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BEAU

W hen we get back into Hex, the air still smells like rain, and my anxiety rises again. Poe and I went three stormy rounds at his house with increasing time and I only freaked out... okay, I panicked every time still, but I’ll get there. Hopefully.

We stand near the edges of Hex. Poe’s hand is on the small of my back and I lean into it. “Alright, little sweet, show me where the tear in the ward is, please.”

Gladly. I don’t bother stripping and simply shift into my bat. The magic shimmers in my mind during the transformation. I still remember my first shift, again panicking, but not the same as when it’s a storm. Pop had to talk me through the sensations running rampage through my body. I didn’t understand the heat or the sensation of my hands morphing into my wings.

I soar high into the sky as my clothes drift to the ground. I spin and play in the air while Poe watches me, but I have a job to do. Chirping out, I search for the tear that brought me inside Hex.

Poe’s face scrunches the higher I go. Up and up and up. Until I hit the barrier of the ward, and there it is. Plan as day. It’s bigger than before though.

Poe’s right behind me, his demon wings so huge to carry his weight. They’re magnificent, and a lot like my bat wings.

I chirp out again and find more tears. That’s not right, it wasn’t like this. But as I look for more, there’s a cluster of a dozen or so rips in the dome and along the side of the ward.

I spin around Poe before I bonk him in the head with mine—our signal to talk.

Poe holds out his arms, and I shift to fall into his embrace. Once he has me, I loop my arms around his neck. It’s so cozy and intimate here, but I have a job to finish.

“There are so many now.” My heart flutters. Did I mess up the wards when I came through?

“I know what you’re thinking. It wasn’t your fault.” He rubs his nose to my cheek, making sure to keep his horns from slashing into my skin.

“But what if?—”

“Nope. There was already a tear. Honestly, I never think to check the dome. This is entirely on m?—”

Poe’s gone and I’m falling through the air. My heart pounds through the terror of free falling as I fight my way back into a shift to keep from splattering on the ground.

I knew at any point someone could summon Poe, but to have his day interrupted must be irritating. I know I’d be annoyed if I was called away, not knowing when or where. Poe said he has dozens of crossroads all over the world, yet this is the first time someone’s summoned him since I’ve been around.

I find my way back to my clothes and dress. We’re close to the edges of the ward and something seems off. I chirp the best I can in my human form and notice how thin the barrier seems to be by a Welcome To Hex signpost. I squint at the sign. It’s not exactly the same it was before, but I can’t place my finger on what’s wrong. I back away, not wanting to find out on my own.

Poe said there were Hellhounds and griffins watching over Hex right now. I just hope the feeling in my tummy is hunger and nerves and not Hex being invaded.

When I feel like I’ve passed the danger, I turn and run all the way to Hex Grocer. Poe needs to know what I’ve found.

I slide on the bench in the locker room and shoot Poe a text. My breath calms as I type out my message. I probably should have looked for one of those Hellhounds or a griffin to tell, too, but Poe is most important here.

My heart still pounds, but I’m early for my shift and take the few minutes to center myself like Poe taught me. In for a count of four, hold, and out for four.

I’m still terrified of storms, and now hoping my arrival didn’t bring in something scary. But if it had, wouldn’t they have already nabbed me by now? If bat shifters are such prized possessions, why wait?

Poe: Sorry about that, sweet. Got summoned. Then immediately called a meeting for the council.

Beau: Lots of luck with the council. I hope it goes okay.

Poe: Fingers, toes, and tail crossed.

I snort at the image of his tail curled. Actually, that’s cute and my cheeks heat.

“Glad to have you back, kid,” Randy says as he strolls in. “The king didn’t do anything?—”

I hold up my hands. “He’s so good to me.”

Randy eyes me as he thinks over my words. “He didn’t hurt you, right?”

“No.” Only my pride a tiny bit and that was my own fault. I nibble my bottom lip. “Actually, we’re going on a date tomorrow.”

Randy’s jaw drops and his wolf ears twitch. “What? He’s terrifying. You’re too sweet for him. He’ll?—”

“Poe isn’t scary at all and never has been. He’s always been so nice to me and I’ve thought he was attractive since I was a teen. So this is a win-win for me.” I launch into when we first met and Randy’s eyes get wider.

“Never would have guessed.”

I shrug, not sure what to say, really. “I don’t like talking about my past. It hurts.” I rub my chest as if I can work out the pain deep in my heart.

Randy clamps a hand on my shoulder. “Well, I’m glad Poe’s treating you right. We missed you, though. You might be quiet, but you make these little happy sounds when you work.”

My eyes grow wide and I’m sure I’m bright red. “I do?”

“Yep, all the other night stockers said they missed it and I have to say, I did as well.” Randy laughs. “We like you, BB.”

“Beau,” I say softly. “Can... can you call me Beau from now on?”

“Sure thing.” He squeezes my shoulder again. “I’ll spread the word.”

“Thank you.” I don’t know why it’s so hard to tell people my true name, the one that makes my heart happy. The name my parents gifted me and I’ve loved all my life. It felt like if everyone called me Beau, then it wasn’t special anymore.

But when Poe calls me by my given name, my insides light up. It’s as if magic flows through my veins and my parents are alive again. Beau, that’s me. Not BB. BB is a scaredy cat. But Beau is trying to get past that. Moving on. Claiming my truth. Living .

Three days with the king of the crossroads demon I’ve been crushing on for almost a decade and I feel like I can take on the world. Even if I’m still terrified of storms and hate rain. Poe says it might get better, and he gave me the number of a therapist to talk to if I want. I plug the number into my phone, but my alarm goes off to start my shift. Maybe I’ll brave it out and call later.