I clear my throat, not sure where to start. It’s like attempting to explain reasons why folk need to eat and sleep to survive. “They’re spawn of the dangerous beast haunting our shores for millennia. Heartbreak. He returns from time to time, and a greater number of despairs usually means that time is near.”
“So he’s material, like the despairs?”
“Yes, he feeds on both bodies and souls of sentient beings. If I hadn’t pulled you out of the river all those years ago, he would have eventually found and consumed you.”
Luke shivers despite the flush still so clear on his cheeks. I can see his eyelids are heavy, but he’s trying to understand my world. He leans against me, happy to snuggle under my arm.
“That thing, the despair, it had human teeth and fingers. Do those souls… still live within Heartbreak? Are they going through eternal suffering?”
I exhale and rest my chin on the top of his head, eager to float in the warm, fragrant water. He left me oh-so-pumped-out and satisfied. “I never… thought about it.”
Luke’s eyes shut and I’m ready for him to doze off against me. After all, he watched me as I slept fighting the despair’s poison.
But a few little screeches sober him up and he sits, shaking his head. “Flap?” he asks the empty room. I’m confused, but then a purple bat jumps up to the edge of the tub and perches on there, watching us with beady yellow eyes. One of its wings is carefully wrapped with a bandage, and while the critter seems young, it has sharp claws and teeth nevertheless.
Before I can slap it as far away from Luke’s bare skin as possible, Luke speaks.
“Please don’t be mad. Tristan warned me they can be dangerous, but this one’s just a baby, and its wing was broken. It would have drowned in the cave if I didn’t take it.”
I stall. “Tristan let you bring it home?”
The bat watches me like a hawk, and I wouldn’t put murderous intent past it, but I can always make use of my shadow if it decides to show its true colors.
“I kinda… smuggled him in, since everyone was absorbed with trying to help you. Sir Tristan gave me a lecture when I finally showed Flap to a doctor, but he let me keep him in the bathroom for now. Apparently, they always go for the eyes first, but look at him. Does Count Flapula look like he could hurt anyone?” Luke coos and, to my horror, extends his fingers to the tiny beast.
I have to admit, it does not look threatening at this time, even though I would have twisted off the beast’s head if it as much as left a scratch on Luke’s perfect skin. “‘Count Flapula’?”
“You know, like Count Dracula? But he flaps around because of the injury…” Luke continues when I stare at him blankly. “Dracula is from a book about a powerfulvampire in my world, and vampires can turn into bats so— Are there vampires in the Nightmare Realm?”
Chills go down my spine. “They don’t dare come anywhere near the Nocturne Court, but I can assure you that I can protect everyone from bloodsuckers. You’re safe.”
“I’ve got a lot to learn…” he says absentmindedly, and the bat opens its mouth. My heart stops, but the critter just licks Luke’s finger.
“And looks like I have a book to read.” Because I want to understand where Luke is coming from too.
“I have a special edition at home. I’ll give it to you on your birthday. I like… all things dark and dangerous.” Luke smiles at me when he says that, and I’m pretty sure it’s because he means to suggest he likesme.
“Well, it’s your lucky day, because there’s plenty of dark and mysterious things I can show you during our courting,” I say and follow the bat with my gaze as it attempts to fly off toward the window, only to float to the floor. Pathetically.
Luke slides back under my arm, puts his cheek on my pec, and closes his eyes. In this moment, I understand why he wanted to save that baby bat. “Now that we’re in agreement about what things will be like between us, I’m looking forward to this upcoming month. This is all so… magical. I want to find out more about this world. And you. Thank you for sharing so much with me.”
My heart throbs as if it’s been touched by the moon itself, but maybe there’s no greater power anyone can ever have over me than this small human who doesn’t yet know he willwantto be mine.
Tomorrow, I will start courting him in ways he cannot even fathom.
I wonder if he’s ever witnessed an execution before.
Chapter 19
Luke
Ican’t believe I’m thinking about it, but I miss Kyran. He’s only been gone for a few hours, yet I’m already itching for his company. And to feel his lips against mine.
We slept in the same bed, something I barely ever do with a lover, yet it felt like the most natural thing in the world. I miss him even more than I miss my phone, and that’ssomethingfor a terminally online guy like me. I wish I could put a photo of Count Flapula on Instagram, or check if there’s any new drama in the world of indie bath bomb crafters, but most of all, I wish I could text Kyran.
A needy part of me wants to ask where he is, what he’s up to, whether he’s feeling okay after the despair’s bite. He still has a bruise where the creature bit him. If I had my phone, I wouldWebMDthe shit out of that.
But I don’t.
