“Do you want me to check to make sure it’s clear?” Kade asks, coming up next to me.
I grab my pack from the empty seat next to me and stand. “I don’t know what you mean.”
He shoots me a look that says I’m full of it, and he’s right.
I’m taking my time because I don’t want to watch the Talon and Locklyn show. If they’re apart for more than a few hours, their reunions can get rather intense.
That’s the last thing I want to see right now.
Leaning over, Kade peeks out the window and winces. “You might want to give it another minute,” he says with an apologetic look before heading toward the cabin door.
I shrug like I couldn’t care less, but I’m not fooling anyone, except for maybe Locklyn and Talon. And that’s because I put in the work around them to seem as unaffected as possible.
At the end of the day, Locklyn is happy, and I care about her enough not to want to ruin that for her. Besides, it’s bad enough she picked the other guy. I don’t think I could handle her pity on top of that.
When we returned to the creature world after defeating Kerrim in Central Park, I thought I might still have a chance with her. As far as we knew, Talon was lost to her forever. She grieved as if he had died, so I didn’t want to press her too soon. Eventually, it seemed like she was accepting it and moving on, and I was preparing to make my move. But I was wrong. Instead of giving up, Locklyn dug in and fought, finding a way back to Talon when we all thought it was impossible, going as far as to leave everything behind for him: her family, the only life she’d ever known—me.
When I found out what she was trying to do, I didn’t want to admit I’d lost her forever. It was only when she disappeared through the portal back to the human world, and I thought I’d never see her again, that I finally gave up hope.
But knowing that you’ll never be with someone again doesn’t mean the feelings just disappear. Locklyn’s relationship with Talon is proof of that. Instead, I was stuck in this agonizing limbo, torturing myself with wondering where she was and if she was happy.
Over time, I did learn to accept it, mostly, and my emotions for her cooled. But when we learned she and her sister might still be in danger in the human world, I knew I had to warn her. Before it all turned, Locklyn used to be my best friend, and that love never dulled. I fought as hard to get to her as she had for Talon, doing what needed to be done and not making many friends in the process. If I ever make it back to the creature world, I’ll be facing the wrath of the Society for what I did. When they refused to take the Vampire King’s warning about the prophecy seriously, I went around them, breaking him out to get here.
Regardless of the enemies I made in the creature world, I don’t regret my decision. I needed to come here. I needed to warn Locklyn about the demon and do what I could to help stop it. I needed to see with my own two eyes that she was happy and safe with Talon.
Which she is.
I just didn’t realize watching her move on without me would hurt this much.
Absentmindedly, I rub at the ache in my chest as I count to sixty and then deem it safe to deplane.
I’m wrong.
My insides clench when I spot Locklyn and Talon still in an embrace. She’s up in his arms, her legs wrapped around his waist, both her hands in his hair as she holds him in place as they kiss. Talon’s arm supports her, while his other hand gently strokes her neck, playing with the fine hairs at her nape.
I know the murdered girl’s likeness to Locklyn hit him hard, but this is ridiculous. Have they been going at it like this for the last ten minutes?
Get a room, already.
They break apart suddenly, heads snapping in my direction, cheeks flushed and gazes unfocused.
Shit. Did I say that out loud?
They detangle, Locklyn sliding down the front of Talon’s body before he finally releases her. He gives her a quick kiss on the nose before they break apart.
I force a smile as Locklyn comes over to give me a friendly hug. Color stains her cheeks, and I don’t know if it’s from embarrassment over the PDA or the fact she’s still catching her breath from the kissing.
I want to be anywhere but here.
I may have come back to the human world for Locklyn, but the more time I spend with her, the clearer it becomes that she’s fine without me. This isn’t self-deprecation, it’s actually a good thing. I know she appreciates that I’m here and why, but she’s moving on. With Talon.
The longer I’m around them, the more I realize I need to move on too.
It’s just hard when she’s always right there in front of me. I’m stuck in this weird push and pull with her. And for the first time, I want something from Locklyn that I’ve never had before.
Space.
“I’m so sorry about the girl,” Locklyn says after a quick hug.
