Darkly Divine: A Paranormal Enemies to Lovers Romance

by C L Walker

  “Pervert.”

  He laughed as he reached out a hand and rested it on my thigh before he gave it a comforting squeeze. “We’re just teasing you so there’s no need to get all worked up, sweetheart.”

  “She knows that,” Sai said. “she’s just not used to the attention.”

  “Why are you all calling me out right now?” I looked to Ashley to make sure she wasn’t going to betray me, and she laughed.

  “Because it’s just us, and it’s a safe space so why not?” Sai gave me a serious look even though a smile still lit his face and it made me feel bad again. I recalled once more that he knew more than I gave him credit for, he got it, and he just wanted me to be happy.

  “Fine, you got me there but let’s pick on someone else for a time, I want to join in on the fun,” I said. Thank you, Sai.

  His smile grew and I knew that he was aware that I was grateful without saying as much.

  Micah leaned in close to my ear and said, “We should go, the bell is about to ring.”

  I gave him a weird look because I found it odd that he was whispering but when Devin showed up a few seconds later I understood without asking.

  “You are free to go,” I said, and when he looked at me expectantly, I stubbornly held my ground because he still hadn’t explained his strong aversion to Devin.

  “You’re a pain in my ass.” He stood up, dropped his bag of trail mix in front of me and said goodbye to everyone before he walked away.

  I turned to watch him go until Devin said, “Good morning, Bodin.”

  I turned back with a smile. “Hey, good morning!”

  The bell rung as he was in the process of sitting down so he didn’t make it all the way before he stood back up. “Okay, never mind. Goodbye it is, see you all later.”

  Everyone said their goodbyes and I headed out of the lunchroom.

  My phone vibrated after I stepped into the courtyard, so I stopped to read my message.

  Micah: Will you come with me after school?

  Me: To where?

  Micah: Anywhere you want to go…

  I agreed to go with him, and we ended up driving out to the city where we walked around and talked about everyday things. We didn’t touch on the heavy, nothing about my mother was said and nothing was said about our relationship or lack thereof. I even played nice and didn’t bring Devin up again even though it was still bothering me.

  We walked side by side and gazed in the windows of shops with feigned interest, as we were both more focused on each other. That much was obvious by the perpetual heat that hovered around us.

  He told me things about his childhood and where he had moved to. Apparently, his family had moved back to the reservation because his father was called to serve in some capacity when an elder had died.

  It all sounded so normal and that was the strange part because his tribe was cursed. But I knew he left the supernatural bits out and I understood because I couldn’t imagine his tribe being happy with him telling some human girl every detail about their world.

  I could barely wrap my mind around what he was. It was difficult because in our daily lives our differences rarely showed because he acted just as a human did.

  I had spent so much time wondering whether he wanted to share a future with me that I naively failed to consider if we even could have one together. He was a vampire and me… I was just a scared little girl who didn’t know if she had a heart to give away.

  Twenty-five

  Skylar

  I made it through my last weekend, and it was the last time I would start off my week under the same roof as my mother.

  I had to give Micah credit for being there for almost its entirety as he had snuck in through my window every night and distracted me with sweet kisses.

  I had been through so many emotions over the last few weeks, so I was relieved when I woke up feeling unconcerned for what was about to happen.

  I knew that would likely change the day before my birthday, but I was trying not to worry about it.

  At lunch I snacked on a quesadilla as I stared out the window since Sai and Ashley were in front of me completely oblivious to my presence.

  “Hey, do you mind if I sit here?”

  I looked up to find Devin smiling down at me.

  “Of course not, it’s nice to have someone to talk to around here.” I looked pointedly at Sai and Ashley. “Since these two are ignoring me.”

  She had the decency to look embarrassed as she said, “Sorry.”

  “Hey, I tried talking to you during third period and you were very unresponsive,” Sai Said.

  “Uh oh,” Devin chimed in as he sat down, and a little too close to me so I put a little more space between us. I found it strange that he kept getting too close when he had to know that Micah and I were sort of a thing.

  I chewed my food quickly so I could reply. “You were talking about her the whole time, like we get it Sai, you and Ashley are dating, now stop talking about it.” I winked at him.

  “Well excuse me for being excited,” he said. “Would you rather we discuss Micah?”

  I shook my head quickly at the same time Ashley gently nudged him and Devin cleared his throat loudly.

  Sai rolled his eyes before he visibly deflated, it was tough being shut down unanimously.

  “What book do you got there?” Devin asked.

  I was about to answer when Sai said, “The Wizard Who Loved Me.”

  I noted a little sass in his voice, so I stopped chewing and watched him for a moment. “Don’t say it like it’s a bad thing.”

  “It’s pretty much the only book you read,” he said, “and you’ve read it how many times now?”

  “I read it about once a year.” I stuck my tongue out at him. “Quit being salty because Ashley and I shut you down, us girls have to keep you in line after all.”

  Ashley laughed when he silently mocked me.

  “I can’t get into all that magic shit,” Devin said.

  “It’s not for everyone.” I tucked my book into my bag. “Did you have fun yesterday? Jesse was talking about how you guys were going to watch his cousin’s roller derby competition.”

  He seemed to perk up, so I figured he had something exciting to share. “It was pretty cool, I wasn’t expecting it to be so competitive but damn those girls are impressive, and scary.” He laughed. “Then we hung out with his cousin and some of the other girls afterwards.”

  “Oh, I see how it is,” I teased, and I nudged him with my elbow. “Scary but also hot right?”

  “No, it wasn’t like that.” The serious look he gave me had me looking the other way, and when my eyes met Sai’s briefly his mouth turned up as he had also read the meaning in Devin’s eyes.

  There was no end to Sai’s enjoyment over the attention I was suddenly getting from boys.

  “Oh,” I said, and before I could say more someone tugged on the back of my jacket and for a second, I thought it was Devin but when I looked at him, he was looking up at someone behind me.

  “We need to talk.”

  I sighed before I turned around to tell Micah that we didn’t need to talk about anything at that moment but the look he gave me made me stand up without a word without even realizing what I was doing.

  “Hey.” Devin stood up and grabbed onto my wrist. “You don’t have to listen to him.”

  Micah grabbed Devin’s arm and pulled it away from mine none too gently.

  “Micah!” I grabbed his hoodie with both hands and tried to turn his body towards mine.

  He ignored me and kept his eyes on Devin as he said, “I told you to keep your fucking hands off her.”

  My mind was reeling over the exchange as I looked back and forth between them. “It’s not like that, Micah! Calm down.”

  I defended Devin because it seemed like the obvious thing to do when Micah was being a bully even though I didn’t appreciate the way Devin had grabbed onto me either. I didn’t think we were close enough for him to do such a thing to me.
>
  “It’s not like that?” Micah asked. “So, it was my imagination this morning when I heard him telling his buddies that he wouldn’t be discouraged even though you specifically told him that you weren’t interested?” He looked to me and raised his eyebrows, but I remained silent. “Or maybe it wasn’t like that when he said when it comes down to it, you’re just like every other girl and will be on your knees for him before this year ends?”

  I looked at Devin with disappointment. I should have known he didn’t want to be friends. Why would a notorious player want to be friends with some girl that had turned him down?

  “He just wants to fuck you,” Micah said as he continued to glare at Devin.

  I shook him because I was worried that he was going to do something stupid. “Micah, shut up. I get it.”

  Devin opened his mouth, and I could tell he was about to plead with me, but Micah wasn’t about to hear it.

  “You’re wasting your time, she’s mine,” he said, before he grabbed my wrist and pulled me away from the table and through the lunchroom.

  “I’m not yours!” I protested.

  We went to the courtyard and finally he let go of me so he could sit down.

  He put his head in his hands as he leaned forward.

  I took a step back and he snapped at me, “Don’t you dare try to leave me right now, please.”

  I could feel his anger radiating off his body, it was dark and powerful like it had been the night he had murdered Jack. He looked like the embodiment of anger itself.

  The hair was standing up on the back of my neck and chills ran down my spine as I tried to understand why he was so mad over the situation. He knew I wasn’t interested in Devin, so his jealousy wasn’t warranted.

  I took another step back because my feet moved of their own accord even though I wanted to find a way to comfort him.

  When he reached a hand out and grabbed me I yelped. I landed in his lap and he wrapped his arms around me to secure my body to his.

  I stared into his eyes and watched the storm that swirled within them with sudden acute awareness of exactly what he was feeling. It hit me like a ton of bricks and overwhelmed my senses as I sat motionless in his arms.

  “Why?” I choked on the overwhelming emotions that seemed to spill out from him and into me. “Why are you so angry?”

  Rather than answer my question he smashed his lips against mine and tightened his arms.

  I pulled my arms out from in between us and wrapped them around his neck.

  He kissed his way down my face and down my neck. I sighed when his teeth grazed my skin as he made his way down to my collar bone where he bit softly. When he returned to my mouth, he stopped just shy of it as his eyes lifted to behind us.

  A second later the door opened, and voices entered the courtyard. So, he kissed me one more time before he set me down beside him.

  I touched my lips and watched him as I wondered why I felt so emotionally tied to him.

  “I don’t understand any of this, I don’t know why he makes you so mad, or why you make me feel like this. It’s all consuming,” I said.

  “I’m sorry, it’s because of what I am.”

  “That’s why I feel how angry you are?”

  He grabbed my hand to hold it. “Yes, well and there is more to explain, but let’s not do that here.”

  “Okay, but what about Devin?”

  “I’m not jealous so I hope you aren’t thinking that again.” I gave him a skeptical look and he frowned. “I feel protective of you, I just didn’t want you to think it was weird, so I didn’t want to tell you.” He searched my eyes, he seemed to be looking for judgement, but I wasn’t passing any. “You thought he was okay being friends, but I knew the entire time that he wasn’t, so it bothered me every time I saw him with you. I never once thought you would choose him over me, so I really wasn’t jealous. And he amused me at first but now I just want to punch him in the dick.”

  “You feel protective of me?” That was not what I had been expecting.

  He smiled awkwardly and scratched the back of his head. “Yeah, I sort of have since the first time I saw you again. That’s why I keep getting so mad about your mom, and Devin… and why removing Jack was so easy for me. I didn’t realize it at first, so it always came out wrong, but I’m done being in denial.”

  Protective…

  Why do I feel like crying?

  I wanted to address what he had admitted, but I didn’t think I could without my tears slipping from my eyes. No one had protected me or wanted to since I had been a small child.

  He seemed to understand that I was struggling because he ran a finger down my cheek and said, “Don’t worry I get it.”

  I cleared my throat and nodded my head before I looked down at my hand in his.

  This has to mean something.

  What is this feeling?

  I shook myself again. “Why didn’t you just tell me he was trying to play me?”

  He leaned in with a smug smile on his face. “I did mention that he was trying to get laid when I stole your note from him. But you didn’t listen.”

  “Oh, yeah...”

  “We weren’t getting along so I understand why you didn’t believe me.” He looked down thoughtfully. “Not that we get along perfectly now but things are getting better as we clear up more misunderstandings.”

  “True but there is still a lot that is unsaid.” I looked at him pointedly and he glanced away.

  The bell rang and he stood up, but I tugged on his hand and he sat down again.

  “One last question?” I asked.

  “Just one.”

  “You’ve said that you want me many times now.” He nodded. “But today, you said that I am yours and I’m sort of wondering what exactly that means?”

  He stood up again and he leaned down to my level. “It means exactly what I said, you are mine.” Then he kissed me before he turned away.

  “Really!” I yelled. “That doesn’t explain anything!”

  He turned around and blew me a kiss, so I flipped him off and walked in the other direction.

  I went to fourth period reluctantly since I had to sit next to Devin. When I sat down, he decided to pretend like I wasn’t there. But that suited me fine because if he was going to be a baby when he was the one that had treated me poorly then good riddance to him.

  My phone buzzed and I knew it was Micah.

  Micah: Don’t let him make excuses for how he talked about you.

  Me: Don’t tell me what to do, especially not when you won't explain yourself!

  Micah: Fine. But if I see him talking to you again, I’m going to rip his throat out. Cool?

  Me: Why? Because it’s okay if you treat me like shit but not other people? Because I’m yours when you didn’t even think it was necessary to ask me if I wanted to be your property first?

  Micah: I don’t treat you like shit. I speak the truth and make you angry, but you like it, and you know it. Besides, I thought you were going to start taking out all your shit on me? Even the score, Sky. Whenever you feel like you can’t take any more of this life direct your anger towards me, I’ll be your release. But to do so you must be mine, and mine alone because like I said, I won’t share you.

  He wanted me to himself… that’s a good thing, right?

  We had to listen to a lecture, so I had to let it go for the remainder of the class. On my way to fifth period, I revisited his text and tried to understand and sort out my feelings.

  I had five minutes at best to figure out what I was going to say to him, as there was no way he was going to let me leave without acknowledging what he had said to me.

  But I spent that five minutes pacing back and forth in the bathroom to the annoyance of all the girls who were trying to fix their makeup and I didn’t come up with a thing.

  I stopped outside of the classroom even though the second bell had already rung and the buzz in my pocket let me know Micah was already wondering where I was. He probably thought that his
words had made me run and if he did, he wasn’t far off because I felt like it.

  As I sat there with my hand around the doorknob, I finally asked myself an important question: Do I want to be his and his alone?

  I opened the door, and my eyes found his immediately as he visibly relaxed in his seat.

  I walked down the aisle in a trance as I watched him.

  Yes.

  I did want to be his, and I didn’t care for the details of what that entailed. I didn’t give a damn that he was an asshole, or that he wasn’t human, because I wanted him, and I wanted him to be mine even if it was only for a short time.

  Right before I sat down, I saw a smile tug at the corner of his mouth, and I wondered if he could tell by the way I was looking at him that I was going to agree to be his.

  I faced forward and tried to focus. It was a wonder how I was passing because I felt like I had spent the first half of the quarter paying more attention to him than doing my work.

  I had even thought about him more than I thought about my mother or about how terrible my life had been.

  I looked at him in astonishment as all the truths settled in around me.

  He turned his head my way just enough to meet my eyes and my breath caught in my throat.

  You make me forget everything.

  I pulled my phone out and texted him because I couldn’t wait until class was finished.

  Me: You want me, you got me.

  Micah: You have no idea what those words do to me.

  Me: ?

  Micah: I’m barely holding myself back from scooping you into my arms and taking you somewhere where we can be alone.

  Me: Ahem, woah. Don’t even go there.

  Micah: Don’t worry, I’ll behave… for now.

  Me: ANYWAY… Does this go both ways?

  Micah: What do you mean?

  Me: You said I’m yours…

  Micah: Are you asking if that means I am yours as well?

  I nodded my head when he glanced at me.

  Micah: Do you want me to be?

  Me: I just want it to be fair.

  Micah: Is it so hard to just say what you want?

  Yes. But why? JUST SAY IT SKYLAR.