AllFreeNovel
Share Us
34
Lena
“Archer?” Rhys looks between me and Archer, and I know he’s asking if Archer’s okay. He’s not even thinking about the bond.
“I’m okay.” Archer sits up, keeping me upright at the same time. Davis and Rhys help us to our feet. I’m wobbly, but Archer has a firm hold of me.
I scan the bar, finding Serafina’s already left and Colton’s still in the same spot near the front of the bar. My mouth parts in surprise when I see Anthony unconscious on the floor.
Miri notices the direction of my stare and smiles at me. “The shadows threw him across the room and into the wall.”
“I guess the shadow side of me is a little darker than my everyday shade,” Archer quips, his voice full of gravel.
“We all knew there was an angry beast buried under all that sunshine.” Ruby sounds close to tears.
Archer shakes his head and then turns to find Colton across the bar. “You need to leave.” Shadows coil around Archer, an inky mass that moves with grace around him. The sight is stunning and hard to believe, even standing this close.
“No hard feelings.” Colton winks.
I pick up a glass from behind the bar and launch it at him. He only just jumps out of the way, and it shatters against the wall instead.
“Get the fuck out.” I’ve never been so angry in my entire life. I don’t have shadows erupting from my body, but my depleted magic is fluttering in my chest, trying to help me. To do what? I have no idea.
Archer’s shadows are overflowing from him and twining around me. They’re oddly comforting as they dance around my arms and legs.
“Take that piece of garbage with you.” Davis points to Anthony. Colton nods, his smarmy face still way too amused by all of this.
None of us move until the door swings shut behind Colton, who has Anthony hefted over his shoulder. Rhys rushes to the door and flips the lock. His hands are on his head when he turns around and surveys his bar. Then his eyes land on me. He doesn’t need to speak for me to know his question.
“I’m fine. Just tired.”
“Okay, that shit is just weird.” Ezra’s watching the shadows flow around me and Archer. As if he’s forgotten they’re there, Archer looks down and then they disappear.
“Noted.”
I huff, exhaustion making my entire body feel heavy. “We should go get you cleaned up.”
Archer looks down at me, his eyes bright, and warmth trickles into my chest through the bond. Our bond! No, I’m not going to think about it right now, or else I’m going to freak out.
“You’re a mess too.”
He’s right. My hands are covered in blood, along with my shirt and pants. There’s a giant pool of Archer’s blood on the floor and seeing it there makes bile churn in my gut.
I could have lost him tonight.
As if sensing the direction of my thoughts, he turns me, hands gripping my shoulders. “I’m okay, and so are you. Whatever reason Anthony keeps manipulating us into bonding, it doesn’t matter. We’ll figure it out. And you and me, we were inevitable anyway.”
“Christ. I can’t listen to this,” Rhys grumbles. “Everyone, go home. I’ll clean up this disaster in the morning.”
Rhys surprises me by sweeping Archer and me into a hug. His embrace unlocks some wall that was holding back the others because they rush us and we’re soon caught in the middle of a massive hug.
It takes another ten minutes to untangle and say goodnight to everyone. Archer and I wash up in the bathroom as much as we can without a shower. By the time we’re done, everyone but Rhys has left. The three of us walk out together, and I feel lighter than I have in a while. Thinking that I had a part in ruining Rhys and Archer’s friendship has been eating away at me. I know, logically, that each of us had our role to play. Rhys was being a jackass, Archer was being stubborn, and I was the spark to the tinder that set it all off. To see them talk and not fight is a huge relief.
That relief is short-lived when my father steps out of the darkness.
Light from a nearby streetlamp shines down on him, casting his face in stark relief. His features appear exaggerated, elongated and severe, almost like he’s a demon. I know it’s a trick of the light, but fear trickles down my spine. Archer’s arm tightens around my waist, reminding me I’m not alone.
My dad is still in his uniform, his face pinched and angry.
