Page 30 of Jinx

“Sneaky. Were you going to tell me it’s your birthday?”

I shrugged and ducked my head. “It’s not a big deal.”

The truth, though, was that it used to be. Every year, Deva made sure that my birthday was full of fun. Movie marathons, baking sprees—she once even went all out and filled her small flat with balloons and streamers. Without her now, the reminder just hurt.

Bellamy, somehow sensing that pain, nodded and let it go. “What looks good on the menu?”

“The salmon b.l.t. is right up my alley. What about you?”

He placed his menu on top of mine and leaned back in his chair. “I’m a burger man,” he said with confidence. “It’s the only way to judge a new place. If they can’t cook a burger right, then what are they even doing?”

“Very insightful,” I said, amused by his logic. I scooted forward a little, forearms on the table. “Are you sure you’re feeling alright? After…after last night.” Seeing him with my own eyes went a long way toward easing the boulder of worry sitting on my chest, but what if the consequences were just delayed? After all, Deva was fine for years until the cancer showed up.

He mirrored my posture, making sure he had my attention before speaking. “Believe me when I tell you that I have never felt better in my life.”

The heartstring binding him to me pulsed with a gentle warmth, almost emphasizing his words. I focused on it, sank into it, and sensed the elated completion radiating in Bellamy’s heart.

“I do believe you,” I breathed, surprised by the strange ability to read him so intimately. “I feel you.” Then the wonder splintered when I remembered that he was the only one I felt. “What about your friend Rami? Is he…?”

Bel’s eyes creased at the corners, his brow furrowing. “You’re sure you don’t feel him too?”

I shook my head, chest growing tight. The moment was interrupted when we were forced to sit back as Connor returned with our drinks. He took our orders, and I tried to contain the mounting panic that was stealing my breath.

“Hey.” Bellamy laid his arm on the table when we were alone again, palm up. He wiggled his fingers until I slid my hand into his. “Stop.” He squeezed. “You’re worrying over nothing.”

“How can you say that? Bel, if you’re wrong and something terrible happens to him⁠—”

“It won’t.” He brought my hand up to his lips and brushed a kiss over my knuckles. “It was chaos last night. If anything, he’s the one feeling guilty for not asking your permission before touching you. He just wanted to protect you.”

“And I’m glad that he did. That guy freaked me out.” I rubbed at my sternum with my free hand like it might ease the ache in my heart. “But I don’t even know him. How can he possibly be like you?”

Bel’s eyes lit up. “Maybe that’s it! Maybe you don’t sense him because you’re looking for something else that feels like me. What do I feel like?” His gaze flicked down to my chest, where my hand was still pressed.

I let my eyes fall shut with an exhale, trying to ignore how bizarre this whole situation was. “There’s a thread of energy,” I said, sinking into myself, “and I know it leads to you. My magic called it a heartstring. It’s warm and sweet and feels like home.” When I looked at Bellamy again, his eyes were shining like polished coins.

He cleared his throat and nodded. “Rami and I are different people. Your magic may have chosen us for different qualities.”

That explanation made sense, but also startled me. “You really believe this was all intentional? That whatever this is inside me is pulling the strings?”

“I believe the Fates have a plan, and we’ve been destined to find each other since the day we were born. We—my brothers and I—we are Other, just like you. But, like I said at the cafe, I’m pretty sure you knew that.” His lips quirked up in a grin. “Your magic has been leading you toward where you were always meant to be. With us.”

“Us.” The word slipped out like a sigh. “You think…you think we all…together? All of us?” A thrill raced through me at the mere thought. Companionship. It was more than I could have asked for. More than I deserved.

“All of us.”

I felt his confidence through our bond, and it bolstered my own. “I want to meet him. Properly this time.” I took a breath to continue, but my gaze snared on the fast-approaching figure behind him. The warmth in my body turned to ice, and the good feeling of only moments before bled out of me like from a gaping wound. I snatched my hand back just as Margo reached the table.

“Oh, hey, Bel-baby!” Her tone was dripping with false surprise, like she hadn’t made a beeline right for us.

I stiffened in my seat, hands twisting into the fabric of my dress, while she leaned to drape an arm around Bellamy. My magic surged, possessive and seething, and it stole my breath with its ferocity. The sudden rage was consuming and terrifying. I wanted to break every one of her fingers before I tore off her arm for touching him. Rip out her tongue for speaking to him. Gouge out her eyes for even looking at him. I could do it.

“We should do it.”

Shit, we can’t do that.

“Aww, aren’t you sweet?” she crooned, oblivious to the mortal danger she’d put herself in. She ignored Bel’s efforts to politely remove her arm and instead responded by looping the other one around him as well. “You have to be careful, though,” she mock-whispered. “Feed the stray, and it’ll never leave.”

A muscle twitched in Bellamy’s tightly clenched jaw. “Let go of me, Margo. Now. Don’t cause a scene.”