously there. I grabbed my menu with what I hoped were steady hands.
I watched Alec around the side of my menu. He flipped through his own, running his fingers over his permanent five o’clock shadow as he mulled over meal choices. How the hell was he so calm? I’d never gone out in public that calm in all my life—Chosen or otherwise. He sat with an ease about him as if he didn’t have a damn care in the world. As if we hadn’t been running down this very street mere hours ago, trying to escape Baldric’s men.
I scanned the restaurant for the fifth time, eyeing nearby patrons, looking for anything out of the ordinary—weapons, lingering eyes, a bloody pair of fangs. A passerby walked down the sidewalk outside, throwing a casual glance through the restaurant window, and my fingers hovered over the dagger hidden on my wrist. Alec’s hand stilled mine, his eyes finding mine as he pulled my hand into his lap, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Hey, my name is Jade and I’ll be your server this evening. Can I start either of you with something to drink?”
I didn’t look up at the waitress. I was still caught in Alec’s gaze and, like a fly in a web, I didn’t have the strength to pull away. I thought he said something to her about white wine and salad, but I couldn’t be sure. Her footsteps trailed off and I forced my eyes back to the menu, cursing myself for being rude.
Alec scooted his chair closer to mine until the legs damn near touched. “Relax,” he said in a hushed voice that only our kind would be able to hear. “You’re safe here.” He gave my hand another reassuring squeeze. And yet, still my fingers itched to feel the weight of the dagger in my hand. I opened my mouth to protest when the waitress approached our table. I tried to remember her name.
“Jade,” Alec said with perfect timing. “I think we’re ready to order.”
The tall, slender woman with rich ebony skin nodded, stepping in front of our table. Compared to the rest of the restaurant décor, she seemed horribly out of place. A row of metal lined each of her earlobes and a nose ring shimmered in the dim lighting. At the base of her neck, I could see a black tattoo peeking out from her collared shirt. I had a feeling there were plenty more where that came from.
Her hair was cut in a short A-line, layers carefully placed in every which direction, purposefully chaotic. I was unsure if her hair was dark brown or black but I was leaning toward black. Though, most of it was covered in thick chunks of purple and white. It accentuated the silver color that ran through her piercing gray eyes.
There was something about her, something familiar.
“What can I get you?” Her voice was unenthusiastic as she set our wine glasses and salad bowls on the table, then pulled out a small spiral notebook from the apron cinched around her waist.
“Chicken parmesan for me and…” Alec trailed off, raising an eyebrow at me.
“Baked lasagna,” I mumbled. “Thank you.”
She scratched our order down and retreated from the table, taking our menus with her. I’d skipped lunch and tried to hide the gurgling sound of my stomach by clearing my throat. Our kind didn’t need to eat to survive. We felt hunger, but we couldn’t die of starvation. Food was more of a luxury for us. We didn’t need it, but it made us stronger. It was the same for the vamps. They didn’t need blood to survive, but it made them a hell of a lot stronger.
I twisted the stem of the wine glass between my thumb and forefinger, watching the tiny bubbles dance to the surface before pressing the glass to my lips. It was moments like these I found myself grateful that I’d always looked mature for my age. Made my fake ID easier to believe. Which was good because, with the type of life I led, I needed a drink or two—or ten—from time to time. William didn’t like it. He said it dulled my senses, if only temporarily. William could kiss my ass. I took another sip.
I rubbed my eyes, trying to focus on the tall glass. Forks and spoons vibrated across the perfectly ironed cloth. My salad plate inched dangerously close to the edge of the table before shattering on the tile floor. I gasped, shoving my chair back into the wall behind me as I jumped to my feet. Tremors pulsed up through my legs, rattling my nerves.
Someone across the restaurant screamed as the floorboards split down the center of the building, taking a few chairs and tables prisoner. Steam erupted from the earth below. As people made a dash for the exit, an explosion from the street blew in the windows. Shards of glass soared like daggers through the air, burrowing deep into paper-thin flesh.
I gripped my left shoulder, ripping out the five-inch piece of glass. B
lood spiraled down my arm, absorbing into the sleeve of my sweater.
Everyone scurried about the building, everyone except for our waitress, Jade. She scowled at me from the shadows of the bar, unmoving. Her arms were folded over her chest, left ankle crossed casually over the right. Those gray eyes were fixed on me like the sharp edge of a sword.
“It takes practice.” A voice tore me away from her stare.
“What?” I breathed, looking down at Alec.
He sipped his wine, golden eyes glued to the table. “It takes practice distinguishing the visions from reality or, at least, so I’ve been told by past seers.”
I scanned the room—the perfectly polished windows, the neatly set up tables. The door chimed as a couple entered. Customers laughed and mingled amongst themselves, sipping wine and digging into steaming bowls of pasta.
The vision was over.
“We should probably get out of here,” I told Alec, hands braced against the table as if the earth would shake at any moment.
Before he could ask why, Jade placed our own steaming plates in front of us, her eyes never straying far from mine. “Here’s your food.”
The red marinara oozing from the side of my lasagna looked a lot like blood. I nudged the plate to the center of the table. “I think I’ve lost my appetite.”
“Jade, this is Zoe.” Alec jabbed a fork in my direction before sinking it into his food. “She’s the one I’ve been telling you about. Zoe, this is Jade.” He took a bite of chicken, chewing slowly, as if we had all the time in the world. “She is one of us.”
I choked on my own tongue, falling back into my chair.
She looked me over with disgust. “And William thinks she’s ready?”
Alec nodded. “William trained her well.”
“And what about you?” she asked, her tone still overly condescending. “Six years isn’t very long to prepare. I mean, look at her. One little vision and she can’t even stomach her meal.”
Alec motioned her to settle down with a free hand. He took another bite of his chicken, his eyes finding mine. “I’ve seen her reaction time—it’s good. She’s ready. Besides, whether it’s been long enough or not doesn’t matter anymore. You know as well as I do that the time for preparation is over.”
