Page 20 of Enchanting Her Monsters
Jade’s body jerks to sitting, and she glances around her room. She’s filled with fear.
She gets up and grabs her gun, checking around her house before relaxing after finding herself alone.
“I’m sorry you had to live like that. Afraid your ex was going to hurt you. And now to discover he actually was hurting you.”
“I’m not the only woman in the world dealing with an abusive and manipulative man,” she says, sounding both angry and sad.
“Still. It makes me feel horrible for any damage I’ve caused being an incubus. But if I’m sticking around longer, I will do my best to not harm you anymore. If I do it without realizing, please tell me so I can be better.”
I sense her agreeing to my request.
We observe as the front door flies open, and Rob rushes in already chanting a spell.
Jade drops to the floor.
He hovers over her. “Osen? Incubus?”
I let out a wheeze through Jade’s lungs. Being freshly dead ghost, I am unable to do much more.
“Good. You’re in there,” Rob says. “I’ll be back in a few days to have a chat.” He sneers at Jade’s body and then reluctantly tosses her on the couch. Likely, he wants Jade to come out of thespell like she only fell asleep, so she doesn’t wake up on the floor and become suspicious.
After a chant, he closes the door behind him. Jade is none the wiser.
She shifts on the couch and mutters, “Weird. I must be more tired than I thought.”
The memory fades, and we are left standing in the shadowscape once again.
“I was so off that day. I forgot to eat. I couldn’t write worth a damn.” Jade recalls from this memory. “Now I know why.”
I wish I could comfort her, like she deserves, but I feel like I will fall short in every way. I don’t really know how to comfort.
I’ve never done something like that before. I’ve only offered a sexual release for my partners. I wasn’t the one people went to hoping to ease their worries or to be their pillar of strength.
Maxum was our strength and courage. Flint was our rock bed foundation, never wavering. Arran was often our confidant and comfort before he was cursed. Calder was our passion and spirit until he was damaged in his last life.
And now, Jade is our heart. She brings compassion and understanding. She brings the group together in a way I never did.
Moving forward, what can I offer? Even if I could return whole and in my body, I don’t see what I could contribute.
I know one thing. I won’t do anything to hurt her. Never again. If it comes down to it, I will sacrifice myself to ensure her wellbeing and her happiness with our pack.
“Osen?” Jade calls me. “Are you okay?”
“I will be,” I answer, and then ask, “Will you do everything you can to help Calder?”
I sense her unease, and she asks with an uncertain tone, “What are you saying? Are you moving on?”
“No. Not yet. However, when I go, I want to ensure that you’ll be there for him.”
“Of course,” she hesitates. “But you’re still here. Maybe you could help too. I’m out of my depth with him.”
Wondering how to respond to her worried expression and reaction, I ask myself,What would Jade do?
Then I pull her into an embrace. “Whatever you need. Whatever Calder needs, or the pack needs, I will do my best to deliver.”
8
REVEALS
