Page 75 of Galen

“And it’s my duty to protect mankind. So you see how we’re at an impasse here. The ring is somewhere no demon or fallen angel can reach it. Consider the burden of it lifted off your shoulders.”

“That’s not for you to decide.”

“Too bad. You should be thanking me for taking it. Otherwise, it would be in demon hands by now.”

Simon glanced between the two of us as Clara and I glared at each other. Well, she did the glaring. For a five-foot-nothing female, she was feisty and could definitely hold her own.

“How about I give you my number?” Simon said, cutting through the tension in the room. “That way we can stay in contact should anything happen. Sound good?”

Clara’s hard expression lost some of its edge as she looked at him. “I’m not happy about this. At all. But I feel your honesty. Even if he’s an ass”—she glanced at me—“I can tell both of you are at least on my side.”

Simon exchanged numbers with her, and she cast me another “go to hell” glare before she left the shop.

“She’s nice,” he said, then poked me in the side. “Unlike someone else I know.”

I scoffed. “No blood was shed. I’d say I behaved quite well.”

After Simon returned to the front counter, I stayed in the back room and tapped into Alastair’s thoughts.

“I have information on the ring.”

“Tell me,”Alastair responded.

I told him about Clara and everything I learned.

“So it was created by a witch for someone powerful,”he said once I finished.“Only one being comes to mind.”

“The Morningstar.”

I felt Alastair’s fear through our mind link. I was certain he felt mine too.

“He’s locked away for good,”Alastair said.“Even if the ring is meant for him, it makes no difference.”

I hoped he was right. Yet, I couldn’t forget the shock on Lazarus’ face when he saw the ring. He’d said its existence was impossible.

When I walked back to the front of the store, Simon was speaking with two older women about a lamp. They seemed way more interested in him.

“He has no idea they’re flirting with him,” Kyo said, chin resting on his hand as he leaned on the counter. His black hair swept across his brow and flipped out a bit on the sides.

I smiled as Simon continued describing when the lamp was made and why it was so special. Meanwhile, the two women were looking at him like he was a snack they wanted to put in their oversized purse and take home. “He doesn’t see how amazing he is.”

Kyo looked at me. “You really care for him, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I said with no hesitation. I was tired of denying it.

“Not to bethatguy, but…” Kyo straightened his stance and turned to me. “If you hurt him, I swear to god I’ll kick your ass. I don’t care how big you are.”

“Noted,” I said, fighting a smile.

I liked that Simon had such a good friend. There was also something about Kyo I couldn’t quite put my finger on. I sensed no magic coming from him, so I was fairly sure he was human. But sometimes I’d catch a look in his eyes that seemed much too old for an early twenty-something kid.

Rain came down all day, sometimes transitioning from a hard downpour to a light sprinkle but never stopping completely. I watched the droplets hit the sidewalk as I stood by the cash register.

Simon walked to the storage room, taking Kyo with him. A shipment was set to arrive early the next morning, so they needed to rearrange things to make space for the new inventory.

“Want me to help?” I asked.

“No, it’s okay,” Simon called from the hallway. “Can you watch the front for me though?”