Page 5 of One Last Wish (The Elder World)

“W hat is with that goofy grin on your face?” Evelyn asked once we got home. “Is this still to do with that guy?”

“No! I had a good night, that’s all,” I lied, stretching my neck from side to side.

“Oh! You didn’t tell me Theo was coming to the Secret Assassin midnight release with us.” She raised an eyebrow at me. “I had to find out from him .”

“I tried to get out of it, but the guy bought a ticket without even asking. He booked Monday off, too, the same as me! I’ve got every shift with him next week!” Evelyn burst into a fit of the giggles. “It’s not funny! What the fuck do I do?”

“You find that fuck hot dude that saved you, and perhaps Theo might get the message that he’s not your type.”

“He was fucking mighty fine, wasn’t he?” I exhaled. Those eyes!

“The grin is about the dude! Alora Windwood! Do you have a little crush ?”

“Fuck off,” I laughed, throwing a pillow at her. “I’m going to bed.”

“If you need batteries for your vibrator, they’re in the top drawer over there.” I gave her the finger as I stormed into my bedroom. I did not have a fucking crush on a dude I didn’t even know!

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M Y DREAM WAS IN SLOW motion. I watched him glide towards me, but this time we were the only ones in the club. Smoke danced around our feet as we stood there motionless, gazing at each other. The gentle thump of the music pumped in my chest, or was that my heartbeat?

I tried to memorise every detail of his face—I embedded it into my brain in case I never dreamed of him again—his high cheekbones, the way his nose curved perfectly down his face, how his lips looked rough and soft at the same time and that slight curl on the ends of his dark, mid-length hair. Oh, could I run my hands through it, just once?

“Don’t,” he threatened as I reached for him. “For once, why can’t you keep your distance?” I didn’t understand his question, but that voice... Oh, the voice I knew ! It was the voice of my dark shadows. Somehow, my mind had mixed the two together. “Alora, you’re not listening to me!”

“It’s a dream. Why would I need to listen?” He gave me a dazzling smile while shaking his head. I became lost with need for him. My whole body hummed in a way I’d never felt before. “Kiss me,” I gasped, stepping towards him.

“ No ,” he whispered, gliding away from my touch.

Well, shit! I was even harsh with myself in my dreams!

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E VELYN AND I BOTH HAD the hangover from hell the next day. Neither of us even surfaced from our bedrooms until late afternoon.

I was making myself a coffee when she wandered into the kitchen, stretching her arms behind her back. She gave me a suspicious grin as she sat on the sofa. “Have you only woken up, too?”

“Yeah, I didn’t realise how hungover I was.”

“Well, we’re at the midnight release of Secret Assassin Four tonight. The extra sleep was probably good for us.” Oh, I’d almost forgotten about that. “What’s the plan, anyway? Are we getting food first?”

“Yeah. Theo booked a table for us nearby at nine.” I really wasn’t planning on spending my entire time off with him, but it didn’t seem like I had much of a choice.

“I know I keep bringing this up, but what exactly is wrong with Theo? The guy dotes on you. I’d kill for someone like that.” I glared at her. “You don’t have to answer. It’s just you almost died trying to get my phone back for me. Whether you like it or not, that’s what friends do.” When it happened, I thought I was going to die, but I was alive . It had been a moment of weakness, thinking about the few ties I’d leave behind if I had fallen off that bridge. That bridge ...what did Evelyn remember from that night? We’d hardly spoken about it.

“What do you remember of that night?”

“What? When I thought you’d fallen ? I had nightmares for days . I honestly thought I was going to find you splattered on the road below when I opened my eyes.”

“Did you see me start to fall forwards ?”

“Oh, I don’t know, Alora. I thought I did, but I was drunk and it all happened so fucking fast!” Evelyn shuddered at the thought. “Why are you asking, anyway? Surely you must remember what happened.”

“All I remember was falling towards the road below. I closed my eyes for the impact and ended up on my back.” Evelyn was staring at me like what I’d just said was as crazy as it sounded. “I have no idea how I saved myself.”

“ Fuck , you were lucky. You must have somehow righted yourself when you closed your eyes. Maybe it helped regain your balance or something.” I wanted to tell her about the force I felt, but couldn’t. With all the alcohol I’d drank that night, that part might not have even been real.

“Did you shut your eyes in panic?” What were the chances of Evelyn and I both being submerged in darkness. Could that be what saved me? Shadows? The thought was ridiculous. I’d been reading too many Shadow Daddy books!

“I can’t remember, but I might have blacked out. Alora, why do you care? You’re safe, which is all that matters. Stop torturing yourself.” She was right; I’d never work it out. “Quit avoiding the question about Theo. Are you scared to get close to anyone who cares about you?”

“I don’t do close , Evelyn. I never have, not even with my father. The vulnerabilities it brings have always freaked me out. You can’t lose what you don’t have, and I’m too selfish to give a shit about who that might hurt. You’re wasting your time caring about me, and so is Theo.”

“Well, fuck me! That’s the most honest you’ve been with me in the two years I’ve known you.” She gave me a huge smile. “Have you ever considered therapy?” Evelyn joked. I rolled my eyes at her.

“Surprisingly, I tried that,” I snorted, leaning against the kitchen counter. “There is no connection with Theo, that’s all. I don’t really like the boy next door look, either. The way he follows me around like an obsessed puppy kind of pisses me off, too.”

“That’s partly my fault.” Evelyn held her hand up. “I’ll stop giving him advice.”

“How much advice have you been giving him?”

“Probably too much.” I fucking knew it! “I only wanted to see you happy. I thought you might be in denial. You know, like that book Tempted when she was pushing him away because she didn’t think she was worthy of that prince's love.”

“I need to stop lending you my books!” I let out a loud laugh. “Trust me, Theo is not someone I’d ever be secretly craving.” The guy from last night however...

“Okay, I get it. I’ll back off helping Theo. Any chance I can get a coffee while you’re standing in the kitchen?” Giving her a look, I grabbed an extra cup.

I stood in line at Book Junkies excitedly. We’d been waiting for over a year for the latest Secret Assassin book.

“You look like a child on Christmas morning,” Evelyn chuckled as the line moved again. “Why can you never be this excited in real life?”

“Books are way more interesting,” I muttered, watching Theo come back with some hot drinks for us. It was freaking cold tonight. I was glad I’d put a few extra layers on.

“I bet you’re a book sniffer, aren’t you?” Evelyn asked as Theo reached us, raising an eyebrow at her before darting his gaze to me. “I’m right, aren’t I?” she asked him.

“I’d never share that fact about Alora,” he teased, giving me a shy smile. This was the problem with Theo. He was way too sweet for me!

“Of course you wouldn’t,” she sighed, taking her drink from him. “And that, my dear Theo, is why you’ve been friend-zoned by her.”

He blushed, laughing away her comment as he handed me my drink. “I got them to put extra marshmallows in your hot chocolate.” Yep, definitely too sweet.

Another hour and we were near the top of the queue.

“You’re going to start reading this book the moment you get it, aren't you?” Theo asked once we were finally inside Book Junkies. The shop wasn’t anything like Bookends. It was the usual, contemporary-style bookshop. There was no flare or uniqueness.

“Why do you think I booked Monday off?” I pointed out.

“I was hoping you’d let me take you to lunch...” I was about to interrupt, but Theo continued. “As a friend! Look, I get it...you’re not interested...but I’m offering to buy you lunch. You’d be crazy to say no.” Evelyn was shaking her head, laughing behind him.

“Sorry. The only date I have tomorrow is with this book.” It was my turn to get a copy. Fucking finally! It was almost two in the morning!

A defeated Theo left Evelyn and I to walk back home once we all had our copy of Secret Assassin Four .

“You could be less of a bitch to him,” she admitted, nudging me playfully. “Turning him down for a date with a book was pretty harsh.”

“What was I meant to say? Yes! He’d look at it as a date no matter what I did.”

“It's hard watching that cute little face of his.”

“Evelyn, if you like him so much, you fucking date him.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t stand a chance. That boy only has eyes for you.” We were walking along the Brooklyn Bridge again. Evelyn gave me a look as I walked a little nearer the railings, looking down. “Don’t go suicidal on me again.” I wasn’t feeling suicidal, more curious. If I stepped onto the railing again and fell forwards, what would happen? In my mind, I was sure I’d cheated death that night. Would it happen again?

“I’m not! That night still confuses me, that’s all.”

“What’s eating you?”

“Nothing,” I snapped.

“Oh, there is something more about that night. Come on, spill!”

“You’ll think I’ve gone insane,” I confessed, not meeting her gaze.

“I already think you’re crazy. Out with it!”

“I think something saved me on the bridge the night I fell. Like a force that pulled me back. When I opened my eyes, I could have sworn I saw a mist of shadows fading away.”

Evelyn widened her eyes, bemusement shining deeply in them. “Oh, girl, you have got to stop reading those dark lord books! Am I hearing you right? You think you have your own Shadow Daddy that saved you.” I was right: I shouldn't have told her. She started giggle snorting at my confession.

“No, of course not! All I’m saying is something saved me! I’m sure of it!”

“You need a therapist more than I thought,” she mocked, putting her arm around my shoulder. I hated the contact. “No more Shadow Daddy porn, okay?” I gave her the most sincere smile I could, but I still couldn’t shake the feeling that I was either going insane or something was watching me.