Page 6 of Worse Fates (Soulmates Suck #1)

To say I wake up with a headache is the understatement of the fucking century. I’m also starving and thirsty, which is normal so I brush that aside because I’m laying in the softest bed known to man.

And I lived in an Ikea for five days before anyone noticed, so I know a thing or two about soft beds.

The sheets are clean and my face is either buried in a magic pillow, or I’ve died and somehow made my way to heaven. Either way, I’m staying right here.

That is until I remember monsters are real and one bit me. Shooting up, I slap my hand on my neck and wince. My neck aches, pain radiating off where I was bitten.

Shit. Do I need to get an STD test?

I’m glad the lights are off, as even in this soft darkness my head’s thumping. A wave of dizziness hits, nausea rolling in my stomach, so I slump back into the pillows. If heaven was real surely I wouldn’t be feeling this rubbish.

Not knowing where I am isn’t unusual for me, but not knowing how I got there is. Especially in a place so out of my price range. Once the sickness passes, and I’ve breathed in enough fancy sheet magic to increase my tax code, I pull myself slowly up and drop my foot to the—

“Whoa, who knew carpet could be that soft? Fancy.”

“You’re awake.”

I’ve never understood the saying ‘I jumped out of my skin’ until this very moment. A scream—so high I’m surprised glass doesn’t shatter—hurls out of me with enough force I knock myself back into the bed, ankles tangling in the sheets.

“My apologies, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

I fight my way out of the sheet, huffing as I sit up on my knees to glare at where the voice came from.

“Dude, you’re sitting in the bloody darkness and watching me sleep! How is that not horror movie type shit?”

A man stands, coming close enough for me to make out his features and, well…damn.

“Fuck, you’re kinda sexy, you know that?”

Apparently I’ll never grow a filter, but he doesn't seem to mind and chuckles low. That sound does strange things to my, well, everything. But there’s also something familiar about him.

“Have we met before?”

I ask, frowning, trying to place where I might’ve seen him.

“I know you…”

He’s white, but the warm kind—like he’s from somewhere in the Mediterranean—with a strong nose and dark brows. His thick, brown hair frames a face so handsome I want to understand it from every angle. But it’s his stormy blue eyes that are like a lightning strike.

And his mouth…I want to lean into it. Trace my tongue along his lips and taste the heat inside. Feel the roughness of his stubble against my smooth skin. Discover how we’re different, and the same, in every intimate way.

He’s standing in front of me now, so tall I have to sit back on my knees and look up. I feel like I could float away.

No, that isn’t right.

More like, it would be okay to float away. Finally, I’m safe in those big hands reaching for me. In those eyes that burn with an intensity I should run from, but never will. And when his palms cup my cheeks, I can’t stop the little moan that escapes. They’re not soft, but gentler than I expected, and each long finger curls around my chin. His thumb brushing my cheeks.

“Don’t cry, beautiful.”

His voice is a hushed whisper, a secret in the dark just for us.

I didn’t realise I was crying, now all I can feel is wetness on my cheeks and need growing—

I rip out of his grasp.

“What the hell.”

Rubbing my unexpected tears away, I stab him with a sharp glare.

“Did you spike me or something, dude? Because that’s really uncool. You know what is cool? Consent. Talking about consent and all its wonders, where the hell have you taken me? Also, I’m pretty certain some blonde with fangs came at me, so if you could also explain that, that’d be great.”

As I yell at Mr. Tall-Dark-And-Sexy, I climb out the bed. Waving my hands, trying to find a light switch but refusing to take my eyes off either my saviour, or killer.

“I promise you're safe.”

He takes a step back, giving me room.

When he speaks again I stumble. He moves to help, but the look I give him is good enough to keep him back, one hand up and the other turning on a lamp.

His voice is deep, sensual. Like he should be speaking softy in your ear while he fucks you surrounded by silk.

Whoa, okay. I have no idea where that came from, I don’t think about guys like that.

I am gay, but I’m also…let’s say inexperienced.

“Are you famous?”

He smiles.

It really is annoying that everything about this dude is handsome.

I kinda wish I was more like him; I’m all gangly limbs and too skinny. But I also really, really, want something else that scares me with its magnitude. It curls in the pit of my stomach…lower, makes me want to press against him.

“I’m not famous. I found you hurt in the park and couldn’t leave you there.”

“So you took me to your place instead of a hospital?”

“A hotel room,”

he corrects.

“My question remains, dude,”

I reply, bristling.

He is quiet for a while, then says.

“I can take you to a hospital now, if you’d prefer.”

We stare at each other in silence for a long time. Truth be told, I don't like hospitals, too many bad memories that I very much don’t wanna bring to the surface at this very moment.

What concerns me is he doesn’t want me to leave.

“Okay,”

I say, daring him. “Take me.”

After a pause he strolls to the door and opens it, letting in light that blinds me. Covering my sensitive eyes, I squeeze them shut to push back a new wave of dizziness. There’s a click and the light shuts off, the room once again bathed in soft darkness. When I drop my hands, his face is furrowed in concern.

“You never answered me about monsters.”

I see a flash in his eyes, like he wants to lie. He holds onto that thought before it flows out of him in a sigh.

“What’s your name?”

“Golden,”

I answer without thinking. Which is stupid. He’s hot, but I’m never this trusting. What’s happening to me?

“What a surprise.”

He chuckles, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

I glare.

“What does that mean?”

“It doesn’t matter, Golden. I’m—”

“Lucero.”

His name is pulled from my very core, as if he belonged there. As if on every third beat instead of a thump, my heart whispers his name; Lucero.

I know him. I know him. But from where?

This unexplained pull isn’t a comfort, however. Stepping back until I’m against the wall, I glance around, panic setting in as air saws in and out my lungs. Another dizzy spell tries to shake me, but I fight back.

“Why do I know your name? Are you in a gang? Is that how I know you?”

“Golden.”

He starts towards me.

“Please, calm down.”

“This is a trick, right?”

The edges of my world fuzz, and creep inwards like a TV screen slowly shutting off.

“Jace is behind that door, right? He’s going to drag me back?”

Rage twists his face and I flinch until I’m huddled in a corner, my chest tightening with each breath.

“I’m sorry,”

Lucero rushes out, face smoothing.

“I didn’t mean to scare you, Golden, I promise. You’re safe with me.”

“What’s going on!”

I scream, my fists twist in on themselves, until my nails dig into my flesh, and even biting pain isn’t enough to stop my rising panic.

“Because fuck you, I won’t go back!”

“I don’t know this Jace person, but if I did I would tear his heart out for scaring you.”

Lucero takes one step closer, and when I don’t react he takes another until he’s in my space.

“I will never hurt you. Never. Now, you asked me if monsters are real. Ask me again, beautiful.”

He cups my face, and I realise I’m crying again, I have no idea why. He wipes away each drop.

“Lucero…”

I move into his chest, that safe floating feeling taking me over. But this time I’m scared, scared there’s a part of myself I never knew I had that belongs to him. I unclench my fists and lay them on his hard chest. The act makes me feel vulnerable, safe, and his.

Something is happening, a shift in fucking time and space that steals my breath and replaces it with his.

I hate it. I love it. I don’t understand it.

“Lucero, are monsters real?”

“Yes,”

he whispers, his breath a caress across my lips.

“Are you one?”

He leans closer and I’m lost. Captured in his eyes, floating and safe and his name on repeat, a song in my ears because I know him.

“Yes, beautiful. I’m a monster.”

The dizziness I’ve been fighting swells high enough to swallow, no longer willing to be ignored, and my legs give out. But I trust I won’t hit the floor, Lucero will keep me safe. I’m stupid for trusting him, but I do. And the moment his arms capture me, all I feel is home.

Then…darkness.