Page 23 of Gray

The waitress came to refill his coffee, and then she checked on another table, constantly on the go. Watching her made me tired. Mason and I sat in silence for a while. He ate some of his food but didn’t seem to have much of an appetite.

“Sorry for making you sad,” I said. “I didn’t mean to.”

“I’m not sad.” He pushed his half-eaten plate of food away and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “To be honest, I don’t really feel anything these days.”

“That’s even worse.”

“Not for me. Feelings cause distractions.”

“I understand, I think.” I sipped more of my orange juice. “You and my brother Al would get along. He has a similar mentality. It’s just kinda sad. By blocking out the bad, you block the good too.”

“Caging the shit in my head is safer than letting it run free. Better to lock it away. Don’t dwell on it.” He pulled out his wallet and tossed some bills on the table for a tip. “If that means being numb to everything, so be it.”

As he stood from the booth, I did too. We walked through the crowded café and over to the register to pay the bill.

“All on one check,” he told the cashier.

“You don’t have to get mine,” I said. “I invited myself to eat with you. If anything, I should be buying.”

Mason only looked at me, brow arched, before turning back to them and handing over a card.

I pressed my lips together to keep from arguing. He was definitely the kind of guy who got what he wanted and didn’t accept anything less. It made him even hotter. I totally had a thing for the dominant, takes-no-shit types.

“Thanks for breakfast,” I said once we were outside. A ray of sunlight peeked through a thin cloud before hiding again. Freaking tease. The cloudy day was so gloomy. “But next time, I’m paying the bill.”

“Next time?” Mason unlocked his truck. “Might be a while before that happens. I’m leaving town.”

“When?”

“Right now.” He opened the driver’s-side door. “My job’s never done. One monster goes down, and another one pops up somewhere else.”

“Oh.” My heartbeat quickened as something unpleasant twisted in my gut.

“Now who’s the one who looks sad?” Mason leaned toward me. As the sun peeked out from behind the clouds again, it brought out the golden pigments flecking his reddish-brown eyes. My breath caught.

And my soul protested.

He couldn’t leave. Not when I… when I what? My thoughts muddled in my head as I fought off a drowsy spell. I slumped against the open door.

“Hey.” Mason grabbed onto me like he’d done the night before. “You good?”

I slowly blinked at him and nodded. “Just… sleepy.”

“Bad enough for you to pass out?” He not only looked concerned, but it echoed in his voice too.

I nodded again but slower. Crap. My energy was draining fast.

“Have to… find Ga…len.” My eyes closed. I would’ve reached out to my brother telepathically, but I couldn’t do that either. Too much effort.

“Galen? The man from last night?”

I tried to nod but failed.

Yep. I was screwed. I was about to pass out right there in the parking lot, out in the open for anyone—or more specifically—anythingto find me. Shades only surfaced at night. Daylight was deadly to them, cloudy days included. Most other demons preferred darkness too, but the upper-level ones like Asa’s right-hand demon, Phoenix, could show up whenever they felt like it.

“Gray?” Mason cupped my cheek. “Hey, look at me.” I couldn’t. “Goddammit. What the hell am I supposed to do now?”

My muscles gave out, and I fell against his chest. Mason held my weight, and his scent wrapped around me. He smelled like aftershave and something warm. Something I kind of wanted to get lost in.