Alpha Devotion: Paranormal Romance Collection

by Lola Gabriel

  “I was just—”

  “We all know you were looking for her, Nyx.”

  “She’s probably not coming. She thinks I’m just like my father, or so she’s heard anyway.”

  Josh frowned deeply and shook his head. “Does she even know your father?”

  “Unfortunately, yes, and all the shit he’s done.”

  “Come on, mate. It can’t be that bad. Besides, you’re nothing like your old man, right?” Josh asked.

  “Right. I’m not.”

  “Be sure to tell her that when she arrives,” Josh tried to sound encouraging. “You’re up next, alright?”

  Nyx nodded gratefully; he appreciated Josh’s attempt to make him feel less like an asshole. He walked toward the stage and opened his guitar case.

  He started to play a song he had loved for a very long time, one for which he had always received a standing ovation when he was done, so what better way to start off his set than with it? He scanned the room as he sang, which was something he never did. He did not want to set himself up for disappointment, but he couldn’t help but hope that she would be there. He looked down, focusing on the song, and a sudden feeling of calmness enveloped him, like a silk veil covering him from his worries and feelings of despair and rejection.

  Nyx scanned the crowd once more and finally saw her. She was slowly making her way to a table at the back. Instead of sitting on the chair, Romi perched herself up on the table to see him better, and a small smile formed on his lips. Her face instantly lit up when she saw him and everything seemed to move in slow motion. The strums of his guitar, the beat his left foot tapped on the ground, the flames of the lighters swaying to and fro in the dark bar, even his heartbeat slowed down. His words became automatic, and he did not even have to think about the lyrics—they simply flowed from his heart and out of his mouth. The crowd was mesmerized as per usual, but they did not matter to him. His eyes were focused only on Romi, staring at him from beyond the crowd. Her blue eyes were bright, and her red hair framed her beautiful face and hung down her shoulders.

  Nyx couldn’t wait to finish his set, and after what felt like a lifetime, he eventually ended his last song. The crowd went wild as the last notes of his guitar were drowned out by the noise, and he sat back on his stool with a modest smile.

  “Thank you,” he whispered into the microphone and stood. He placed his guitar back in its case and closed it, shifting it behind the stage.

  As he made his way to the back of the bar where Romi sat on the table, the people he passed greeted him with handshakes and pats on the back, and told him how much they enjoyed his set. He thanked them for coming out and proceeded toward Romi, who had now slid off the table and seemed to be eagerly waiting for him. Her blue eyes sparkled brightly, and Nyx couldn't help but smile as he stood in front of her.

  “You came,” he managed to say.

  Romi shrugged and said with a sly smile, “Well, you asked so nicely, I figured I’d come listen to you some more.”

  “Thank you for coming. Can I get you a drink?”

  “Yeah, that would be nice. I’ll have whatever you’re having,” she answered.

  “Are you sure?” he asked.

  “Absolutely. I trust your judgment.”

  “Okay,” Nyx smirked and walked over to the bar. “Two waters, please, Josh,” he said and held up two fingers.

  “Whoa, easy with the drinks, mate,” Josh laughed and placed two bottles on the counter.

  Nyx scooped them up and returned to the table where Romi was seated. He placed the two bottles on the table and sat down.

  “You got water,” she answered slowly.

  “To be fair, I did warn you.”

  “That you did,” she laughed and opened her bottle. “Thank you.”

  She held up her, but when he looked at her with confusion, she tapped the neck of her bottle against his. “Cheers.”

  Nyx nodded and took a sip of water.

  “So you don’t drink at all, or just when you’re performing?” she asked.

  “I’d hardly call it performing, but—”

  “You’re on stage, playing the guitar, and singing in front of an entire bar. I am pretty sure that classifies as performing,” she interjected. “And if I can say so, your voice is amazing. It just makes me feel so much. More than I ever thought I could.”

  “I am pretty sure that’s not just because of my singing, but thank you.”

  “Are you always this modest, or are you just incapable of graciously accepting compliments?” Romi asked with a twinkle in her eyes.

  “I am really bad at accepting compliments, I have to admit,” he conceded.

  “Did Dax and Pyre always steal your thunder?” she asked.

  Nyx sat back in his chair and stared at her in disbelief, although it shouldn’t have surprised him that a complete stranger knew everything about him and his family. It was unsettling, to say the least, and Nyx frowned at her. “You know a lot about my family. Why is that?”

  “The Veskovic name is quite the topic of conversation among my father and the elders,” she answered.

  “The elders?” Nyx asked with a blank stare. “As in witch elders?”

  “Exactly.”

  “I knew it,” he whispered.

  “What did you know?” she asked and rested her chin on her palm.

  “That things are always too good to be true, and that because of my name I am doomed to never get anything good.”

  “Why do you think that?” Romi asked, but before he could answer, the bar went completely dark and music started to play.

  Nyx let out a breath of relief, as no one could now hear them talking, even though they sat all the way at the back of the bar.

  “When I saw you for the first time, something happened, and I’m not sure if you felt it too, but—”

  “I felt it. I knew exactly what it was too. My dad, he talked about it a lot. He discussed your family at length, and at times I felt as though he would never stop talking about you all. I know everything about you and your family, not because I wanted to, but because I was forced to. No offense.”

  “None taken. My family isn’t exactly the clean-cut group of people I would have liked them to be. We’ve got such a history of bad shit, especially with your kind. I don’t even know why you came here in the first place,” Nyx sighed.

  “You did not do anything to me, so why would that affect how I feel about you?” she asked.

  Nyx raised his head slowly and their eyes met. “Normally, the witches I meet don’t have the kind of mindset you have.”

  “Well, it was presumptuous to think that I was anything like them in the first place,” she answered. “And it was also presumptuous of me to think that you were like your father.”

  Nyx looked at her without a word. Maybe he had been wrong about the witches. Maybe they weren’t all the same as those he had encountered in his life. Romi wasn't like those witches, but he sensed there was something about Romi which gave him the impression that she was strong in her abilities as a witch.

  Nyx and Romi spent the rest of the night talking at the small round table at the back of Echoes until it was dark and quiet. They laughed and shared stories late into the night, and Nyx simply couldn't get enough of her company. For the first time in his life, he could speak freely to someone without feeling judged. Her presence made him feel comfortable and he did not have to pretend to be someone she wanted him to be. All she wanted was him, or at least that was what he hoped. They shared amusing stories of their childhood and did not once mention any of the sad, tragic, or heartbreaking moments they had lived through. Nyx did not want to dwell on it at all, because he knew those days were behind him, now that he had found his happiness.

  His forever.

  Her.

  Nyx noticed Josh approaching their table. “Hey, Josh.”

  “I’m really pleased to see Nyx can smile once in a while,” Josh retorted.

  “He does strike me as a really serious guy,” R
omi laughed.

  “A typical brooding and pensive musician,” Josh pointed out.

  “Exactly right,” Romi agreed and looked over at Nyx, “but he does it so well.”

  Nyx arched his eyebrow at her, and she winked playfully at him.

  “As much as I love the fact that you’re making him smile, because let’s face it, it’s not something that happens all that often, I’m going to have to kick you both out,” Josh told her, wincing apologetically.

  Nyx glanced at the clock on the wall and his eyebrows rose. “I did not realize it was so late.”

  Romi’s eyes widened as well and she nodded. “Neither did I. I have to get going.”

  After Romi and Nyx apologized to Josh for keeping him there later than usual, they stepped out into the cold night air and Romi turned to him.

  “I had a really great night. I am so glad that I came,” she whispered, but her words were as clear as day to Nyx.

  The stars sparkling overhead, accompanied by the bright crescent moon, bathed Romi in a silver glow that made her look even more beautiful than she already was to Nyx.

  “I’m really glad you came as well,” he said shyly, “and I’d really like to see you again.”

  “We’ll see,” she answered coyly.

  “Can I drive you home? To yours, I mean,” he offered.

  “No, that’s okay.”

  “Can I at least walk you to your car?” he offered again.

  “I’ll walk.”

  “You’re going to walk alone this time of the night? It’s not exactly safe,” he pointed out, concern quickly rising up inside him.

  “I’ll be fine,” she answered. “I am more than capable of handling myself, but thank you for caring.”

  Nyx stepped toward her, hoping she would allow him to kiss her, as he desperately wanted to. He had wanted to kiss her from the very first moment he saw her, but he did not want to force it. It would happen when the time was right, and when she was ready. It did not surprise him when she reached out her hand, pressed it against his chest, and stepped back. “Good night, Nyx.”

  Although Nyx was a little taken aback, he did not blame her for not wanting to kiss him, even if they had spent most of the night talking. He respected her enough to move at a slow pace, as he realized the new feelings could be overwhelming to her.

  They certainly were to him.

  “Good night,” he said simply as she glanced at him, lowering her hand and digging it into the front pocket of her coat.

  They stood in silence for a few seconds, and much to Nyx’s surprise, Romi moved closer to him and softly kissed him on the cheek. She shyly bit her bottom lip and stepped away.

  Once again, Nyx watched her as she walked away from him along the empty sidewalk, but this time, his heart was filled with hope.

  He would see her again.

  Undoubtedly.

  4

  The smoke twirled in spirals above Romi’s head while the scent of sage and rosemary filled the air around her. The serenity of the moment she had found herself in caused her energy to manifest itself in a glow that was brighter than ever. It was obvious to her why this was, as she had not felt happier or lighter inside her heart in a very long time, if ever. She had not been overly cheerful, especially not while she was at her father’s house, but at times she had to force herself to hide the wistful smile she wore on her lips. She had seemed to fool her father up until the moment her energy radiated like the sun.

  Romi stood in the middle of her father’s conservatory, the frosted glass around her looking like a large lamp from the outside, ensuring that their neighbors would not think that wicked things were brewing in the house. Her father stood on the other side, paging through his grimoire, an ancient, leather-bound book as old as time itself, which he had inherited from his father. It had been in the family for thousands of years, and one day it would belong to Romi, or so the prophecy said, but being the kind of witch Romi was, she doubted her father would ever allow her to have the grimoire in her possession.

  As her energy grew even brighter, a mix of yellows, oranges, and pinks, her father had stopped paging and studied her carefully, but he did not utter a single word to her. He was probably afraid of what she would tell him, or he already knew.

  Romi would not put it past him, as he had a natural inclination to spy on her, although he would never openly admit it to her. He would describe it as being protective of his only daughter, the sole heir to the Friar fortune, as he had referred to it Romi’s entire life.

  Her family had accumulated a lot of wealth over the years, but she didn’t care about it and she also didn’t care about the rest of her inheritance. To her, they were only dusty books, old trinkets and talismans whose power had run out hundreds of years ago. There was one item she did want, however, and that was the lapis lazuli pendant necklace her great grandmother had worn. It was the source of her power, and it was rumored that her soul, as well as her immense power, was locked inside the stone, only to be given to the most worthy of witches. It was locked inside a wooden box, guarded by magic, and only a witch pure of heart would be able to conjure the spell to release it. So far, no one had been able to.

  Romi caught sight of her father out of the corner of her eye and turned her head slightly. Her father looked bewildered, angry, but at the same time, he could not tear his eyes away from the now pink and purple ball of energy bathing both of them in its glittery hue. She was struck by wonder at her fast her power had grown, and she wondered whether it was only because of Nyx, or because she now felt better about her future, and herself, for that matter. Her father’s hand waved at her, a small gesture, but she knew exactly what it was. He wanted her to finish, so that he could talk to her.

  This is going to be bad, she thought to herself, making sure that her father did not read what was on her mind.

  When performing a spell and releasing their energy out of their bodies, witches opened themselves up as well, including their thoughts, which meant that most other witches could hear their thoughts as clearly as though they’d spoken them.

  Her eyes flashed and the light emanating from her palms decreased in both size and intensity, until it fit on her fingertip before vanishing into nothing. She turned to her father and smiled.

  “I’ve never been able to hold it for so long before,” she told him dreamily, allowing her guard to come down, even if it was just a little bit. “And those colors. Did you see them?”

  “I did,” her father said simply and closed the grimoire. “Something's changed in you, Romiera.”

  Romi pursed her lips in disapproval. She had never liked her full name, hence she shortened it to Romi, but of course her father, being who he was, still called her Romiera.

  “Why do you say that?” she asked, shifting her weight uncomfortably.

  “Your energy has changed. It’s filled with pinks and warm colors. Your hues have always been cold, blues and greens,” her father pointed out and narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “What has happened these past three days?”

  “Nothing,” she stuttered, knowing she did not sound too convincing.

  “If you’re lying to me, Romiera—” her father warned.

  “Okay,” she sighed. “There is something that happened, but it’s not a big deal. I doubt that it has anything to do with my new pink energy.”

  “Tell me.”

  “Well, I kind of met one of the Dragon Princes,” she said slowly.

  Romi noticed that her father’s shoulders tightened and his glare grew harsh and volatile.

  “What?” he asked in a booming voice.

  “Would you please just listen to me for a second before you explode like Mount Vesuvius?” she asked.

  Her father straightened his shoulders and glowered at her.

  “I met him a few nights ago, one of the princes, and he was nothing like you said. He was nice and kind and…”

  “That’s what they want you to think. They’re evil, vindictive, and manipulative. I want you to st
ay away from him, Romiera. Is that clear?” her father ordered.

  “Dad, I’m a grown woman. I can look after myself,” she said firmly. “I know you want to protect me because I am your only child, but you can’t hold onto me forever. You know how I am, and you know that the tighter you hold onto me, the further away I am going to run.”

  Her father shook his head. “Those dragons are evil.”

  “Did they really do what your book says they did?” she asked and motioned bitterly to the grimoire on the table. “Or are you just bending the truth because you just don’t like them?”

  Within an instant, her father was in front of her and he struck her cheek with a swift motion.

  “You will not call me a liar! The Veskovic family caused the destruction of our coven! They slaughtered our family, and left us to die in the ruins of it all,” he exclaimed loudly, painfully. An angry tear ran down his cheek and his eyes flashed in disdain. “Those dragons are the reason why we had to uproot ourselves and leave our home, because they took what they wanted from us, leaving us with nothing!”

  Romi stared at her father, her hand on her burning cheek and her eyes filled up with tears. “I don’t believe that,” she whispered in a broken tone.

  “You’ve only met him once and he’s already clouded your mind,” her father muttered and he glared at her with contempt. He paused for a moment, studying her face, and his eyes flashed. “Or maybe something else happened which you don’t want me to know.”

  Romi stared at him wordlessly and her hand slowly dropped from her cheek after a long pause. She wasn't ready to tell her father about what had happened, but since he had already seen through her facade of trying to act ‘normal’—however farfetched that notion even was—she knew the time had come.

  Or maybe not.

  She could lie, pretend that there was nothing between them, that nothing had happened between them. They talked—a lot—and they laughed. She knew about his family, although she was a little vague about hers. There was nothing threatening about Nyx, and she did not think she would ever feel that safe in a dragon’s presence, especially not after what she had heard from her father.