by Emme DeWitt
I started scribbling a list in my notebook. Henry peered across the gap to see what I was writing.
“What did I say?” Henry asked.
“You’ve got a point about Google. I can’t put anything obvious out there, but some sort of SOS page could be useful,” I said. “Of course, I haven’t written any code in a while. That might have to go on a back burner until I have some traction on leads.”
“Which is where I come in,” Henry said brightly.
“Yep,” I said, finishing a thought with a messy flourish, whipping the next page forcefully. “Lay it on me. Who are we working with?”
Henry gave all the names and abilities he could remember, which filled up several pages. I would have to draft out family trees later, but right now the hard data was what I needed. He was able to think back four generations, which was more than I was expecting.
Niko popped in as Henry took longer and longer to respond, his eyes lost in memory searches for anyone he might have missed. Henry sighed, shrugging in defeat.
“That’s all I have for you, my dear,” he said. “I’m sorry I couldn’t offer any more.”
“No, please, this is great,” I said, snapping the notebook shut as I felt Niko’s eyes wander to my messy script.
“Remember, if your theory is correct, I would not discount some of the truly ancient deities from your parameters. Or mixed lineage,” Henry said, whistling low. “That could give you a lot more to work with.”
I hopped up from the bed, leaning to give Henry a hug.
“You’re the best,” I said. “Thank you.”
I took a deep breath, a sigh escaping me in relief. I finally felt the world under my feet. There was data, there was a plan, and I was in charge of executing it. Research was definitely my element.
“Of course,” Henry said, chuckling. “Don’t forget to tell me how it all works out.”
“I should see you soon, right?” I asked, my eyes darting to Jasleen for confirmation. She lifted a hand, warding me off.
“Off limits,” she said, flicking the page in her magazine again. “No spoilers.”
“Like the TV shows. People get really upset over that,” Henry said, the innocence on his face bringing a smile to mine.
“Look at you being up on the lingo,” I said. “You caught me off guard with Google earlier as well.”
“He tries,” Jasleen said, her eyes not leaving her reading material.
Niko stepped to me, his hand already on my shoulder.
“You’ve got another appointment,” he said, nodding his goodbyes.
“Seriously? Again? What did I just say this morning about letting me know I have a schedule, I dunno, any time except immediately before I need to be somewhere doing something?” I said, my words slicing through the cheery film of the room unexpectedly. Niko offered a shrug.
“Good luck,” Henry said, his demeanor unaffected by my outburst.
Jasleen waved sarcastically, and I ducked in for another quick hug from Henry.
“I’ll do my best. See you around.”
Niko pulled me from my brief field trip back to the Navratil mansion before I could lift my hand and wave.
Aleks was waiting for me in my room. It was weird to call it that. My room. I had only been around for three days. Three sleeps, anyway. I was having trouble reentering normal time. Aleks sat patiently on the bench at the foot of the queen-sized bed, his arms extended backward in a deceptively relaxed pose. Could he be counting tiles?
I looked up to where his eyes were directed and found the ceiling did in fact have ornate plaster tiles. Having only been unconscious in this room briefly, I wasn’t surprised to find I’d overlooked such an obvious detail. The rich textiles of the room dampened my footsteps, and I had to tap Aleks gently on the shoulder to alert him I was near.
He startled, and I apologized instinctively.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, withdrawing my hand with a snap back into my ribcage.
“No need to apologize. You just surprised me,” Aleks said, sitting up. His eyes regained their normal sparkling alertness, scanning me curiously. His eyes crinkled at the corners. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, why?” I asked, my hand reaching for a loose strand of hair, only to remember my hair was pinned back at the nape of my neck. I let my hand fall lonely to my side and avoided the itch to let my hair down for comfort. I wanted to enjoy the regalness of the ornate coils for a little longer. It felt like I had an added boost of confidence I wanted to use up fully.
“Did you want to change into something more comfortable?” Aleks asked, nodding at my stiff posture. His eyes pinged up and down my frame. I felt like I was being x-rayed, and all my nervous ticks and awkward body language was more see through than ever.
It was true the pencil skirt and heels didn’t let me slouch, but it was kind of nice being dressed up. I smoothed down the creases in my skirt in goodbye. The magic from my hair would suffice, even if it was paired with jeans or sweatpants.
“I guess,” I said, picking away a loose string at the hem. “I wasn’t sure if I had other clothes. These are fine.”
“Whatever you need, just ask,” Aleks said. “You’re an honored guest. The least I can do is feed and clothe you. The girls had fun picking out some basics for you. If they aren’t your style, I can always send for more.”
Aleks pointed out a large armoire in the corner of the cavernous room. I flung off my heels, tip toeing in my stocking feet to check out my new options. Although both Ariel and Gaby seemed nice, I wasn’t sure their tastes would line up with mine. The outfit from the first night of dress up flashed in my mind, and I shook my head to dislodge it. I said a quick prayer for pants and hoodies.
The old lacquered wood of the armoire felt like liquid on my fingertips, and I opened the front facing doors without so much as a squeak. I had hoped for a little noise, remembering Abuela’s heirloom chest that sounded like a beached whale every time I opened it. A small smile pulled at the corners of my mouth. After a small sigh, I redirected my focus to my new wardrobe.
Black. Lots and lots of black.
A loud laugh escaped me. Noah’s visage popped into my mind, and I could see clearly the relief that would have shone from every pore had this been her closet. I didn’t mind the color so much, but I was definitely used to a little more variety. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about matching while I was here. Trying on a new aesthetic could be fun.
“Everything all right?” Aleks asked, his voice and cologne floating somewhere behind me. An internal alarm bell went off in my head, and I kept my eyes forward. After one quick glance in the wardrobe, Aleks let out a low chuckle. “I see. Well, I’m sure we can swap out some of these for more…colors.”
“No worries,” I said, counting my breaths in and out as I worked to quiet the thundering heartbeat in my ears. “I’m just grateful someone took the time. Whatever is here is great.”
I grabbed a hanger, pulling out a flirty skater dress into view.
“I like this,” I said, my fingers pulling on the fabric. Setting the dress back on the rack, I leafed through a few more, cooing in approval. “They did a great job. You’ve got some talented stylists on your hands.”
“Don’t give them any ideas,” Aleks said, retreating back to his spot on the bench. I ruffled through some of the shelves, finding a variety of pants and sweaters, along with pajamas, silken tees and a blouse or two. “I’m pretty sure they got at least one of everything.”
I grabbed the equivalent of a hoodie and jeans and headed for the bath suite.
“Give me just a sec,” I said.
“Take your time,” Aleks said, letting his back fall to the bed, his arms crossed contently. “I’ll be here.”
I dashed into the bathroom, locking the door reflexively. I let out a huge breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding, shaking out the nerves in my hands.
“Keep it together,” I scolded myself aloud, ripping off the jacket and skirt combo with a sigh of re
lief. The stockings were harder, and I had to hop around a little to pull them off successfully. I fell over with a crash, a loud yelp escaping me. I covered my face with my hand, mortified I couldn’t even undress myself without causing a ruckus.
A soft knock came at the door, and Aleks’ muffled voice came through the slight crack.
“Everything all right in there?” he asked.
“Yeah, fine!” I called, folding the clothes nicely, wandering around in my underwear trying to figure out where to put the clothes. Just like yesterday, there didn’t seem to be a designated hamper, and I wondered if I could sneak away to do the laundry without anyone noticing. I gave up, setting the pile on the edge of the spotless tub, and went back to find my pants and sweatshirt.
I pulled them on hurriedly, relieved they fit as if they had been mine all along. Apparently seeing someone practically naked one time was enough of an indication of size. I remembered suddenly that Ariel and I were similarly built. She had probably just bought whatever she would get for herself, also having the presence of mind to get the proper rise in jeans to cover my round assets without any embarrassing crack cleavage. I sent a silent thank you to her in my mind.
The hoodie was tighter than I expected, and I realized the cut was different than I was used to. On the second try, I found the front of it, much to my chagrin. It was more of a viscose material, so it clung to me like a second skin. It wouldn’t have been a problem if I had thought to grab a tee to wear underneath. Not only was the material slim, but the cut was at a bias with a very dramatic cowl neck line that dipped to reveal the top of my bra. I spent several minutes pulling it toward one collarbone or the other, desperate to find whatever option gave me the least amount of anxiety.
It was useless. No matter what I tried, I couldn’t find any more coverage, and I was left to exit the bathroom with my hands on my chest awkwardly.
Aleks looked up, his eyes widening with surprise. My knees locked, and I was frozen in place. The armoire felt miles away.
“I know, it’s horrible. I wasn’t paying enough attention. Let me grab a blanket or t-shirt or something,” I said, my cheeks on fire.
“What? No,” Aleks said, shaking his head. “You look great. I just wasn’t expecting—”
“My ta-tas to be out and making friends? Yeah,” I said, a nervous laugh escaping me as I tugged at the only spare throw in the room, conveniently situated beneath Aleks. “Might need to talk to Ariel and Gaby about my style.”
Aleks finally looked away from me, realizing I was trying to get to the blanket he was sitting on. He stood up quickly, knocking heads with me in his hurry to get out of my way. The fistful of blanket I had been yanking on swung back on me, causing me to punch myself in the face.
“Damn it!” I said, stumbling back. Aleks grabbed me by the waist, steadying me and returning me to two grounded feet. He was also less than three inches away from me, and the subtle aroma of his cologne made my head float. Between the head assault and the cologne, the dizziness was overwhelming.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, the vibrations from his voice low and close enough for me to feel the words before my brain could decode them. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah,” I said, my hands clutching the blanket tightly to my chest. Aleks’ hands were still on my waist, and I counted my heartbeats as I waited for him to step back.
Only he didn’t.
I was frozen in the most perfect version of hell I could imagine. A tall, handsome man had come to my rescue and was now holding tightly onto me. Firecrackers radiated from his hands all the way up and down my body.
Only this couldn’t be happening. Not now.
I stared intently into the blanket, refusing to meet his eyes. I knew he was looking at me, but any resolve I had left would be melted instantly if I looked into his eyes. I was making this up. It was only in my head. And even if it wasn’t, I didn’t want to ruin what felt like my mission by crossing a line with my…patron? Benefactor? Boss? A line that couldn’t be uncrossed.
Fifteen.
Sixteen.
Seventeen.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Aleks stepped back, his hands sliding slowly from my waist. When he was several feet away, back on his bench, I was finally able to look away from the stitch pattern that was now permanently etched into my brain.
I cleared my throat, turning away to throw the blanket over my shoulders. Once I was more comfortable with the amount of skin showing—now next to zilch—I turned around, my face flexing in a sheepish smile.
“How is Henry?” Aleks asked. He sat back again with his arms behind him. Relaxed. Neutral. Unfazed.
I sighed in my mind, thankful this wasn’t going to be more awkward than I had feared.
“Good,” I quipped, taking a seat next to him on the bench, careful to leave an arm’s length between us. “Lots of good information. I have some ideas of where to start, which is much more than I had before seeing him.”
“Start what exactly?” Aleks asked, his face open and intent. “The friends and foes list? I wasn’t sure if that’s what sparked your immediate interest. Your dramatic exit earlier did leave several people speechless.”
I bared my teeth guiltily.
“Sorry about that,” I said sheepishly. “I didn’t mean to be a diva or anything.”
“No, no, please,” Aleks said, his hands raised in front of him. “It worked out well for me. They left almost immediately afterwards, and I got a free afternoon. I usually have to suffer much longer with my uncle. Although I will be curious to see if he does call ahead from now on.”
I raised my eyebrow. Aleks laughed.
“You left quite the impression,” Aleks admitted. “And your poor friend Brendan almost wet himself.”
“He did not. Brendan isn’t the type to scare easily.” My nose crinkled in disbelief.
“Well, he looked as if he might puke and cry at the same time, then. I guess he doesn’t know you as well as he thought.” Aleks shrugged. “His loss.”
“We’ve known each other since we were kids,” I said. “He’s like a big brother to me.”
“Really?” Aleks said, his eyes shrinking skeptically behind a squint. “Are you sure?”
“I mean, sure I had a crush on him ages ago,” I said, my cheeks flushing at the confession. “But he’s only ever seen me as a little sister. Especially since Tomas…well, you know.”
Aleks nodded briefly in understanding but switched to a series of head shaking after a moment of thought.
“I don’t know,” he argued. “He seemed a little too possessive. His feelings might have changed.”
It was my turn to snort.
“Okay,” I said dismissively.
Aleks laughed off the denial, and I noticed the laughter made it to his eyes. We sat near enough to one another that I could tell the happiness was truly resonating from within. I shifted closer to him, happy in his happiness. It was rare to have someone’s positive energy radiate so warmly from them, and even rarer when I could enjoy it.
“So what’s your new project anyway? Don’t you think I should know a little about it if I’m going to help you cover it up?” Aleks said playfully. “Of course, I’ll pass it off as my own. Marek already thinks you’re consulting anyway.”
“Unfortunately for you, it’s quite boring research,” I said. “Lots of genealogy and mythology. Books. Lots and lots of books.”
“Hey, my uncle was the one bragging about doing poorly in school. I’ll have you know, I’m quite well read. I even enjoy it sometimes.” Aleks bumped my shoulder with his, and I laughed.
“I’m going to have to commandeer not only your library, but also a laptop. Think you can swing it?” I said. “You do have a library, right? It’s a shame to have such a big house without at least one library.”
“Oh, we’ve got a library,” Aleks said with a smile. “I’ll have to relocate then.”
“I was kidding,” I said, backtracking immediately. “I don’t need
the library. I’ll just bring the books up here. I couldn’t kick you out of your own office.”
“It’s not a big deal. Just temporary until we set yours up,” Aleks said. “I don’t want you lugging around all those books by yourself and leaving them in weird places. Makes more sense for you to take the library for now.”
“I can handle a few books,” I said defensively. “And I would never abandon them just anywhere.”
“Not the point. Although,” he said, his eyes glimmering mischievously. “For all this effort, do I at least get rewarded with knowing what you’re working on? Come on. Just a little hint.”
“If I’m right,” I said, dangling the carrot in front of him, “then you’ll hear about it. So until then, mum’s the word.”
I mimed locking my lips and throwing away the key.
Then, Aleks was there.
His lips were warm against mine, my hand now braced against his shoulder where it had only moments before held an imaginary key. I froze in surprise, my lips parting a little in reaction. Suddenly, the kiss was deeper, and my head spun. I wasn’t sure which way was up or which way was down. Emotion poured into me and back out. I wasn’t sure which feelings were mine and which were from Aleks. Whatever combination they were, they felt good. No, they felt great.
Vertigo glued my eyes shut, the sensations too intense for my rational mind to override my own body’s instincts. So it hadn’t only been in my imagination. The flirting. The connection. Unless I was currently experiencing a stroke, which seemed unlikely.
A coolness overtook the surface of my lips as they were freed from Aleks’.
“I’ll take that as deposit,” Aleks said softly near my ear.
I felt his weight lift from the bench, the fabric bouncing back without the pressure of his form pinning it down. The door clicked shut softly, but the smell of Aleks’ cologne lingered in the air.
After several minutes, I was able to open my eyes. My hand still hung in the air where the lock and key motion had ended and the kiss had started. Thoughts spun around and around, but none seemed to stick. I began by counting my breaths. Slowly, I added in a catalog of what was in my field of vision, bring my awareness back to concrete things I could make sense of. Bed. Armoire. Carpet. Bench.