Page 10

Chapter 7

Psyche

P syche found herself standing in a misty, prehistoric forest, where she saw Eros standing in a clearing, calmly talking to a Hadrosaurus as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The dinosaur nodded its head as if it understood him, its tail swaying lazily, its vibrant green skin glistening under the faint light filtering through the trees. The sun bathed the scene in golden light, and Eros’s voice was soft but steady, though she couldn’t make out what he was saying. Then, just as she tried to step closer, the image faded, and she woke up to the gentle light of morning spilling into her cabin.

She shook off the dream as she went about her routine, methodically washing up and dressing for the day. Her mind wandered briefly to their kiss a couple of days ago. She could still feel the phantom press of Eros’s lips on hers, but it didn’t make her awkward around him. Instead, it was a quiet warmth she carried with her.

When she stepped out onto the deck, she saw Eros leaning against the railing, looking out into the trees. He turned when he heard the door, his smile easy and welcoming.

“Good morning,” Psyche said.

“Morning,” he replied. “Heading out?”

“Yes,” she said, adjusting the strap of her bag.

“Okay,” he said, pushing off the railing. “I’ll walk with you.”

Psyche hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Okay.”

They followed the path, and she stole a glance at him. Eros looked relaxed, his hands in his pockets and eyes scanning their surroundings. There was no tension between them, but she couldn’t stop herself from thinking about the kiss. It hadn’t happened again, but the memory lingered, warm, and insistent. Oddly, it didn’t feel awkward—it felt…natural.

They were just outside the dig site when a voice called her name.

“Psyche!”

She turned to see a man approaching them, his pace brisk and his expression pleasant.

“Hi, Psyche,” he said, extending his hand. “I’m Bob, the new site manager.”

Psyche’s eyes flicked over Bob as she cataloged his appearance with the same precision she brought to identifying fossils. He was of average height, with neatly combed dark hair and a trimmed beard that gave him a polished look. His button-down shirt was tucked crisply into his khakis, and his boots, though scuffed, looked practical and well-worn.

His brown eyes seemed warm, but not overly so, and his smile was the kind that reached his cheeks but stopped just short of his eyes. Psyche noted all this automatically, her mind assessing whether he seemed approachable, trustworthy, or potentially irritating. So far, nothing about him made her uneasy, and that was enough for her to tentatively label him as “okay” in her mental ledger.

She shook his hand. “Hi, Bob,” she said, glancing briefly at Eros. “This is Eros.”

Eros gave a nod, his expression neutral.

Bob turned back to her. “I wanted to touch base and see if you needed anything.”

Psyche thought for a moment before shaking her head. “No, not at the moment. I have a team meeting, and then I’ll know my assignment for the week.”

“Great,” Bob said, his smile widening. “Well, let me know if anything comes up.” With that, he gave a little wave and hurried off toward the main site.

Psyche turned to Eros, watching his reaction. “He seems okay.”

Eros raised an eyebrow. “You think so?”

She nodded thoughtfully. “Yes. I didn’t get a weird vibe from him.”

Eros shrugged. “Okay. As long as you’re comfortable.”

She smiled. “I am. So, I’ll see you later?”

“Yeah. See you later.”

She walked toward the site and felt a curious mixture of calm and anticipation. Everything felt like it was falling into place, though she wasn’t entirely sure why.

She had barely taken a couple of steps when something caught her attention—a familiar laugh. She turned and saw Eros talking to Marge. The two seemed engrossed in conversation, Eros smiling his signature, easy grin. Then, Marge placed a hand on his arm and kept it there, holding on like she belonged.

A sudden, inexplicable pressure built inside her, and Psyche’s chest tightened. She told herself to stop staring, but the odd feeling lingered. Turning away, she tried to push the strange sensation aside, remembering the dream she had the night before.

She quickly pulled out her phone and logged into Aspie Forum, finding the dream section and typing out the details. When she finished, she read the interpretation: the friend is more than a friend. Psyche frowned at that, dismissing the idea, and choosing to put it aside for now.

She walked into the team meeting feeling a bit distracted but quickly found herself focusing as they discussed the tasks for the week. She was assigned to work on a new excavation area, something she had been hoping for, and the thought of unearthing more Hadrosaur tracks made her heart race with excitement.

The meeting ended and she stepped out of the building, eager to get started, when she spotted Marge leaning against a nearby wall. Marge’s long black hair framed her face perfectly, and her sharp green eyes seemed to catch the light with every blink. She was dressed casually, yet her confident posture and the way she carried herself made her seem effortlessly put together. Psyche noticed how attractive Marge was—her skin flawless and glowing, her figure slender yet curvy, and her voice light and melodic as she spoke with someone nearby.

Of course Eros would be attracted to her . Her chest tightened again, and for a moment, she wondered, Is that why we haven’t kissed again? The thought of Eros’s smile when he was with Marge made her question her own feelings, but she quickly shook the thought away, reminding herself that she had no right to feel possessive.

The pain in her chest was sharp, and it didn’t feel right. She quickly left the office, heading toward the site doctor. When she explained the sensation, he listened intently, then placed the stethoscope on her chest. After a few moments, he said, “It’s probably nothing, but I’d suggest you monitor it. If the pain persists, you can take some ibuprofen. But for now, just rest.”

Psyche didn’t want to take medication, but she thanked him, telling him she would return if the pain continued. She decided to sit on a bench outdoors, trying to breathe deeply and clear her head. Just as she was starting to calm down, a notification popped up on her phone. It was from Diana on Aspie Forum, with a new message and a photo attached.

Psyche smiled as she clicked on it, admiring the knitted sweater Diana had made.

Diana then asked how Psyche was doing. Psyche hesitated before replying: I’m feeling some pain in my chest.

Diana replied almost immediately: What does it feel like? When did you first notice it?

The realization hit Psyche like a wave: I felt it for the first time this morning…when I saw Eros talking to Marge.

Diana’s reply was quick, filled with emojis: I think you’re jealous, Psyche.

Psyche blinked in disbelief, then typed: Jealous?

Diana: Yeah! Have you ever felt that way before?

A sense of confusion washed over her: No, I’m going to have to process this. Talk later?

Diana replied: Of course.

Psyche checked the time and realized she had to head to the dig site. The site bus dropped her off, and she took in her surroundings—a side of a mountain with exposed rock faces. She knew there was a small shed nearby for storing equipment, so she dropped off her bag and got to work. The images of the prehistoric forest and Eros talking to a dinosaur resurfaced in her mind and lingered. She shook her head and focused on her work.

The quiet hum of nature surrounded her as she knelt down to work, and she was relieved to be alone at the dig site. The delicate task of carefully uncovering more Hadrosaur tracks required all her attention. She was in the zone, completely focused on the layers of dirt she was peeling away when a voice suddenly broke through her concentration.

“Hey, Psyche,” Eros called out, and she jolted, her heart racing.

She turned to him, remembering the dream she had and Diana’s suggestion that she might be jealous. Her gaze flickered away quickly as she felt a strange sensation bubble up in her chest. She couldn’t be feeling those things—jealousy? Ridiculous.

They were friends. Sure, they had kissed, but that didn’t mean anything. It had felt good, but that was all. Eros was charming, easy to talk to, and there were always women flocking to him. What chance did she have in that sea of attention? Her insecurities rose up quickly, and she shifted uncomfortably, trying to push the thoughts aside as she forced a smile.

“Hey,” she said, her voice sounding far more casual than she felt. “What’s up?”

Eros took a few steps closer, but something in the way he was looking at her made her feel even more self-conscious. She tried to keep her focus on her work, hoping he wouldn’t see the turmoil she was feeling inside.

He looked around. “I see you got to work on this site,” he said, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. “It’s the one you’ve wanted to work at, right?”

“Right. What are you doing here?”

“I was flying around and saw you.”

“Oh, okay,” She fell silent after that, feeling the weird tightness in her chest that she couldn’t explain. She didn’t like it, but she couldn’t find the words to voice it, so she just remained quiet.

He seemed to notice her silence and frowned slightly. “Are you okay?” he asked, and the look in his eyes made her chest ache, but not in a way she was used to.

She hesitated, trying to push aside the strange feeling. She couldn’t lie to him, so she took a deep breath. “I felt some pain in my chest earlier,” she admitted, her voice soft, almost apologetic. There. It wasn’t quite a lie.

A look of concern crossed his face. He moved a little closer and reached out as though to touch her but paused, not quite making contact. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked gently. “Maybe you should take the rest of the day off to rest.”

She found herself looking at his hand, wishing that he would touch her. The thought caught her off guard, and she quickly averted her eyes, her chest tightening again. “No, no,” she quickly added, shaking her head. “It’s not that bad. I can still work.” She glanced away, feeling her face heat up, embarrassed by the way her body was reacting.

Eros wasn’t convinced. “Doesn’t seem like it,” he said, making her feel even more guilty.

She bit her lip, struggling to figure out how to get him to leave without feeling like she was pushing him away. But before she could come up with anything, a low growl echoed through the air. They both froze.

Psyche’s eyes widened as she looked past him and saw the massive bear, its gaze fixed on them with an aggression that sent a chill down her spine. Eros swore under his breath and immediately moved to stand in front of her, but Psyche’s thoughts were already racing.

“Okay, stay calm,” she murmured quickly. “You should make yourself look big. Avoid eye contact and back away slowly.” She found herself talking almost automatically, all the facts she knew about bear behavior rushing to the forefront of her mind. But the bear was closing the distance, its growls growing louder.

Every instinct told her to run, but she stood still, her body tensed. The bear’s large paws scraped against the earth, and its eyes locked onto them with unnerving focus. Eros moved slowly, keeping himself between the bear and Psyche, trying to stay calm, but she could see the tension in his posture.

Her breath quickened, and her senses were on high alert—every sound, every movement felt amplified. When the bear swiped at Eros, sending him crashing against the rocks, fear seized her, and for a moment, she couldn’t think straight.

Her mind was a blur of panic.

She shifted into her wolf form almost reflexively, and the air around them seemed to charge with energy as her senses sharpened and her instincts took over.

But as the bear’s massive claws came dangerously close, the terror in her chest nearly overwhelmed her. The bear’s furious eyes never left her as it towered, so much larger than anything she’d ever faced before. She could feel her heart pounding in her throat, her muscles aching to flee, but she forced herself to stand firm, growling at the bear, trying to keep it away from Eros.

The fear in her gut only intensified as the bear charged, and she could feel the hairs on her back stand on end, her body trembling with a mix of fight-or-flight instincts. She didn’t know if they could make it out of this.

She immediately launched herself toward the bear, her fangs bared. The bear was momentarily taken aback, swiping at her, but backed away, like it realized she wasn’t easy prey, and growled as it turned and left them behind.

Psyche ran to Eros, sniffing at him urgently. She could feel his heartbeat, steady and strong, and the absence of blood made her relax, though only slightly. She dragged him to the nearby shed, using her wolf’s natural power to pull him with ease.

Once inside, she shifted back into her human form, her body still shaking with adrenaline. She quickly grabbed her extra jacket and draped it over him, sitting beside him, her heart still racing. She felt so protective, so worried. The emotions were all jumbled, but she didn’t have the time to analyze them.

Instead, she just stayed there, watching him, hoping he was okay.

Her fingers drummed against the dirt floor, the rhythmic tapping filling the silence of the shed. She couldn’t tell how long she’d been sitting there, waiting for some sign that Eros was okay. Her mind raced with fear and worry, the weight of the situation pressing down on her chest.

It was impossible to stop the gnawing feeling that something was wrong, but she tried to calm herself. She wanted to believe he could heal, that his abilities hadn’t been completely stripped from him, even if he was earthbound now.

The quiet stretched on, and just when she thought she couldn’t bear the tension anymore, Eros finally stirred. His eyes fluttered open, barely focusing as he groaned in pain, trying to move but wincing from the discomfort.

“What happened?” he muttered, his voice hoarse.

She swallowed hard, trying to steady her own voice as she explained the bear’s attack. “You…you were thrown by the bear. I didn’t know if you were going to make it…I—” Her words broke off as the floodgates opened.

She wasn’t able to hold it in anymore. Tears welled up in her eyes, and before she could stop herself, she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around him and crying freely.

He sat up slowly, his wings stretching around them, cocooning them both in a soft, protective embrace. He pulled her close, murmuring soothing words as he held her. “It’s okay. I’m okay,” he whispered, his voice steady, though there was still a hint of pain in it.

The sensation of being wrapped in his wings, feeling his warmth and strength, helped her regain some sense of control. She focused on her breathing, on the rise and fall of his chest, until the tears slowed and her body stopped trembling.

It wasn’t until she felt herself calm that Eros spoke again. “Are you naked because you shifted, or…are you telling me something else?”

Psyche groaned, burying her face against his chest in embarrassment. “You can’t be joking about that right now, Eros,” she muttered, her voice muffled.

He chuckled softly, rubbing her back in soothing circles. “I’m sorry. Just trying to lighten the mood.”

She sniffled and looked up at him, still feeling everything that had happened, but also oddly comforted by his presence. “Don’t joke about that right now,” she said, her voice quieter but with a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

“Okay, I won’t,” Eros nodded, the teasing fading as he gave her a serious look. “You’re safe now.”

He winced as he tucked his wings away, and took a deep breath before saying, “Hold on.” He quickly pulled his ripped shirt off and gently draped it over her, the fabric falling to her mid-thigh, practically a dress on her petite frame.

“There you go,” he said, adjusting the shirt around her. “Let’s get you back to your place.”

Psyche frowned, her eyes scanning him carefully. “What? You’re hurt,” she said, her mind working quickly. “You’re going to have bruising, maybe a cracked rib from being hurled against the wall…concussion symptoms…dizziness…You should really be resting.”

“Come on, I’m fine.” Eros let out a low chuckle, clearly amused by her analysis. “Get your stuff and let’s go.”

She got her things and didn’t argue as he stepped forward, extending his arms to pick her up. Warmth spread through her chest as he effortlessly cradled her against him. He stepped outside and lifted them both off the ground, soaring into the sky.

The wind rushed past, and she allowed herself to relax. It was hard not to feel better with him so close, his heartbeat steady beneath her cheek. They flew swiftly, and before long, they were at her place.

Eros set her down gently by the couch but didn’t let go right away. He looked at her, a hint of concern in his gaze. “Get cleaned up. I’ll be fine here,” he said, though his voice betrayed a small trace of exhaustion.

Psyche narrowed her eyes, walking toward the bathroom. “Don’t fall asleep,” she warned.

“Okay,” he said, a teasing glint in his eyes.

“No,” she insisted. “Promise me. I need you awake.”

“Okay, I promise,” he said, giving her a mischievous smile. “Now go.”

She made her way to the bathroom to clean up, taking a quick shower before starting the tub to fill with hot water. When she returned to the living room, she saw Eros sitting on the couch with his eyes closed.

“You promised not to sleep!” she exclaimed.

Eros opened his eyes slowly, a sly smirk tugging at his lips. “I wasn’t sleeping.”

Psyche rolled her eyes but was happy to see him smirk at her. “Fine, whatever,” she said, crossing her arms. “I drew you a bath, so you can soak. You’re not going anywhere until you do.”

“That’s a good idea,” he said. He walked past her, and she couldn’t resist pulling him into a tight hug.

“I’m glad you’re safe,” she murmured, burying her face in his chest.

Eros’s arms wrapped around her, his voice soft. “Me too.”