Chapter 13

The next daypassed in a haze. Eli managed to get some of his research done, but barely. His thoughts were on nothing but Parker.

Eli wanted to tell everyone. But he hadn't yet. He couldn't tell anyone that he and Parker were official until he told his brother, and he'd missed James that morning before he'd left for the electrical shop. Eli wouldn't see James until late that evening when he got off from the dinner shift at the diner.

Waiting to tell James was killing him. His shift seemed to inch by. Business was steady but not busy enough to keep him from constantly checking the clock.

Eli thought Kaylin suspected something was going on between him and Parker. She'd started making comments about how lovely the two of them were whenever she caught them talking.

Once they'd finished closing down, Eli rushed out the door, calling goodbye to the others as he went. Parker knew Eli was itching to tell James about their relationship, and his amused chuckle followed Eli out the door.

Eli unlocked his car. A strange woosh behind him made him pause. Something sharp clamped down on his shoulders before he could process the sound further. Eli was yanked backward. He stumbled, only just catching himself from falling.

Shadows wrapped around his legs.

Eli twisted, but the shade behind him moved, releasing his shoulders. Damn it. Eli's keys, along with his light, were dangling out of reach in the driver's door. He lunged for them.

The shade surrounded him in shadow. Soon, Eli couldn't see, completely enveloped in dense, inky blackness. He yelled, hoping to draw attention from the people inside the diner. This wasn't normal. Shades didn't use their shadow magic like this. He hadn't even realized it was among their powers.

Then, the darkness was gone. The shade loomed before him. It was huge, it's body more solid and imposing than waspy. It hissed, baring its teeth, and pounced.

Eli yelled again, throwing his hands up to protect himself from the sharp teeth coming toward him. The shade bit down, cutting through his denim jacket and piercing his skin. The thing latched on and didn't let go. Eli struggled, but the shade's arms wrapped around his body, tightening steadily until he gasped for breath.

Peripherally, Eli noticed a commotion at the diner's back door. Light flared, bright as day. A ball of white hot energy hit the shade and light burst from within it. The shade exploded into whisps of black smoke and was gone.

"Eli!" Parker shouted. In a blink, he was at Eli's side, reaching for his arm.

"It bit me," Eli said in disbelief.

"Let me see." Parker carefully took Eli's jacket off, exposing his bloody arm.

"Should I call someone?" Kaylin asked from behind Parker.

Parker inspected the wound thoroughly. "I think we're okay. It doesn't look deep. Good thing you were wearing denim and not just a hoodie. I don't think you'll need stitches."

"Eli?" Kaylin looked to him for confirmation. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it's all right, Kaylin." Eli's voice shook, but he was safe with Parker.

"I've got a first aid kit in my car." Parker led Eli over. He grabbed a large gauze bandage and pressed it over the wound. "Let's get you home so we can clean this."

Eli nodded and got in Parker's car. After double checking they didn't need anything, Kaylin got in her own vehicle and drove off.

It only took a few minutes to get Eli home. Inside, he led Parker to the downstairs bathroom across from his bedroom.

He shivered. "It attacked me out of nowhere," he tried to explain, still in disbelief. "It wasn't just messing around. It was like it wanted to hurt me from the start. If you hadn't gotten there—" His voice trailed off.

"I don't like the sound of that." Parker directed Eli to the sink to wash his arm. "But you're safe now. It's okay. The teeth didn't get a chance to tear your skin, only puncture it."

Eli nodded. The water stung. He heard James call out from upstairs. Parker called back, and soon, his brother was outside the bathroom.

"Oh my god, Eli!" James rushed up to him, grabbing his shoulder. "What happened?"

Eli explained again. The fear on his brother's face nearly killed him. He hated causing James worry.

"It attacked," Parker said plainly. "If I hadn't banished it, it didn't look like it would stop at one bite. I've never seen a shade take hold of someone like that. It was like it wanted to devour him."

James blanched, his face pale.

Eli felt a surge of residual fear. "Something's not right," he managed to say. "The shades have seemed different ever since I got here. They never used to seek out human contact. Never got aggressive outside of self-defense."

"They're a bit more interactive now than they used to be, but not like this." James crossed his arms and stared at a random spot on the wall, thinking. "We'll have to report what happened and see what we can do to keep people safe. If something is changing, then there's the chance this could happen again."

Eli dried his arm and pressed a clean bandage to it. James nudged him and handed him some antiseptic cream. Once that was applied, Parker wrapped the bandage in gauze to secure it.

Eli looked up from the wound. "Could the shades have been following me specifically?"

James and Parker looked at him with twin furrows in their brows, both men frowning.

"I know it sounds ridiculous," Eli admitted. "But it was a thought I had after one followed me home from Parker's a couple of weeks ago."

"It's unlikely," Parker said carefully. "We should ask around and see if other people have been dealing with more aggressive shades. If we discover that no one but you has noticed anything out of the ordinary, then it's possible they were targeting you."

"We'll figure this out." James squeezed Eli's shoulder.

Parker pulled out his phone and shot off a text. To whom, Eli wasn't sure.

"Come on." James led the way out of the cramped bathroom. "Let's go sit down."

They settled in the living room. Eli instinctively cuddled against Parker on the couch. He felt secure with the big man's arm around him and his heartbeat under his ear. Eli breathed a sigh of relief, then looked up to find James staring at them.

His brother's gaze quickly flicked away.

"I meant to talk to you when I got home tonight, James." Eli straightened as his brother's attention returned to him. "Parker and I are dating. And um, yeah." He gestured between himself and his boyfriend unnecessarily.

James smiled, some of the worry lines leaving his face. "I figured something was going on."

"Well, it's official." Eli couldn't hide his smile.

Parker's arm tightened around him and the two friends exchanged a look. "You should give this romance thing a chance, James. Eli just might be the best thing that's ever happened to me."

James huffed and shook his head. "I'm glad for you—both of you—but I'm good."

Eli agreed with Parker, but he'd learned to stop asking about James's dating life a long time ago.

Parker's phone buzzed and he quickly read the incoming text. "The mayor says there have been several reports of unusual shade activity in the last month. Nothing this violent, but tending toward aggressive. She's concerned about what just happened to Eli. She wants to meet in the morning."

James nodded.

"Should I come?" Eli looked between them.

"If you want." James eyed him cautiously. "You can explain to Eleanor what happened, but you don't have to. Parker and I can pass it on."

"But she's going to ask you guys to help her with the problem, right? If it's not just me, and shades are getting aggressive in general, the town has to do something." Eli was relieved he hadn't been the only one targeted, even if he'd been the only one bitten. He'd known thinking shades were stalking him specifically was out there, even for Moonlight Falls, but still, having the suspicion disproven was reassuring.

"Yeah, she'll probably ask us to help," Parker agreed. "I do a lot of protective spells for the town, and James and Hazel cover anything handy."

Eli knew Parker and his brother were pretty involved in the inner workings of Moonlight Falls. He felt he better understood their desire to do that now. Before, he'd dismissed it as unwarranted loyalty due to their belief that the town called to them, but they just wanted to give back to the community and look after the people here. Parker took care of people. It was a big part of who he was. Same with James.

And maybe Eli didn't have to feel so guilty about James looking after him when he was younger. James probably didn't resent it, and Eli wouldn't be surprised to find James offering to look after anyone he cared about.

"I want to help if I can," Eli insisted.

"You're going to get involved in town affairs?" James's eyebrows traveled up his forehead. "Voluntarily?"

Eli crossed his arms, feeling Parker's body shake against him in silent laughter. "Yes, I am."

"That's great." James broke into a smile, his shock lingering in his widened eyes.

They were quiet for a moment. Eli closed his eyes and leaned into Parker.

"You sure you're all right, Eli?" his brother asked.

Eli opened his eyes. "Yeah, just kind of exhausted all the sudden."

"You should rest." James stood. He nodded to Parker. "I'll see you two in the morning." With that, he retreated upstairs.

Eli pulled Parker into his bedroom. "Thanks for looking after me."

Parker wrapped him in a hug. "Of course. I'll always take care of you. Just like I know you'll take care of me."

Eli burrowed his face into Parker's chest. "You're right, I will."

"Tonight isn't putting you off Moonlight Falls?" There was hesitation in Parker's voice. "This shade attack isn't making you want to get the hell out of here as soon as possible?"

Eli pulled back to stare up at Parker. He seemed vulnerable and unsure in a way Eli had never seen before. "No," Eli said without doubt. "I'm done letting bad accidents rule my life. This place is so much more than painful memories or bloodthirsty shades. I feel like now that I've let go of that, I can be happy here in a way that I can't anywhere else. It's home."

Parker brushed a lock of hair off Eli's forehead. "I know what you mean. Moonlight Falls calls us home. But it feels more like home with you here than ever before."

Eli's chest tightened. "I feel at home with you too, Parker." He squeezed him until he thought he would burst with all the feelings he had for this man. He'd never thought things could be this good, especially here. But he was glad to be wrong.