Page 18 of Forever Found

“You won’t. We live by rules.”

She nibbled on her lip. “Wait, you have a sheriff—Val.” She jumped with unease-laced excitement laced. “Does that mean he’s a supernatural being, too?”

“Val?”

“Yes.”

David hesitated. He was telling her too much too fast.

“Please tell me,” she coaxed.

“Val is a dragon shifter. Very dedicated. Loyal. Extremely dangerous,” he said sternly. “And my best friend.”

“Oh my. I can’t wait to go to town. I want to meet everyone again. See them in a new light. See if I can guess their paranormal nature.”

She certainly liked to live life on the edge, he thought. “Lyndsey, this isn’t a game. It’s who we are. It’s what Terror is supposed to protect.”

Her smiled dimmed. “Yes. You’re right. Sorry, I got overexcited.”

“Now, back to our problem…”

“It was just an accident, not an intentional attempt to kill my mom and me. Why do you think he is after me again after all of these years?”

“Demons rarely do anything unless it will benefit them. I can only guess. One, he doesn’t like losing, and he hates unfinished business. And two, he’s been somewhere that he couldn’t reach you.” And there was the note he’d received. He didn’t mention that.

“Then I’m glad I came to Terror when I did. I’ve always suspected there were things I couldn’t explain out there, creatures who lived on the edges of reality, in the shadows. I’ve had this sixth sense my entire life.”

“Your gifts may be why the demon targeted you.”

She searched his eyes. “Does Justin know all this?”

“Yes. He’s the human on our Paranormal Council. Like you, he has an element of supernatural about him. He just doesn’t realize it yet. All the humans drawn to Terror seem to.”

She nodded. “I don’t believe a demon is after me.”

“Yet, you accept I’m an angel?”

She shrugged. “My photos say it’s so.”

“Ah, you’re telling me you can only believe what you can see?”

“Maybe. So now what do we do?

He turned his hand over, lacing his fingers in hers as he urged her to stand. His fingers moved along hers. It was the slightest touch imaginable. All he could concentrate on was the square inch of skin where they came together. “We wait.” He watched her, feeling far more than he should.

Up until now, he’d considered his fate just. He didn’t have a life in the traditional sense, but what he had was good enough. He’d lived his life locked away in his perfect home with his dogs and impeccable environment. And he’d told himself it was everything he’d ever wanted. But that had been a lie. What he wanted was standing right in front of him: a chance at love, the opportunity to have a messy, unpredictable, chaotic life of mystery and joy.

Lyndsey dropped into her chair, reluctantly letting go of him, releasing the delicious connection they’d shared. She leaned back in her seat to process everything David had told her. Even though it was terrifying to think that all the creatures she’d read about were real, at the same time, a sense of relief came over her. Throughout her life, she’d had this ability to see beyond what everyone else did. That emotions had colors and auroras. That sometimes, the picture revealed to her what had happened in the past or what would happen in the future. Now she knew it was real, and that it was okay.

A screech of tires stopping abruptly sounded out front. Lyndsey turned her head toward the window. “What was that?”

“Justin in a hurry?” David guessed.

“He doesn’t have his truck.”

Before David had a chance to respond, the front door burst open. Justin rushed inside with long, lanky strides. “I stopped by to get my cages. Somehow, all the animals got loose at Solis’s place. She needs help rounding them up.”

David stood. “I can help.”