It doesn’t help.
With no other options, I take myself to bed.
Only the room is too open, and my instincts are on edge.
I’m a snotty mess as I build a makeshift nest on my bed. No matter what I do, it never feels comfortable and safe like I do when Laz is next to me.
My eyes settle on the chair next to the bathroom.
Laz left his sweatshirt here the other night, so I pull it on for comfort, even though I won’t be able to smell him. Rubbing my face against the sleeve seems to help, and I climb into bed,pulling my comforter over my head. The additional pillows and blankets I added do nothing to settle my system.
How did my world fall apart in a matter of hours?
I just want to apologize and see what I can do to fix it.
If I hadn’t panicked after the show, I believe Laz would have had a rational conversation with me. I bet he would have even wrapped his arms around me and told me that it was my call.
Only I freaked out on him.
Guilt and regret war for space in my mind, and my whole body shakes with the force of my sobs.
Chapter Four
Saber
The Monster’s Den is always busy, but it’s rarely as chaotic as it is when I show up for my shift the next day.
Not only do we have a nightmare demon pretending to be a paranormal council agent—while wearing his body—but we also have six additional council agents visiting The Den. All becauseKashpromised them a good show.
No matter how I lie to Aline to ensure she goes through with the performance, I’m not able to get in touch with Laz or Vivie at all, and I call them both repeatedly.
I’ve seen Aline and Vivie swap places multiple times when the paranormal council has come nosing around. I’m sure Vivie doesn’t give a fuck if Aline has to wear a glamor to look like her.
It’s a little white lie to protect Aline, and honestly, it’s the least of my concerns.
The show Atlas, Hex, and Aline put on goes off without a hitch, but it’s fucking weird seeing Vivie up on stage with Atlas.
It’s not actually Vivie, and I know that, so I have no idea why my instincts are on edge. It probably has to do with the fact Vivie seemed wrecked last night when she left the club.
Not that Laz was in any better shape.
Neither is answering their phone, and it has me about to crawl out of my skin, but I make it through my shift without my sphinx forcing himself into the driver’s seat. Hereallydidn’t like seeing Atlas fuck Aline while she was wearing Vivie’s appearance.
By the time I help clean up from their performance, it’s time for me to clock out. That doesn’t mean I actually get to leave. Some shit goes down with a wyvern, and I’m stuck making calls for Dread for hours. Charity is apparently missing, but I leave that up to those better suited to handle it and bolt for Laz and Vivie’s apartment building.
I’m torn on which door to try first, but I go for the one on the right, which is Vivie’s.
I knock and rock on my heels as I wait.
There’s no answer, so I shove my ear to the door and listen. It’s silent, even with my enhanced hearing. At least if they were fucking, I’d feel confident that they’re okay.
The lack of sound is starting to freak me out. Levitating my palm over the door, smoky white magic spills from my skin. I’ll have to have a conversation with her later about adding additional protection spells to prevent anyone else from entering, but I smirk when my magic pops the lock with no trouble.
It’s dark and all the curtains are drawn.
This would normally be prime working hours for Laz and Vivie. I can’t imagine that she would be asleep, because all of our internal clocks are set to sleep during the day and be up all night.
Shutting the door behind me, I don’t bother tiptoeing.
