31. Asher

THIRTY-ONE

Asher

I took my boyfriend swimming at seven in the morning.

Boyfriend. Man, it sounded so smooth. So perfect.

Watching Luke in the water got my dick hard. He wore the skimpiest of trunks, his swimmer’s build a delight for my peepers. The way he cut through the water in pure serenity warmed my cockles big time.

I kept my fear locked tight in a titanium canister, refusing to show it the light of day. But it tapped on the sides, reminding me of the dangers ahead.

I’ll keep you safe, I thought at the sexy swimmer.

My sexy boyfriend.

Ah, welcome back, sparkly vibes.

After the swim, we took a stroll through town hand in hand, drawing the attention of humans and knights alike.

Yeah, yeah. Stare away. He’s on my arm, not yours.

We came across some posters for a candlelight vigil being held on the seafront tonight for the victims of the motorway café disaster.

“Such a lovely idea,” Luke said.

“Wanna go?”

“Very much so.”

We walked on, reaching a small Christmas shop. A crocheted Christmas elf with auburn hair sitting in the window immediately caught my eye. It reminded me of Luke, its rosy cheeks totally endearing, the azure outfit matching my boyfriend’s peepers.

I’d be back to buy the cute little fella at some point.

A cold wind blew down the street. What a shame the green dome didn’t control the temperature.

“I think it might snow,” Luke said, gazing up at the sky.

When I returned him to the lighthouse, it did.

A short while later, I left Luke to be with his friends, walking the streets with Eden and Dane. Snow fell lightly, not settling, forecast to stop in an hour or so.

After grabbing the crocheted elf, we headed toward Aubergine Road.

My sister stopped at the end of the purple road, her brow seriously furrowed.

“What’s up, sis?”

She brushed snowflakes from her hair, staring ahead. “Reports keep coming in about New Winton.” Her phone buzzed. “There’s another one.”

Dane nodded. “I got a text last night from Carissa about it. She said there’s some knights outside of town who’ll check things out.”

I didn’t get a message due to being removed from the patrols list again.

“What are you guys thinking?” I asked.

“That I want to investigate it myself,” Eden answered, cracking her knuckles.

“I feel you,” Dane agreed. He showed me Carissa’s text.

New Winton.

Whispers. Strange colorful glowing at night. Half-eaten rats found on the perimeter.

Stay vigilant.

“Whoa.”

He nodded. “Freaky, right?”

Eden caught some snowflakes in her palm. “Do you think those masked humans have set up a base there?”

“Maybe,” he said. “I hope they get nuked out of there.”

My sister crushed a fist into her opposite palm. “Fuck with our queen, die screaming.”

Agreed.

That was the first mention of the queen this morning. As for the rest of it, we skirted the subject. What else could we say about being Ember’s number one targets? Anita gave as much info as she hid. She knew a lot more than she let on, but I’d be better off milking the asphalt than pressing her.

For me, despite my sadness at losing Alexandra to murder, it was all about keeping Luke safe. Doing my job as bodyguard and protector.

End of.

I just wished Mr. Strawberry didn’t have this weight on his gorgeous shoulders.

“Shame we can’t be the ones to drop those bombs,” Dane growled.

Hard agree again.

Eden changed the subject, untensing a tad. “How’s things on your end, Cookie?”

I cleared my throat, happiness hot in my face. “I have good news.”

“Hit us with it,” Dane commanded.

They moved to stand before me. Waiting impatiently with cocked eyebrows and tapping feet.

A flutter of nerves burst to life in my chest. An alien feeling for me. I never got like this until Luke, butterflies going wild, drunk on excitement, bashing into each other like they were in a rugby match.

“Tell us, Cookie.”

I took a few seconds to gather myself. “Luke and I?—”

A man carrying two shopping bags tumbled into my path. “So sorry. I’m—” He let out a bloodcurdling scream, dropping his bags.

Pissing hell!

“No!” he wailed. “No! They’re not real. They can’t be real!” He clawed at his face, every person in the vicinity becoming a concerned spectator.

“Stay back!” Dane barked.

“What’s wrong with him?” a woman asked.

He collapsed on all fours. “They are wrong. They meddle.”

“Sir?” I inched closer. “Talk to me.”

The man pawed at the ground, sobbing. “Please don’t let them keep this up.”

“Who, sir?”

“Careful, Cookie.” Eden stayed beside me, ready to break faces if need be.

Dane worked on crowd control, pushing everyone back.

“Talk to us, sir,” I said.

He looked up, eyes bloodshot, face scratched to hell. Sweat beaded his brow, his complexion a sickly gray.

“We need to get you some medical help, sir.”

“On it.” Eden whipped out her phone.

The man lifted his hands. “They have to stop meddling.”

“Who?” I crouched down to his level. “Talk to me.”

He winced, clutching at his throat. “I’m sorry…”

“It’s alright. Take your time. Help’s on the way.”

“Rory? Oh my goodness!” A woman hurried out of a bookshop. “What’s going on?”

Eden moved to block her. “Who are you?” She asked her gently, no force in the question.

“His wife. What happened?”

Eden explained while I tried coaxing more from the man.

He winced again, blood trickling from his scratches.

“You really did a number on your face there, Rory,” I said, keeping things easy breezy, soft and steady, the poor human a mess.

Rory blinked. “Is my wife here?”

“Yeah. She’s right over there. Do want to see her?”

“Yes, please. I’m sorry.”

I waved for Eden to send her over. The calmer he was, the closer we might get to an answer.

His wife crouched beside me. “What have you done, baby?”

“I don’t—” His eyes rolled back in his head. “You shouldn’t meddle, clairvoyant.” He spat the words with an aggressive hiss. His voice sounded off, definitely not his.

The woman lurched forward, taking his hand. “Rory?”

He threw his head back, convulsing, muttering around gritted teeth.

Shit.

“Baby? Is it a vision?”

“He’s a clairvoyant?” I asked.

“Yes. He sees certain events a few minutes before they happen. There’s been no visions since the summer.”

Rory stopped convulsing, his breaths labored, head still back.

“Baby?” The woman shuffled closer. “Come back to me.”

“K-Keep… K-K-Keep,” he stammered.

“It’s okay, baby,” his wife soothed, keeping a level head. “I’m here. Don’t be scared. Let’s go enjoy a cup of tea and a blueberry muffin. Your favorite, remember? Come back to me now.”

This seemed like a tried and tested method to bring her husband out of visions.

Rory’s head snapped around. He snarled at her, aiming it at me next.

The whites of his eyes were still on show.

“Baby, please.”

“Maybe you should back off,” I said, going to help her up.

“Keep your nose out of our business!” Rory bellowed at me. “Out! Out! Out!”

Veins pulsed in his temples, his eyes bulging.

“Rory!” his wife cried. “Please!”

“Out! Out! Out!”

Rory’s head exploded.