AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A shiver of lust runs through me. Damn, that was hot. And then Elias this morning as well.
They’re spoiling me. They really are.
Fortunately, the cuts are easy to cover. Caelan was good about that, keeping them out of sight. It’s only a few lower down on my thighs, almost at my knees, that might have been visible beneath the high-waisted skirt I’ve got picked out. So, I pair it with some patterned leggings and a soft T-shirt and decide that’ll do. My hoodie is still out in the main bedroom. I place my hand on the door to head out and retrieve it, but something makes me pause.
Some of my brightness dims as I hear Elias and Caelan talking. It’s hardly unexpected. Personalities like theirs are bound to clash sometimes, but the most I’ve ever really seen has been playful snarking. From what I can hear through the door, though, there’s genuine contention in their voices. Not quite an outright argument, not yet, but I don’t want them to argue for real, especially not if it’s over something to do with me.
I tentatively slip out of the bathroom to join them, bare feet padding softly on the bedroom carpet.
“It’s not a big deal,” Caelan insists.
They’ve dressed as well. Again, ripped jeans and a slightly dressier, for him, at least, bottle-green button-up shirt for Caelan, and a suit for Elias, although he’s forgone the tie and left the top buttons undone for a slightly more casual look today.
“It’s not worth the risk over something so petty.”
“What risk?” Caelan scoffs. “You realize you’re being an overprotective ass?”
Elias’ fingers twitch as he smooths down his already immaculate jacket. “It iscompletelyunnecessary.”
“Um,” I interject. “What’s this about?”
They both turn to look at me, then at each other, as if trying to decide who ought to explain the situation.
Elias apparently gets the honor. “There is some deliberation over our method of transport, that’s all.”
Caelan rolls his eyes. “It’s not even the method that’s the problem. It’s thisbullshit.”
I must be missing something. Transport seems such a ridiculous thing for them to be getting so at each other’s throats over. “Meaning…”
“The journey to Santa Monica pier is under half an hour by car. Do you really lack the patience to manage even that much?” Elias snaps.
“It’s not about patience! It’s about you getting a goddamn stick up your ass because I even mentioned the possibility of showing her the abyss.”
“What now?” I ask blankly.
Elias hisses, teeth grit, but Caelan steps in front of him and addresses me first.
“We’re bound to this shithole now, but demons can cross multiple dimensions. You realize that, right?” Caelan prompts. “Well, there’s space between dimensions, and even though we’re stuck here, we can still access that much. Thank fuck. It’s like a liminal space that doesn’t follow your laws of physics. You can enter one place and exit somewhere entirely different. It’s cool.”
“It is notcool,” Elias says, quietly seething. “It isdangerousfor a human.”
“It’s not like we’re shifting her to some other dimension! It’s a shortcut, that’s all.”
“I don’t want her in the abyss,” Elias snaps.
I shrink back. Even not directed at me, hearing his anger break loose like that is chilling, violent shards of shadow flare out and writhe around him. I swallow, suddenly afraid to speak up. “Elias? Please don’t be mad. I swear I’m not trying to undermine you or anything. I just don’t understand. You can access another realm?”
“A space between realms,” he replies shortly. “It is not a pleasant place for humans.”
“We could go through there and be at the beach in two fucking seconds, and both of us would be right there with her,” Caelan says, frustrated. “Why is that such a problem to you?”
“I amtryingto protect her!”
Caelan is unphased by Elias’ anger. He’s used to it, I suppose. He looks bemused. “Uh. From the abyss? Get real. It’s not that bad.”
“Fromus,” Elias clarifies.
A tense silence settles as I try to process what that even means. Slowly and with a definite level of caution, I stubbornly approach and touch Elias’ wrist. “Why would I need protection from you? You’ve been nothing but nice to me.”
