“But,” he starts on an extended breath, “when your voice fell silent, I was left hearing the thrum of your calming heart soothing mine. It spoke, relieving me of an action I’ve promised to commit. Kill anyone who dares to trespass, but on doing so, sleep never returned to claim me.”
I listen attentively, hearing his version, discerning that everything spoken holds truth, but it’s not enough.
“Is that everything?” I ask, incapable of stopping my head from tilting or my squinting leer. “Everything you heard. No other voice, no other time since my arrival at Rebirth? Just last night.” He leans back, searching me over once more. “Tell me, Alex. I need to hear it. Make me understand why…how…when you started listening to my conversations. And with what little I do know of you, I’m not expecting a lie.”
“An explanation then?”
“Yes.” I chuckle out of the audacity of him pulling this card. “As you so stated, this falls within those guidelines.”
“It appears I’ve upset you.” He frowns.
“You think?”
Pulling out his phone and checking the time, he offers me a troublesome take. “The timeframe on your match has moved up; we should be leaving.”
“No,” I scoff out of irritation, “explain yourself. I don’t do ‘walk aways.’ Not when it’s someone–” Hurt tempts me to expose my feelings. “Something I care about.”
“I’m not saying this conversation, or discourse, has reached its end. You’re demanding answers, and you’ll receive them–this I promise. However, your official ranking match takes precedence.”
“Fine,” I growl, not of my own accord. Being uncivilized isn’t my thing. I agree, it’s important. But so is this. “On one, no two conditions. Answer the question, how long have you been listening?”
“Since you arrived.”
Clear and straight to the point.What. The. Fuck.I stand, not knowing what to do with myself or this information.
“What do you mean, since I arrived? This is not fucking okay, Alex.” My breathing becomes sporadic, and I’m not sure if my lungs are fully functioning because panic has a vice-like hold on them. This hurts.
“You’ll receive your answers, but–”
“I know, we have to leave,” I project, cutting him off. *Sigh* “Promise me you’ll stop. Right now, promise me.”
“I can’t.”
“Why the hell not?” I raise my voice octaves above its normal cadence.
“Because your pitch, tone, volume, or however you choose to describe it, is laced withyourmagic.” He stands, blocking out the newly born sun and shrouding me in his shadow’s cool embrace. “Spells do not work. Commanding my body to object to your voice. Does. Not. Work. Nothing works,” Alexbites.
I retract a step, not out of fear, but because he is telling the truth. Pain laces his words and reveals that he has tried. Has been trying.
“Okay,” I exhale, which finally begins to settle my heart. “I’m going into that bathroom and changing. When I return, you and I will leave this conversation here. Right. Here.” I Point at my floor. “Meaning, the two of us will figure this out. Not alone, together. Neither of us will take what’s been said away from this room. I can’t focus on my match whilst thinking about–this.”
Nodding, he relaxes his shoulders, and I do as well. “Okay, give me your hand,” he says, reaching out and waiting for mine. Without hesitation, the magic flowing beneath his skin seeps through my pores and dances into my veins. A touch, unlike before, pulls me closer as he slides our hands beneath his shirt.
My eyes close, taking in the rhythmic pounds in his chest. “Thank you.”
“I needed this also.” With my other hand, I take his, placing it against my own heart, grounding us in a way neither believed was possible.
My aura hums for Alex’s, thrashing with the cadence of his heart.I need to understand him, and he, me. We’ll figure this out later.Pulling away, I feel the tension holding us hostage release its binds, and those swirling galaxies brighten upon letting go. I grin.Yeah, we’ll be fine.
Alex’s sigil fades,dissolving its black, luminous glow. We stand a few feet beyond a thickened piece of solid marble to face whomever my challenger is.
I made quick work of getting dressed. Leather tights fight against the muscles of my thighs and cinch my waist, a breathable material, sturdy, yet stretchable for sudden movements. A slit on the side of each thigh conceals a red, steel dagger in case I’m in dire need.
More leather binds my breasts and stomach in one thick coat of flexible material, enhancing my body’s curves and tucking beneath my tights to appear seamless. Fitting as a second skin, it is strong enough to defend against an explosion. There are two more slits on either side of my hips, also holding weapons.
Combat boots are tied around my ankles, and another dagger hides within each, ensuring I’m prepared for whatever arises. Completing my ensemble, I’ve re-tied my passion twists in yet another halo braid, allowing the piece of magical hair to thread within it. Red twists over the midnight strands in contrast.
“Your hair resembles a crown.” Alex grins. I’m inclined to like this claim.
