Page 38 of Solar Shadows

“Smells good,” he said nonchalantly.

I’d known Jake long enough now to know whenever he spoke like that, it meant he was thinking hard on something else.

“What’s up?” I asked.

His single blue eye narrowed as he stared ahead. “It’s Dean.”

Of course it was. “What about him?”

He released the biggest sigh. “Your mum’s worried about him becoming a target.” A vein pulsed in his neck. “She’s considering offering him a room here.”

I mean, there were eighty rooms here. Plenty of space for a useful fae to move in, but I kept it to myself.

“Can you imagine it?” he continued. “Us under the same roof? Impossible, right? One of us would end up going out a window.”

I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or groan. “Sounds a bit extreme.”

He dropped his arms, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his hoodie. “I didn’t mean that. I’m just…confused. Why couldn’t he stay away from Coldharbour like he was supposed to?”

“Because we needed him to fix the solar diamond,” I countered, the hot chocolate thickening up.

Isaac…

The Sun had saved me. According to Aaron, he’d sprang into action straight away, not even thinking about it. Vaulted over the fence, moved like a bat outof hell to save me.

Isaac. Isaac. Isaac.

His face filled my mind, his voice ringing gently in my ears. I scowled down at the saucepan, furious at myself for the softness I felt over him.

Why couldn’t I be grateful, but at a distance? You know, professional? I lived here and worked with him, and that was the extent of it. I didn’t need to be thinking about how good he smelled or wondering what outfit he might be wearing next time I saw him.

What happened to his clothes irking me? Why would I give a crap about any of this? I didn’t care about fashion. I didn’t care about him outside of wanting him to stay alive to do his job.

But, but, but…

Guilt cramped in my chest.

Why are you so cold? You know you like him.

Isaac always had a smile for me, a special kind of sunlight just for me. At least, it seemed that way. From the moment we met, his face lit up whenever our eyes met. A part of me did for him, too, on the inside. But I quickly killed it each time because no good would ever come from it.

But the sparks…

Think with the head, not with the heart or the dick. A new motto to live by, a rule to guard myself with. Especially around pampered princes.

He saved you…

He isn’t like Ben…

I cleared my throat, taking the hot chocolate off the heat. “Is Dean still staying at The Coral?”

“He is,” Jake answered.

“Pretty pricy.” The hotel just behind Rainbow Mile was the most expensive and luxurious place to stay in the city. We’d had a few celebrities stay there over the years.

Had Isaac ever stayed there before he learned about himself? I couldn’t remember.

Ignoring my inner ramblings, I grabbed some mugs and poured out the beverage.