Chapter 24: *CHAPTER 24*

Janice was, in fact, as Lauren had put it "a monster" when we bumped into her outside of her office. She picked back up where she'd left off on the phone yesterday, lecturing about the hours I'd need to pick up over the next few weeks.

When we finally extracted ourselves from Janice and stepped out into the dining portion of the Cafe, I was more than surprised to see Matt at the counter. Matt, my friend who I hadn't seen in a few days. The guilt I'd been setting aside made a reappearance, clawing at me at the memory of the texts he'd sent me yesterday—most of which had gone unanswered.

Matt's usual enthusiasm was nowhere to be seen when he spotted Lauren and me. His face was harder and more serious than I'd ever seen it.

"You've been ignoring my texts again," he accused.

"Good morning to you too, Matt," Lauren said sarcastically, moving around us, "I'll catch you guys later," she was scheduled on as hostess today, and she made her way to take her place at the other side of the cafe.

Now alone, Matt wrapped one of his hands around my upper arm as he pulled me to the side where we wouldn't be seen. I had to ignore the impulse to shake his hand off me. Matt had always been a little too touchy-feely for me, which had probably been one of the reasons we hadn't worked as a couple.

"What's been going on Kass? Did I do something? Is that why you've been ignoring me?"

"I'm sorry," I said, shifting uncomfortably, "I know I've been a horrible friend lately. I've just had a lot going on."

His face visibly softened at my apology, "What happened?"

I rubbed a hand over my neck. A lot. A lot had happened. I'd been attacked by a vampire in my house just yesterday—that my mind was now being forcibly shared with a fire-wielding magical detective of sorts and I might actually be married to that same fire-wielder. But I couldn't tell him any of that.

I told him the first 'safe' thing I could think of that came to mind, "Well, you already know about the murder. Then my car broke down and I got sick."

"That sucks about your car." He grimaced, "I heard you were sick after you didn't show up to work. I stopped by your place again, but you weren't home."

"I've been staying with some family friends."

"What family friends?" His face scrunched in confusion before his head reared back in shock, "Wait, is that a tattoo?"

"A what?—", I winced at the sudden reminder of the Mark on my arm and cursed under my breath. I'd been planning on covering it up with makeup or something before I left the house but had completely forgotten. "Oh, yeah." I muttered lamely, "I guess it is."

He gave me a look like he wasn't sure who he was looking at anymore and my stomach turned. I didn't have a good explanation for the swirling Mark on my wrist, so I rushed in, "Sorry again that I haven't been good at answering your texts. I'll do better. But Lauren is seating someone in my section, so I have to go. We can talk later." I pulled out of the grip he still had on my arms and scurried off like the coward I was before he could reply. Happy that Lauren really had just seated someone in my section.

I cringed as I walked away—that had gone even worse than I had been anticipating. I had to fight the urge to groan. With a quick check that my mental barriers were still in place—thankfully they were—I made my way to a table of a few college girls. I pasted my work smile into place as I took their orders.

I was thankful the Cafe was busy this morning— I even managed to make some decent tips. More than decent. If it kept up, I might be able to make up for everything I lost by missing my shift yesterday. I was pouring up a few teas for one of my tables in the back when Lauren sidled up to stand beside me, a strange look on her face.

"So," she started a little too casually, tapping her manicured nails against the counter I was working at, "a guy just came in and asked to be seated in your section. Your section specifically. Asked for you by name."

I momentarily paused my pouring into the to-go mug I was working on.

"What does this guy look like?" I tried to keep my tone casual and failed miserably.

"Tall, blonde, hot."

Crap.

Leaving my teas on the counter, I peeked out around the corner into the dining area and spotted Malcolm immediately. He was leaning back casually at one of the tables in my section arms crossed over his chest, his expression was hard, glowering at anyone who looked in his direction.

"Who is he?" Lauren grinned down at me waggling her eyebrows.

I grimaced, "He's one of the family friends I told you about."

"Uh, huh. And is this family you're staying with looking for any more 'friends'?"

I elbowed her in the ribs and she snickered. "It's not like that. Not at all."

I mentally winced. Well, sort of. I guess we were kind of married...and let's not forget about the way my body seemed to react to the sight of him shirtless. I swallowed hard, fighting back a blush.

"Okay, well, what's he doing here then?" She asked.

"I have no idea." I eyed him in horror for another moment, wondering how he'd even figured out where I work—then realization dawned...Caleb. I'd told Caleb where I worked yesterday. I repressed a groan.

I finished putting together the to-go cups I was working on and stepped back into the dining area to deliver them. I pointedly ignored Malcolm as I focused on taking orders at another table. It was hard to focus with the feel of an angry stare boring into the back of my skull the entire time and I had to ask their orders twice.

When I couldn't avoid it any longer, I made my way to his table, the "work smile" that I'd had plastered to my face dropped as I approached. He was back in one of his black t-shirts today. At this distance, I could see that his hair was slightly damp, freshly showered. Even over the smell of coffee, a distinct smell of flames itched at my nose. The spicy scent sent a wave of heat straight to my lower stomach and I shivered. He tapped his foot impatiently, watching me with a laser focus, annoyance still the primary emotion radiating from his side of the Bond. The Curse Mark on my arm prickled the closer I got to him.

With a cursory glance around to make sure no one was paying attention to us, I hissed down at him, "What are you doing here Malcolm?"

He gave me a bland look, "I'm here for a coffee, obviously."

"Seriously?"

"You insisted on working today, so someone needed to come keep an eye on you."

Keep an eye on me? Was he kidding? "You know I was just joking about the robbery, right? I don't need a babysitter."

He leaned forward in his chair, resting his arms on the table in front of him, eyes narrowing, "You're a human who's still dealing with the side effects of a Curse Mark that we know nothing about. You're here to do your job, let me do mine."

My jaw was clenched as I glanced down at him. Oh yeah, he worked for the Oculus, whatever that meant. Keeping humans from knowing about magic. I rubbed a tired hand over my eyes.

"And regardless of all that, I don't think that the Curse will let me get too far away from you." He admitted.

I blinked, "What do you mean?"

He sighed long and low, "The connection...it pulled me this way even after I'd decided to come."

The connection. Shit. "The Bond won't let you get too far away from me?"

"Doesn't seem that way." He grimaced, tapping long tan fingers on the table. The sight of those long calused fingers sent another shiver of heat through me and I pushed myself away from the table before I could follow that train of thought.

"Fine," I sighed, relenting, "But stop glaring at the customers. And I swear to God, if you light anything on fire, you're dead."

His eyes narrowed, unamused, "Can we stop it with the fire jokes already?"

"This isn't a joke, this is my life."

"For the last time, I didn't light your car on fire on purpose," he hissed at me under his breath, "That rarely happens."

"Somehow, that doesn't make me feel any better," I muttered, turning away from him.

I could feel the weight of his stare on my back, my skin, as I stalked away from his table. He called after me, "And Kassie, I'll take a large coffee. Black." Even with my back turned, I could picture the smug look he was probably sporting. I could hear it in his voice.

I let out an inelegant grunt and made my way back into the service area to make a few more drinks.