Chasing Starlight 💫

3. IN THE SHADOWS

Alründ:

Alründ smiled, as if unfazed by Will's arrival. It was a struggle. More of a struggle was keeping his spirit and mind closed to intruders—like Will, for one. He fixed his barriers in place, imagining a soundproof layer of leaves covering his body and mind, shielding him from the world.

"So, you and the little princess..." He leaned back on the car to read his friend. Will's spirit was pure light blue with motes of gold running through it—same as normal. His pheromone levels were high. His dual hearts sped in a more complex pattern that meant either Will was nervous or had been recently, which led Alründ to deduce: "Both still as pure as ever, I see. You do realize that Theo is going to be all over you now, fixing you up with every girl he can find. Can't have an uninitiated Sepheri in our midst."

"Good luck with that," he laughed, slapping Alründ on the shoulder.

Will was so good natured it was sickening. It made the impending task ahead that much harder—erasing Will's night from Ash's head.

"If you tell Theo anything," Will added, "then I will most definitely tell him about your fling in the tree and how you stunned Ash." He tilted his head, smiling in an irritating fashion that Alründ loathed. "Why did you punch that tree, by the way?"

Alründ laughed. "Here's a deal... Say nothing about me losing it with the tree and I'll keep your purity problem a secret."

"It's not what I'd call a problem. I love her."

"I'm aware of that. Ash loves you, too. She just never said it," he said, gripping his shoulder in that brotherly way they'd always done. Will relied on him too heavily, though. By making his friend feel more assured, Alründ was stabbing himself in the chest. "It's time I meet with Ash. You go ahead and drive home." He tossed Will the keys.

"I can wait."

"No. I also need to talk with Jasper, so it appears your work for the night is done."

His work for the night! What am I saying? Will hadn't worked one iota. While I was surveying the perimeters, he had spent his time romancing her!

"Go along now, Will." Alründ waved him away.

"What is with you?"

"Yes, it's all fun and games for you tonight, but now I have to clean up your mess."

"If it's such a problem, I'll clean it up myself."

"You will not."

"Excuse me?"

Something resembling a snarl escaped Alründ's lips. He hated himself for it, but he wouldn't apologize, not when Will had enjoyed a night meant for him. "You think you're capable of cleaning up? Do you recall how well that worked in the past? You befuddled her memory of the two of us, along with her current life. Her mind was scattered into a million incoherent pieces for weeks. Then Lücan had to step in and reconstruct it all. The poor girl hasn't been the same since."

Not exactly true, but he wasn't feeling charitable.

Will clenched his fists.

He wants to hit me, Alründ thought. Let him try.

Will stepped right up into Alründ's face. "For whatever reason, you are in one of your foul moods again."

Alründ smiled. "Am I?"

"You know what?"

"What?"

"I will drive home without you." Will hopped into the driver's seat. His spirit twisted so fast it turned a violent shade of red. Good. Alründ might have supported his friend when he'd said he loved Ash, but having him angry was exactly what Alründ needed. But as he strode back toward the festival his chest tightened. He rolled his shoulders back, holding himself taller, because he really needed to breathe, because he really needed to focus on finding her.