Page 62 of Commanding Flame and Shield
I ignored two distinct readings of satanic work to keep my promise to August, and Alec seemed to think it was hilarious that such a ridiculous deal had been struck.
“He cares for you,” he offered with a grin as he walked, hand-in-hand with Fae, down the dark road towards Layla’s condo. The streetlights cast harsh shadows across their faces, and the sidewalk below us. The city had come to life as the sun set, and people were buzzing in and out of bars and clubs in costumes, the festivities commencing even before Hallows Eve.
“Evidently so.” That goony smile stretched back across my face, despite every muscle fighting to suppress it.
“Could it be, that after all these long years, Miss Alvara has feelings for someone?” Fae chided, her voice teasing. We passed another porch of towering steps covered in pumpkins of every color, and I eyed them, partially envious of the simplicity of ignorance.
“Perhaps,” I admitted, crossing my arms around my ribs.
“You hear their heartbeats around each other, don’t you? Frantic little hummingbirds. You two are karmically entangled, aren’t you?” Alec narrowed his eyes.
“How would I have entangled with him, but not with you?”
“August and I only have one known life together. It’s more than possible your timelines just didn’t overlap that go around.”
“Perhaps,” I conceded again.
“If only any of us were as good at reading as you are, I would love to tell you that history.” Fae winked and then fell back in step with her mate.
“You and me both.” I sighed.
“So,” she pressed. “Are you going to read him? Tonight? In his fancy lake house?”
“It is long overdue,” Alec added in ruefully.
“I suppose that’s true. He’s been fairly guarded. Understanding, but guarded. I wanted him to be sure—you know, because of Layla.”
“Yes. But he chose this life over Layla. He chose you.”
“He didn’t chooseme,” I corrected. August had been protecting Layla from our world, from the demons he would wage war with for the rest of his life. Protecting her from the life of aging and dying alone, next to a perfectly preserved statue of the man she fell in love with. A sickening twist of grief and desire burrowed into my stomach. “Let’s get something to eat. My blood sugar is low.”
Alec raised his eyebrows. “We don’t get low blood sugar.”
“You know what I mean. I need something to eat.”
The server was an average looking, stocky, twenty-something man, wearing black from head to toe. His blonde hair was cropped short, and light blue eyes sat in a round, fair-skinned face, kissed with freckles. Perhaps he would have been handsome if August’s striking features weren’t emblazoned on the back of my eyelids. He was quick and kind, and took our orders within moments of being sat, which filled my heart—and stomach—with gratitude. Returning with our drinks and a basket of bread, he flashed a grin at me, and I realized that yes, he would have been handsome under other circumstances.
I grabbed the rye bread from the little wicker basket and tore off a piece, dipped it in my square of butter, and popped it in my mouth. They trained their eyes on me, but I ignored them, feigning a focus for my roll. Their energy was thick on the air, an entertaining twist between amusement, curiosity, and concern. When my hand was empty, I reluctantly looked up to meet their prying eyes.
“Awfully fascinated with the way oats cling to black bread, aren’t we?” Alec quipped, shrugging off his jean jacket.
I shrugged, unapologetic.
“You know, I’ve been in his mind, too. I’ve seen all of it. And you know what I know about him? August—Carlyle—in all his cycles has loved his woman. To the death.” Alec leaned forward, pinning me with a pointed stare. “If you’re his mate in this life, he will give you everything he has, and then some.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to rid myself of the unease at that idea. But he was right. August would give anything for those he loved. He would sacrifice himself for those around him, and while I loved that loyalty, it terrified me too. It wasn’t exactly safe, the work we did, and the idea of something happening to him made me sick…
Quick to tear off another piece of bread, I searched for the butter, but the pad had been snatched off the table. Fae dangled the metallic wrapper from her fingers tauntingly, and I snatched it back telekinetically. No eyes were on us in our little corner booth.
I proceeded to butter my bread as Alec continued.
“His soul was always restless. Always searching. Women always love August, and August always loves them. And then there’s always one that steals him, mind, body and soul, and he would watch the world burn if it meant keeping her safe.”
“Is there apointto this regression lesson?” The idea of August’s hands on anyone else suddenly made my skin crawl. An image of Layla burned in my mind, and I realized with a pang, much of my unease with her was very likely an inappropriately acquired jealousy.
“My point, dear Second…is to be careful.”
I snapped my eyes up to him, and even Fae pressed her lips together.
