Page 36 of Guarded Knight

He’ll follow me. Watch me. But I imagine him less like a bodyguard and more like a voyeur, which leads my thoughts straight to the bedroom again. Damn, I didn’t even read smut last night.

Freya threads her arm through mine. “I can’t believe there are so many great shops and things here. They sure do take care of the town.”

It’s true. This place isn’t worn down. Storefronts glow, couples stroll hand in hand, and the smell of woodfire from a pizza place invites me to do a U-turn on the string light restaurant. Echo Valley is charm on tap. And under normal circumstances, I’d soak it in.

But I’m not relaxed. Not just because Cameron could be around. No, I’ve told myself Gabriel and Anton could kick the shit out of him anyway, and with G on the couch, any midnight rendezvous, notes, or photographs are impossible.

My heart races, not for that but because even with Freya’s easy chatter and soft dusk on my skin, I can feel him.

Gabriel doesn’t hover. Doesn’t interrupt. But he’s there. A shadow on the sidewalk. A reflection in the bakery window.

Freya barely notices. She’s in a post-work daze, stopping to pet every dog and browse every shop window. I smile like everything’s normal. Like my ex isn’t a stalker. Like the man I once thought was my soulmate isn’t currently tailing me.

Dinner is quick and easy, burgers and sweet potato fries under a heat lamp in the cool autumn air at a place with twinkle lights strung over the awning on the street. Gabriel doesn’t eat. Doesn’t drink. Just leans against the wall of the adjacent storefront with those hot aviators on.

By the time we get home, the weight of it all has calcified in my shoulders.

I kick off my boots and toss my bag onto the couch. “We never even checked if this place has cable.”

“Oh crap.” Freya lingers by the door, sifting through her purse. “I must have left my scarf on the back of the chair at the diner. I’ll be right back. It’s only a few blocks down.”

“Don’t mind me if I simply digest.” I pat my stomach.

“All good.” She beams.

She leaves, and I fall into the couch like a heap of junk. I hope this is sorted soon. I’m not made for worrying. Knowing my life is shorter than most has manifested in a carpe diem kind of attitude, a shit happens, it is what it is, this too shall pass mentality that, I think, has been mostly good for me, apart from I haven’t saved money for a rainy day.

That could bite me in the ass now that I’m on these meds.

But also… I never worried because my life is so full. I’ve had a lot of joys. My family loves me dearly, and because we all know it could all end any day now, we’re tight. We don’t fight much. We going on vacation together. Everything.

I sigh. I miss Xander. And my nieces… I wish they hadn’t moved across the country…

Knock. Knock.

I’m so startled by the noise I gasp. I sit upright before reminding myself that it can’t be Cameron because G was only two steps behind us.

I peek through the peephole.

No, G isn’t two steps behind; he’shere.

I open the door. “Is everything okay?”

He steps in without asking. “We need to talk for a minute while Freya is gone.”

His voice is steady, but something behind his eyes is storming.

I fold my arms, but not with my usual sass, it’s more to keep myself upright this time. “Let me guess. Aliens really did build the pyramids?”

He doesn’t answer right away and doesn’t laugh either, so I know this is next-level serious.

“What is it?”

His question comes out clipped and abrupt. “Did Cameron have a key?”

My stomach drops.

I take a step back. “Excuse me?”