by Mary Whitten
“No, actually I have some errands to run,” Robert answered as he looked at his watch. “I’d better hit the road if I’m going to beat the traffic.” He stood and kissed me on the top of my head, patting Axle on the back as he walked out.
We sat in silence for a moment. Axle drank his coffee, staring into my eyes. When he was finished, he rinsed his cup in the sink and walked over to the couch.
“So what did you have in mind?” I asked curiously.
He sat next to me and pulled my face to his, kissing me gently. He ran his hands through my hair and playfully tugged at my locks. I moaned in response. I ran my hands over his stomach and pushed my body closer to his. He pulled away but still held my face in his hands.
“You have no idea how worried I was about you. I realized the second you walked away from me that I had made a huge mistake. I shouldn’t have let you leave with that bloodsucker. From now on, you’re not leaving my sight.” He kissed my lips softly and sat back.
“Stop beating yourself up, it wasn’t your fault. And you couldn’t have stopped me you had wanted to,” I answered.
He laughed. “Sweetheart, I could have stopped you I was just being dumb.”
“What do you mean dumb?” I asked curiously.
“I let you do whatever you want, even when I know it’s wrong. Ezra said something while we waited for you to wake up that keeps replaying in my mind. He said that if I truly cared about you I wouldn’t let you put yourself in harm’s way, even if it meant losing you. He was right. I do want to be together forever, but I have to stop being selfish.”
His comment about being together forever sent a big smile to my face. “So we’re listening to Ezra now?” I teased.
“You know, he is much easier to be around now that he’s human.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “It also doesn’t hurt that he’s no longer competition for you.”
“You sure? I mean, you do have the same red room as his house,” I teased.
He chuckled. “That’s my red room. Ezra had rooms designed specifically for us to look exactly like home.”
“Ah,” I answered.
“So, I made a deal with Kimmy. I get you today and she gets you tonight.”
The thought of spending time with Kimmy made me smile with excitement. But an entire day with Axle caused butterflies in my stomach.
“So, get dressed! We’re leaving soon.”
I took a long shower, attempting to wash away the memory of Hessley. I wanted to forget everything about that leech. I felt sick with a realization, he was now and forever a part of me. I would never truly be rid of him. I dried off and tried to stay positive. At least I was alive and back home. My friends and family were safe. I wrapped the towel around my body, and looked down on the counter and smiled. My toothbrush was resting in the same cup that held Axle’s toothbrush. Normally, my reaction to this would have been to freak out. The past year had forced me to take a step back and examine my actions.
Axle knocked on the door. “You all right?”
I smiled again. “Yeah, I’m great.”
****
We had to stop by the office to fill out paperwork on the situation. I could have skipped protocols, but it felt good to get everything out on paper and be done with it.
“So what will happen to Rocko and Buster?” I asked as I finished typing.
Axle sighed and seemed flustered. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it’s up to you.”
I gave him a confused look. “Can you please explain?”
He sat on the desk corner and rubbed his eyes. “After finding you, we had a long meeting on what to do with the prisoners. I suggested termination, but Robert thinks it would be best to leave the decision to you.”
“Termination, you want to kill them?” I couldn’t believe what I had just heard.
“Yes, I do,” he stated.
“Don’t you think that is a bit harsh?”
He chuckled. “Wow, you are your father’s daughter. That is exactly what Robert said. As I explained to him, they kidnapped you and nearly killed you. Their punishment should be death.”
“Even in the human world, death wouldn’t be their punishment,” I tried.
“Emily, you are no longer a part of the human world. When Kimmy was kidnapped, you killed Damon.”
I shook my head. “That was different.”
His eyebrow rose. “How is that different?”
I sighed, giving up. There was no arguing with Axle. “Rocko and Buster didn’t kidnap me, Hessley did. Plus, Hessley was holding them captive as well. They only stayed with him to keep their families safe. We should free them.”
He placed his hands around my waist and pulled me close. His eyes studied my lips. “The thought of never seeing you again was tearing me apart. You mean the world to me, and when I am with you I’m a better man.”
I smiled happily. After we finished with the paperwork we had a date day. Axle took me shopping and then to the movies; it was perfect. He dropped me back at my apartment a little after six. I didn’t want to say goodbye, but I was glad to be home again. I opened the door to my apartment and was bombarded by friends. Kimmy, Dee-Dee, even Maggie was there.
“Welcome home,” Kimmy greeted.
I smiled brightly, hugging her tightly. “I’m glad to see you.”
Dee-Dee stood in the kitchen and started the blender.
“What’s going on?” I asked curiously.
“Margaritas, and we totally deserve them,” Maggie replied, placing her arm around my shoulders. She held a glass while Dee-Dee filled it, and then handed me the cup and walked away. I took a long sip of the delicious mixed drink. I felt a warm, fluffy object brush my leg and looked down to see a tiny solid black cat at my feet.
“Who’s cat?” I asked.
“He’s yours,” Dee-Dee answered.
“I don’t have a cat,” I stated, confused.
“You do now,” Kimmy replied.
“We figured we should make your witch status official, and what better way than owing a black cat,” Dee-Dee explained.
I picked up the tiny creature and held him close. I brushed his soft fur, and he purred in response.
“Oh, Em, can you thank your brother for me? In the mess of being rescued, I didn’t even have time to say thank you,” Maggie called out.
“Um, what are you talking about?” I asked.
“Your brother came to our rescue at Hessley’s’ house, I thought you knew that,” she answered.
No one had mentioned how we were rescued. I saw someone just as I passed out, but I figured it was Axle. I decided I would talk to Axle about it later. Tonight was all about relaxing and forgetting. A knock at the door pulled me back to reality.
“Oh, that’s the pizza guy. Kimmy, can you get that?” Dee-Dee yelled over the noisy blender.
“Yeah, I’ll answer it,” Kimmy called out, pulling open the door.
“Hi, Kimmy. Sorry to barge in on girls’ night, but I need to speak with Emily,” Robert apologized, stepping inside.
“Hey, Robert, what’s up?” I greeted.
“I need to talk to you alone if possible,” he answered.
I nodded and walked toward my room. He followed, seeming nervous. Once we were alone he began again.
“So, I spoke with my father,” he started, the subject apparently making him uneasy. “He is having some issues with supernatural creatures in the city. He is willing to train you under one condition, you have to help him.”
“What am I supposed to do?” I asked.
“Just look into the issue, see what’s going on and if there is anything we can do. You will have complete support from all of us here,” he answered.
“Okay, no problem. I can’t promise anything, but I will definitely check it out.”
“There is one more thing,” he stated, shifting his weight.
“What?”
“You will have to go undercover.”
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Table of Contents
Copyright
Acknowledgments
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven