Oh stars, oh stars.
Is he dead?
Reese and Amelia go straight to him, and when I look back at Jordan, Taser, Tubbs, and Blake are in between me and him.
They don’t even have to do anything, though. The music stops completely. The lights all come on at once. “What the fuck is going on?” Pinkie yells, standing up on the DJ’s booth.
I push my way in between Taser and Blake. Taser puts his arm out in front of me to stop me from going any further. “Don’t even think about it,” he tells me, a little snarl lacing his words. “He’s not getting close to you.”
Grim makes his way over to Jordan, arms crossed. “Dead Hearts, get the fuck out.”
I hear Jinx whine like a little bitch at that.
But they’re outmatched. So they go, but not without Jordan leering at me. “Can’t fuck your little human if he’s dead,” Jordan says with a smirk.
“We need to report him,” Taser says.
Grim nods. “We’ll take care of it, don’t worry.”
Jordan and his band leave. I turn and run to Simon.
“Is he?” I pause, looking at Amelia, because I’m too scared to look at Simon’s crumpled form. I can’t bring myself to say dead.
“He’s alive,” Amelia says, just as Simon’s head snaps back up and he opens his eyes.
He looks around at everyone and locks eyes with Benny, who crouches down. “Mate? You okay? What hurts?”
“I’m fine.” Simon shifts so he can sit upright. A few seconds later he stands up and rolls his shoulders. “I think I just got the wind knocked out of me.”
There’s a dent in the wall behind him.
“Are you sure?” Benny asks, noticing the wall as well. “You hit hard.”
My eyes go to Simon’s lips as his grin widens. The ones I almost kissed.
This is all my fault.
“Fuck.” Simon looks at the wall. “Shitty craftsmanship?” he jokes, but when he looks at me I can tell he’s a bit terrified.
Of what I got him involved in.
“I’m so sorry, Simon,” I say, taking a step back from him. I need to stay far, far away from him.
“Why?” Simon follows me, reaching out to take my hand.
“That was my ex. He only did that because of me.”
Grim shakes his head. “I don’t think it was just you, Bliss. Dead Hearts and Voracious Maw do not get along.”
Simon nods.
“It’s true,” Benny affirms. “They have big beef with Wrath. There’s some bad blood from a festival a couple years ago.”
“Oh,” I say, my shoulders sagging with a bit of relief.
“I should get him home, though,” Benny says, taking Simon by the shoulders. “See you all later.”
“Bye, Bliss,” Simon calls over his shoulder as Benny leads him outside. “See you tomorrow!”
