Page 9 of The Last Wish (Lost Legacy #1)

CHAPTER

NINE

SHEENA

T his is getting too complicated.

It’s been several days since Callum broke my brain on the kitchen counter. Now that my body has cooled, my thoughts are burning out of control. Not only do I like two guys, but I'm also keeping dangerous secrets from them.

Now that I’m emotionally involved, my rules are making me feel guilty.

As a kid, loyalty wasn’t some moral dilemma for me. I gave it to anyone who treated me with kindness, but after Quaid, after the abduction, I changed. My only loyalty is to myself now. I haven’t felt bad about that in years, but with my head full of secrets, my stomach is tied in knots.

Can I trust them? It’s tempting, but I can’t betray the promise I made to myself as a terrified teen.

With a sigh, I roll over until I’m face down on the mattress. It fits around me like a cloud, stealing some of my tension. This house is starting to feel like home.

Keep it moving.

My inner voice blares the warning, but all I want to do is hit mute. If I had died in that coyote shifter attack last week, no one on this planet would have known or cared. Isolation once meant peace and safety to me. I'm not so sure now.

Flopping onto my back, I touch my lips. Callum kissed me like he would care if something bad happened to me. Sprawled on that counter, I felt like a queen on a throne, experiencing the rush of chasing after something I want.

Then, there’s Gideon. The way I gravitate toward him... It’s like my body needs his to function. I thought he felt the same way. Though he kissed the breath out of me when they got home, he also left me alone in the kitchen with an incubus demon. Shouldn’t he be jealous?

My body doesn’t care either way. It wants them both.

I yank the covers over my face, sinking into the homemade cocoon and letting it quiet some of the extraneous noise. It’s a childish habit, but burrowing under covers is something I’ve always done when I need to think. Why am I so rattled, anyway? I’ve had a few one-night stands over the years, but none of them did much for me. In fact, my mostly dressed moments with Callum and Gideon were steamier than anything I've experienced naked.

Ugh. This isn’t working.

When the heat under the covers becomes unbearable, I throw them back with a huff. Maybe I'm not a virgin, but my body is pulling me toward something I’m not sure I’m ready for. Now would be a great time to have a friend to talk things through with, but I'm an island—forever destined to have my own back—and also melodramatic as hell apparently.

Glancing over at my nightstand, the shiny new phone pulls me in. I caved and let the guys buy it for me. Being stuck here with no idea what was going on sent me into a doom spiral I don’t want to repeat.

It's a concession I made only after they agreed to let me pay them back. Callum sourly accepted one hundred dollars from my dwindling supply of cash as a down payment. He didn’t argue, but he did glare at the money like it offended him. Gideon just stormed out of the room without a word. I plan to keep a close eye on my bag to make sure the money doesn't mysteriously reappear.

Looking at the new phone gives me an insane idea. I jump up, digging through the pockets of my discarded shorts for the scrap of paper Ciprian gave me. Before I can question my sanity any further, I enter the numbers and press the green button. A suspicious voice answers after two rings.

“Who is this?”

“You said to call if I needed help.” This was a terrible idea.

“Sheena?” Ciprian seems surprised to hear from me. I don't blame him. This is definitely not what he meant when he made that offer.

“Yeah...” Why did I do this? I should hang up.

“What's wrong? Is someone hurt?” He's completely focused now, and I feel like an idiot. If I hang up now, he’ll call Callum or Gideon.

“No, everyone's okay,” I sputter. “There's nothing really wrong... I just need a sounding board and you're the only person I could think of.”

I’m mortified, but he just chuckles drily.

“My condolences on that, babe. I'll do my best. What's going on?”

Fuck it.

“Have you ever liked two people?” The question tumbles out of my mouth and I cringe, relieved that at least he can’t see me. If I’m lucky, maybe he didn’t even hear?—

His scoff erases that hope.

“You sound like a kid with a crush. Do you mean, ‘have I ever wanted to fuck two people?’”

Jesus Christ. The question is crass and blunt. I cover my face with my hand, and the silence stretches out uncomfortably until Ciprian groans.

“Look, if you can't even say the word ‘fuck’—you're not ready to fuck Gideon, much less my brother. You're also going to get a bill for any therapy I need if this friendship involves disturbing conversations about my only sibling.”

I roll my eyes, forgetting he can’t see me.

“Quit being so dramatic. You're not helping at all. Just tell me—am I a slut for wanting them both?” I ask. A snort follows my question.

“First, no woman is a slut for going after what she wants while communicating honestly. Second, have they asked you to choose?”

What’s he getting at?

“Well, no. We haven’t really talked about it.” I pause, trying to figure out how to word things without traumatizing him. “I’ve had... moments with them. Separately and together,” I explain.

“Please, no details. My brother is going to owe me so much for this,” he grumbles, clearing his throat. “Sheena, I expect they prefer you want them both. Monogamy isn't really mandatory in our community, and it's unheard of for an incubus. But Callum—he's not really built to sleep around.”

“What should I do?” I say, my voice small. I was so brave on that counter, but do I dare reach out and take what I want?

“Umm, have a damn conversation and maybe some fun. You don't have to buy the car just because you take it for a test ride. Just please, and I can't emphasize this enough, don't tell me about it afterwards.”

“Thanks, Ciprian,” I murmur.

Can it really be that simple? I still have some thinking to do, but the conversation did actually help. He's right. It's not like I'm agreeing to some kind of lifelong commitment.

“Any time, bestie.”

His tone is sarcastic, but the nickname makes me smile. I’m going soft.

After he hangs up, I crawl into bed. Though it’s not late, I can barely keep my eyes open. It’s weird, but fatigue doesn’t always make sense, I guess, and there have been a lot of changes in my life. Sinking into the bed, I enjoy the cool feeling as I drift off.

My skin tingles, but it’s not the sheets. Something else is... here. My sleepy brain struggles to make sense of the feeling.

It’s not something at all. It’s . . .

Danger.

Someone is watching me.

My brain demands I wake up, but my body is too far gone. I sink deeper into sleep, my heart racing helplessly.

GIDEON

I listen to Sheena thrash around in her sleep through the wall. Another nightmare. Proof that a past like hers doesn’t always go away quietly. I’ve been giving her space during these episodes, but tonight, the bond is screaming at me to comfort her.

She whimpers, and I’m on my feet.

I tiptoe down the hall, opening her door gently. The last thing I want to do is scare her more, but I can’t just leave her to fight her fears alone. She’s curled up in a tight ball in the middle of the big bed, flipping back and forth, a light sheen of sweat glistening on her forehead.

A breeze moves the hair on her cheek.

Wait, what? Why is the window open? The curtains are blowing in the breeze, bathing the room in the humid summer air. No wonder she’s sweating. I slide the panel shut and flick the lock. It’s not safe for her to sleep with the window open, even if we are on the second floor.

When she whimpers again, I forget all about the window and move to the side of the bed. Looking down at her, I hesitate. I’m scared to make it worse, but seeing her like this is terrible.

She flinches. Then her whole body stiffens in terror.

“Baby, wake up. It’s a dream,” I whisper.

That’s it. I can’t leave her like this. I crawl in beside her, wrapping her up in my arms. She doesn’t wake, but her body relaxes. I’m clueless about what I should do, so I go with my gut and start talking. I tell her she’s safe and that I won’t let anything happen to her.

When her breathing finally levels out, I slip quietly from the bed, checking the window on my way out. It’s just as I left it.

The oppressive humidity from earlier has escalated to a pop-up storm. Lightning crackles in the distance. Sheena doesn’t stir. For a while, I stand there watching raindrops slide down the glass in patterns, each one slightly different than the one that came before it.

I hope it dies down soon.

I check the latch one more time. Satisfied it’s secure, I make my way back to my room, hoping Sheena will sleep until morning without having to face any more nightmares from her past.