“Dreamwalk?”
“Real talk.”
No. Absolutely not. I can’t.
“Yes,” I murmur. “I want to talk about everything. All that’s happened to you. Mercy. Your job. Everything. I just want to hear your voice and watch your lips move, Castilla.”
She laughs and it makes my black soul sing. “That’s not creepy or anything.”
My eyes are glued to her pert ass in her leather pants as she walks next door. I flash outside and it isn’t until I’m standing in front of Beck I realize I didn’t just flash—run at top speed—but I teleported.
“Ahhh,” Beck says, his eyes wide. “New ability.”
“They seem to keep coming.”
“This is good.” He cocks his head to the side, studying me. “I overheard you’re staying to talk.”
“You heard correctly.”
“You know your way home.” He starts to walk away, but I grab his bicep before he can get far.
“Beck, wait.”
He lifts his brows in question.
“I…” I trail off. “Aren’t you worried I’ll lose control again?”
“No,” he says, surprising me. “I’ve been observing you since that night. Your powers are growing, which means so is your control. You know the point of no return, and I think you’ll avoid crossing it in the future.”
“And if I don’t?” My heart cracks down the middle at that thought.
“You will.”
His faith in me gives me hope.
“But, Laurent?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t turn yourself off to everything around you. You must be aware of threats always.”
I give him a fierce nod. “To protect Mercy and Castilla.”
“No,” he says, shaking his head. “Castilla can protect them both. I’m talking about you.”
“Don’t worry about me,” I scoff.
“Wynona and Weston want you back.”
“I’m no good to them now,” I growl. “They don’t need me.”
“No, but they’re spoiled royalty. You were one of their toys that’s been taken away. They want you back. That’s the intel I’ve gathered. I want you to be careful.”
“Of course.” I give his bicep a squeeze. “Thank you. I’ll see you soon.”
He teleports away, leaving me alone. I practice my own newfound ability, imagining where I want to be, and then appear there.
Castilla gapes at me and Mercy, who’s awake, giggles.
“Hello there,” I greet, not meeting Castilla’s irritated glare.
“Are you a superhero like Mommy?” Mercy asks, her little voice like tinkling bells.
I grin at her. “I am. Your mother is a tough slay—”
“Time for bed,” Castilla interrupts, cutting me off with a sharp look. “Feed Dracula, brush your teeth, and then I’ll tuck you in.”
“What’s your name?” Mercy asks me.
“Laurent.”
“I’m Mercy.”
“That’s a beautiful name, Mercy. You’re a beautiful girl.”
“My bat is beautiful too,” she says, smiling up at me.
“Bats are beautiful?” I tease. “I’ve never seen a beautiful bat before.”
“Because you haven’t seen Dracula!” She grabs my hand, tugging me to her room. “Look. Isn’t he the prettiest bat ever?”
I peer into the box to inspect the bat with a damaged wing. “He’s something, all right.”
“Teeth. Bed,” Castilla reminds her.
“One day Dracula is going to heal and fly to the full moon,” Mercy says, ignoring her mother. “And turn into a vampire!”
A laugh tumbles out of me. “Is that so, huh?”
“My aunt Loey knows magic,” she explains. “I’m going to ask her to get Dracula a magic necklace that turns him into a vampire.” Her nose scrunches up. “Do you believe in vampires? Miss Edna says they’re not real.”
“I believe that anything is possible,” I murmur, patting her on the head. “Better listen to your mother and get your teeth brushed.”
“Will you tell me a story?”
“I could sing you one.”
Castilla sucks in a sharp breath.
“You can sing?” Mercy asks.
“I think I’ve still got it.” I wink at her.
Mercy hurries off to brush her teeth. I turn to look at Castilla. Her arms are crossed over her chest and she gnaws on her bottom lip. The same bottom lip that started something I almost indefinitely finished last time.
“You’re good with her,” Castilla says. “Like you were with me.”
I remember Castilla was such a sweet girl—too sweet to be Demi’s daughter in fact. I’d been worried at first to become a stepfather, but Castilla was a good kid. Made life easier because she was well-behaved. We’d connected over music, which was always my passion. Hell, most days when I felt like leaving Demi, I stayed for that kid. She needed me in some way and I refused to let her down.
I ended up leaving her in the end.
I’m here now, though.
Everything may be all messed up and our relationship dynamics have changed, but my overwhelming need to protect her and be here for her hasn’t.
I step closer until our chests touch. She lets out a shuddered breath of air when I run my fingers through her silky hair. My other palm splays over her leather-covered ass and I squeeze, drawing her closer so she can feel my erection between us.
“I shouldn’t want you,” she whispers. “Wanting you changes everything I’ve been trained to do.”