Page 9 of An Anomaly of Sunlight

It’s quiet tonight, the only sound being fallen leaves crunching under my paws. After a few miles, I start to feel the weight of the day crashing down on me. Turning back toward the house, my stride is much slower than when I started.

Glancing at my watch after shifting back to my human form, it reads half past three. Tomorrow is going to be interesting. I might get a couple of hours of sleep if I’m lucky. Falling into bed, I think about how any other time that would seem daunting. But now, I wish those hours would pass faster and allow me to be placed in Amethyst’s path once more.

I drift off with my thoughts filled with her, us, and all the possibilities the future holds.

Six

Amethyst

Despite my alarm being set later, I still wake up just as the hazy glow of dawn filters through the curtains. I know trying to fall asleep for the small amount of extra time is pointless. Instead, I grab my phone to turn off the original alarm and set a new one for seven thirty. That should give me plenty of time to make the drive to Burrow’s.

I second guess myself for the hundredth time about starting a job this soon. There’s a lot mentally that I need to work through on my own. I’m not sure I’m in the headspace to be around so many people…

So many paranormal. The cashier yesterday was a demon; that much was clear by the horns on her head. She doesn’t exactly seem fond of me either, which only makes my anxiety worse. The other man, Draeven if I remember correctly, vampire.

One that had been turned. Most vampires are born, like Enzo, and have regular eye colors. But the man making that delivery yesterday had blood red eyes, signaling he’d died and been brought back by a vampire sire.

I should expect to see mostly paranormal out and about. Humans only make up two percent of the population at best. The horror stories of humans being attacked, or even killed, were far easier to brush aside before Enzo made me live out one of those stories in real life.

Yet, even with these doubts weighing on me, I can’t stop thinking about him.

Skyler.

The absolute last thing I want to think about right now is romance. It’s done nothing but award me heartbreak. I detest romance, actually.

Yet, I know I’m lying to myself. If I truly detested romance, I wouldn’t still be thinking about those hazel eyes; a lush forest I could wander and find myself lost in for hours.

I definitely wouldn’t be thinking about his tanned skin and the way his muscles rippled under that black polo. Above all, I would especially not be thinking about how his lips might feel pressed against mine, and how the look in his eyes suggested his thoughts were on that same wavelength.

Creators, I really do watch and read too many romances. Which has led me to being a hopeless romantic, no matter how much I want to declare otherwise. Shaking my head as my feet touch the floor, my arms raise above my head in a stretch.

Hopeless romantic or not, one thing is for certain, falling for my boss is majorly off limits. Maybe that works in movies and books, but in real life that’s surely a lawsuit waiting to happen.

I slip into the bathroom, eyeing my reflection in the mirror. A minimal look for today seems like the safest option, I decide. My shoulders sag, relief washing over me as I take in the dark brown waves of my hair. I’ll never change my hair color again. It’ll be brunette until gray, and then I’ll embrace that too.

Yesterday I tried to buy mostly neutral clothes, making sure a couple of black polos made their way into the haul. I thumb through the tops with one hand while gliding my toothbrush through my mouth with the other.

I layer a chunky black sweater over the polo but let the collar stick out. Just enough coverage to stave off the early morning chill, yet also not too heavy that it’ll have me sweating later in the afternoon warmth.

Swishing water around my mouth to rinse, I decide to pair the top with light-wash jeans and my tried-and-true sneakers. I pull the top half of my hair in a ponytail just to give it a little definition. Seeing the time on my phone, I quickly drag some eyeliner across my lids, add some mascara, and finish off with a blush-colored lipstick just as my alarm goes off.

Passing through the kitchen, I grab a muffin and water bottle. Ensuring all my lights are off, I slip out the door and lock it behind me. A twig snaps under my foot, nearly causing me to jump out of my skin.

Shit! Why did I think I could do this?

I bury my face in my hands as I lean against the steering wheel of my Jeep. I feel small and helpless. Even though I know I’m more capable than I give myself credit for. Still, it feels like this fear will never subside.

I will always feel like I’m being hunted by Enzo. And that, I am helpless to stop. He is a vampire. I’m human. There is nothing I could do to protect myself. Taking a few deep breaths, I try to calm my racing mind and heart.

If Enzo was going to find me, I’m certain he would have by now. He has enough money to pay everyone on Earth to search for me. And, assuming the tales about a vampire’s speed is true, he could’ve made the same trip I did in half the time. It’s been three days.

I’m safe. I just need to keep repeating it until my brain believes it.

Blowing out a breath, I turn the key in the ignition. Delilah starts right up. My good, trusty girl. Backing out of the driveway, my mind wanders away from Enzo and toward a dream... I think.

It’s unbelievably vivid, almost like I saw it in person, but that’s impossible because I don’t recognize the surroundings. A sparkling body of water, a sandy wolf that’s the size of a horse. Its eyes were striking and familiar. She ran in circles around my peripheral.

I realize then why the eyes seemed like a mirror; they are mine.