I wake up to the distinct sensation of being crushed under a very large, furry weight. Groaning, I do my best to wriggle out from under her without waking her. After what feels like a huge amount of effort for an early morning, I finally manage to slip free, only for Roxy to open her eyes immediately, stretch lazily, and then give my shoulder a completely random lick before darting out of the room. Great. I stretch and follow her to the living room, where she’s now enthusiastically licking Lukas’s face to wake him up. He groans, squinting against the morning light streaming in through the window. He’s wrapped in a blanket, but I can still see he’s wearing my hot pink robe, although it’s a little askew now. The memory of him strutting around in it last night is enough to make my morning a bit brighter.
“Your dog is very large… And heavy.” I comment dryly. Lukas chuckles softly, though the motion makes him wince.
“Sorry about that. She usually sleeps in my bed, but since she couldn’t fit on the couch with me, I guess she figured your bed was the next best thing.” He explains.
“She’s lucky she’s cute.” I grumble, stretching again.
“That’s true.” Lukas agrees easily, still scratching behind Roxy’s ears.
“Shame you can’t use the same excuse.” I sass, unable to resist. Lukas smirks, and I can’t tell if it’s because he enjoys the banter or just thinks my attempts at riling him up are amusing. Either way, it only makes me want to push more. Okay, maybe I’m being a bit antagonistic, but can you blame me? He started it the first time we met, and now it feels like a game. A childish, petty game, sure, but I’m not above it. The realization dawns on me as I glance at the clock. It’s been a full twenty four hours. I’m officially off the hook. No more babysitting! Hell yes! I can send him on his way guilt-free. Well… Mostly guilt-free. I should probably at least give him a ride back to his car. And since his car is at work, which is where I’m heading anyway, it’s not like I’m going out of my way.
“AND you’re clear to be left on your own. So I can drop you back at your car and actually get back to my own life.” I declare.I wait for Lukas to argue, complain, or do something to make this situation harder. Instead, he just nods.
“Right.” He says simply. I frown.
“Why do you keep doing that?” I ask.
“Doing what?” He asks, tilting his head in mild confusion.
“Agreeing when I say something rude. It’s weird. Most people get angry or defensive, at least.” I point out.
“Oh, that.” He shrugs lightly, as though the answer should be obvious.
“I just don’t see the point. People lie so often. In fact, most people barely ever tell the truth. It doesn’t seem worth the effort to argue with every inaccurate thing they say.” He pauses, watching me carefully before continuing.
“I know you’re just trying to rile me up. You’re not being truly vicious. And based on the glimpses I’ve had of your mind, I’m fairly certain you know it too. It’s your way of keeping me at a distance. But that’s not what I want to do. I like you. So I’m not going to play that game.” He answers. My jaw drops, and I stare at him like he’s just grown another head.
“You… Huh?” I manage, utterly confused. Lukas raises an eyebrow.
“Is that really such a surprise? You’re gorgeous, funny, and kind enough to save my dumb ass. Why wouldn’t I want to be close to you?” He says it so bluntly, so calmly, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. Meanwhile, I’m standing there trying to decide whether to argue, laugh, or pretend he didn’t just say that. Is there a way I can somehow do all three? Maybe I’ll ignore it and when I talk this through with Laura, she can do the laughing. I’m sure I’ll find plenty to argue about then.
I probably look like the epitome of cool when I awkwardly smile, mutter something along the lines of, ‘Of course you like me,I’m awesome,’ and then spin around and walk straight back into my bedroom. So smooth. As soon as the door closes, I bury my face in my hands. Idiot. I am an absolute idiot. I spend the next several minutes in my room getting dressed for work, trying to shake off the mortifying interaction. I choose a cute pink dress that is both fashionable and totally work appropriate, pairing it with white wedge heels. For the second day in a row, I haven’t had the time (or energy) to set my hair in curlers, so it’s not the way I want it. Reluctantly, I pin it up in a loose bun, letting a few strands hang down. I grab my curling iron and quickly curl the loose strands, wishing I had time to do it all properly. Still, work calls. I apply my makeup with the speed and efficiency of someone who’s been doing this for years, pull on my glasses, and take a moment to assess myself in the mirror. Something feels… Off. Oh, earrings. That’s what’s missing. I grab a pair of large silver hoops, put them on, and smile. Perfect. Now dressed and feeling a little more confident, I step out of my room. Lukas is already dressed, back in his own clothes. They’re a bit rumpled and could definitely use an iron, but at least they’re clean. He’s sitting on the couch with Roxy at his feet, looking at his phone. He doesn’t even glance in my direction.
“You’re dressed.” I comment, unable to think of anything more brilliant.
“Yeah. Oh, and I found a dog-friendly hotel and made an online reservation for tonight. So I’m all set.” He replies, not looking up. I nod, unsure why I feel… Weird. Almost offended, actually. Not that I care what Lukas thinks of me, obviously. But a small part of me thought he might at least say something about my outfit. I head into the kitchen to grab breakfast, brushing the thought away. Just as I reach for a muesli bar, Lukas calls out from behind me.
“Careful in those heels. I can’t have you falling for anyone else.” His tone is completely serious, like he just said something as normal as ‘Don’t forget your keys.’ I’m so shocked I actually stumble, barely catching myself on the counter. Damn it. I end up settling for the muesli bar for breakfast, it’s not much, but I’m already running late. I should’ve gotten up earlier. Then again, I could have spent less time getting ready… But no. I needed to feel put together today, and that takes time. Before we leave, I grab another muesli bar and toss it at Lukas.
“Here. I suggest getting a proper breakfast later, but we really need to get going.” I say firmly. He catches it easily, nodding as he calls for Roxy. She bounds to his side, tail wagging, and the three of us head out to my car.
I manage about fifteen seconds of silence before my curiosity gets the better of me.
“So… You’ve got a temporary place to crash tonight, and you’ve got your dog. What are you going to do now?” I ask, trying to sound casual. Lukas sighs deeply, his gaze fixed out the window.
“I don’t know. Necromancy… It’s not something you can just sweep under the rug. If my family is as involved as it seems, they are all in serious trouble. Myself included, just by association.” His tone is calm, but there’s a tension beneath his words, a heaviness that makes me uneasy.
“You know how hunters are.” He continues, his voice quieter now.
“If they get wind of this, they won’t just stop at whoever’s responsible. They’ll come after everyone. It doesn’t matter how minor their involvement is. Anyone even remotely connected would be at risk.” He runs a hand through his hair, sighing again.
“I have to get to the bottom of this. I need to figure out exactly what’s going on and try to stop it before it gets out of control.” I grip the steering wheel tighter, this conversation is not a comfortable one. Hunters. The word alone sends a shiver down my spine. They’re the magical enforcers, the ones who step in when things spiral too far out of control. Everyone knows about them, but most people only hear the stories. The ones where they wipe out entire families. Entire covens, whatever it takes. Kids are raised on terrifying stories about them, don’t step out of line or they’ll come for you. They don’t negotiate. They don’t offer second chances. And necromancy? Well necromancy is one of the few things that will guarantee their attention. Communicating with the dead? Summoning ghosts? Sure, that’s mostly harmless. Some people are born with that kind of magic and that’s not their fault. Besides, plenty of ghosts are happy to chat, and if people are happy to donate organs and stuff, why not their bones? It’s not like they’re using them anymore. But raising the dead? That’s a whole other level of forbidden. Lukas’s family is in deep if they’re dealing with a necromancer. If the stories are true, hunters wouldn’t just stop at the necromancer, they’d take out anyone even remotely connected, just in case.
“Do you really think it’s that bad?” I ask, my voice quieter than I intended. He nods.
“I do. And I can’t ignore it. If I don’t figure out what’s going on, the consequences…” He trails off, shaking his head.
“I can’t let it get to that point.” The car is quiet for a moment, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air. It is definitely a good thing that he and I are about to go our separate ways. This is not a situation I want to be caught up in.