Cael

“You fucking bitch,” I yell. “Don’t you dare hurt my wife.”

Ravna’s laughter comes to my ears like an echo from a distance. It’s the sound of tiny bells ringing in the frosty air on a winter evening. I spin, but the fog is everywhere. It billows out around me, slithers around me, and becomes even denser. I’m blind. My other senses feel blunt. I shouldn’t have pissed off the oldest being in the universe. I shouldn’t have accepted her invitation.

The fog thins a bit and recedes like a low tide.

A figure blurs about four steps away from me, and I recognise it as Aurora. I rush over to her. She raises her hands as I lean towards her.

“Everything is fine,” I say. “Don’t be scared.” I brush her forehead with my lips.

She moans, and I chuckle.

“We have to go,” I say.

“Kiss me.”

“At the clubhouse, okay sweetheart?”

“Kiss me.” Her hands travel to the waistband of my jeans.

I’m mush.

My wife owns me. I can’t refuse her anything.

Aurora

The fog thins and it looks like two curtains are being pulled aside. Then I see Cael. He’s holding Ravna in his embrace. He bends his neck forward and presses his lips against hers.

He said he loved me.

He lied to me.

He wants Ravna. He wants to have children with her.

I know I can’t give him children—it’s like a dull voice in my head is repeating a mantra.

I watch them kiss. Pain explodes in my chest—crushing and burning. I’m sure I have no heart. Why is my heart broken then?

I turn around and start walking. My feet sink into the cold sand with each step. Tears blind me. I feel like I’m dying. Yet, I am alive.

I walk and walk until my feet bleed. Until my muscles stiffen.

The fog dissipates and a tall building rises in front of me. Two men are standing in the parking lot that stretches from the ribbon of greenery along the façade. I cringe into myself.

They’re going to kill me.

Cael

I hear Ravna’s laughter, closer and closer, until I realise she’s here, in my arms.

“What the fuck?” I growl.

“I can kiss,” Ravna says.

“No, you can’t, you bitch.” I push her away. “Where’s my wife?”

Ravna puts her forearm under her breasts, propping her elbow on her wrist. Her eyes narrow. “Your wife is in Windam, at the Happy Stars Bar.” She sighs. “You’re not going to marry me, are you?”

“No.”

Ravna steps back as the fog thickens between her and me and I lose sight of her. I spin, my senses useless like I’ve drunk four bottles of moonshine, one after another. The fog thins and dissipates. I sweep my eyes over my surroundings. I’m in front of the Salvation Ghosts’ clubhouse.

Raphael tumbles out. He freezes at the sight of me. “What the fuck?”

“You tell me, Prez.”

“You’ve been untraceable for two years.”

“Two the fuck what?”

“Two years, brother.”

“Where’s Aurora?” My heart stops beating and ice fills my veins.

“In Windam.”

I move back, but Raphael spreads his wings and leaps at me. He grips my arm.

“She doesn’t expect to see you,” he says. “Or hear about you. She kind of got you over with.”

“Like hell.”

“Listen to me, brother.”

“My wife—“

“I know. Listen to me.”

The others walk out of the clubhouse and surround me. Their fierce energy pricks my skin as they spread their wings. The rustling sound from their feathers wafts through the air.

“Aurora’s doing great,” Raphael says.

“I need to go to her,” I growl.

“Listen to me,” Raphael growls. “You met Balance, right?”

I nod. “Yes.”

“The bitch doesn’t use time because she’s timeless,” Uriel says. “Aurora appeared in front of the clubhouse a year ago. You’ve been gone for two years.”

“Fuck,” I growl. My mind whirls and my legs wobble. “I’m gonna kill the bitch.” My sweet Aurora must have thought I had abandoned her. That’s why she doesn’t want to see me. “I need to talk to my wife.”

“Wait a day or two,” Uriel says. “I’ll talk to her first.” He lays his hand on my shoulder. “Trust me, brother.”

I feel like there are needles under my feet and a force is yanking me towards Windam, but something in Uriel’s eyes tells me to listen to my brothers.

“Alright,” I say.

I shuffle towards the door and enter the bar. My eyes travel to Gabriel and Reagan. They’re sitting on the floor as a little girl is playing with toys between them. There’s a cot in the corner of the bar and a baby is lying inside it. Reagan beams at me, only to avert her eyes the next moment. Her forehead wrinkles. Gabriel rises to his feet and we shake hands. He slaps me on the back.

“Congratulations on your marriage,” he says. “Well…”

“I am probably a divorcee,” I say.

My eyes sweep over my surroundings. The bar looks different—warmer, cosier. The kids’ blankets layer the couches and toys pile in the corners like it’s a kindergarten.

Gabriel grins. “No humans, no nymphs. We’re like one happy family.”

“And the boys are working as babysitters?” I say.

Gabriel’s daughter bounces off me, and I lean over her, lifting her off the floor. She pulls at my hair as I sit her on my hip. I feel my throat tighten. Sadness fills my heart.

“Hey,” I say. “I’m Uncle Kyle.”

“Her name is Lily,” Reagan says.

“Hey Lily,” I say. “Nice to meet you.”

Lily giggles and pulls at my hair. “Siad.”

“What?” My eyebrows raise a notch.

“Sad,” Gabriel says. “She sometimes burbles like this.”

Lily leans towards me, patting my shoulder with her tiny hand. “Walf.”

“Wolf?” I ask.

Lily nods, her expression serious and it’s so funny that I erupt into laughter. Lily turns into a green mist and my arms close around nothing.

“Fuck,” I growl.

“Lily,” Gabriel calls. “It’s not nice, sweetheart.” He grins at me. “Uncle Kyle’s heart is very old and rusty, sweetie.”

“Fuck off,” I mouth to him.

Reagan rolls her eyes and the baby starts crying. Yep, I’m home. I love it here.

***

I huff out. My eyes slide over the front door of the Happy Stars Bar. The Cold Storms MC owns it. Uriel juts his chin out towards me.

“Could be worse,” he says.

“They won’t do her any harm for sure.”

We climb the wooden stairs and push the saloon door open. As I step inside, human voices envelop me. An old biker with a long silver beard is standing behind the bar and I recognise him as Justin ‘Buzz’ Thomas. He’s Vice and the bartender. My eyes roam over the antique tables and chairs, and I see Declan and Brad sitting at the one by a sash window. They are from the Restless Spades MC.

The Happy Stars Bar is a place where you can find peace and relax. It’s a sacred spot famous among bikers for good food, moonshine and a warm atmosphere. Nobody from the light or neutral side will harm the bunch of old gits residing here. Raphael sends one of us to check on them each month. The boys from the Restless Spades help them each time they are on their turf.

Buzz waves his hand to me as his greeting, as Declan and Brad rise to their feet and move towards me.

“Long time no see, Kyle,” Brad rumbles in his deep voice. The guy looks like a real Viking.

Yes, the Restless Spades know me as Kyle. Gabriel is Gabe, Raphael is Raphy, Michael is Mike, and Uriel is Uri. We are humans to them. They should be oblivious. No, we are humans now, humans who are immortal, that’s all.

Brad hugs me and slaps me on the back. Declan does the same things. The guy reminds me of Gabriel. I slap him on the back and we shake hands. Then they invite us to sit at their table. Uneasiness sits on my chest.

“I need to see someone,” I say. “Maybe next time.”

A slim figure emerges from the bathroom, and I stiffen. It’s Aurora. She looks like a human girl. Her hair is styled in a high ponytail and she’s wearing a pair of jeans, a wrapped black top and a tiny apron bracing her waist. Her eyes meet mine and she drops her head. I move towards her, my legs spongy. My heart flutters.

“Hey,” she says.

“Hey.”

“You want a drink, Cael?”

The sound of my name rolling off her tongue sends heat into my veins, and my heart speeds up.

I want to bury her in my arms, but something tells me not to do this. “A glass of beer would be nice.”

“Uriel said you were back.” Her voice is dry and her face sharpens.

“Is Uriel looking after you?”

“He’s helping me—“

“Really?”Rage fills my veins, and I look over my shoulder.

My glance catches Uriel’s from across the bar and I run my forefinger across my throat like I’m slitting it. Uriel raises his hands and shrugs.

“Cael?” Aurora gasps.

I turn my face to her. “Maybe we could sit down?”

“Sure.”

She walks over to the bar and pours me a glass of beer. We sit at a table that stands in the other room with a flat screen and a pool table. A wide saloon door separates it from the bar.

“How are you, Aurora?”

“Fine.” She takes a deep breath. “I work five hours a week, and I’m also doing a course at college, only part-time, but—“

“That’s great.”

“I have a really good memory. It’s useful.”

Yes, she was supposed to work as a tiny hard drive in the shadows her whole eternal unconscious life. Reagan is a very quick learner too for the same reason.

“Are you happy with Ravna, Cael?” Her eyes meet mine, and her chin quivers.

“What?”

Aurora shudders. “You and her—“

“You’re not jealous of that bitch? She fucking made a real mess out of everything.”

“But you—“

“I’m here. We’ll fix everything, Aurora.” I realise the bar is quiet as all necks stretch and all eyes turn to our table. “Can we talk some place private?”

She rises to her feet, her palms against the table. “Okay. I’ll finish in an hour.”

“Sure.”

She walks off. I empty my glass and join Uriel, Declan and Brad.

“Your girlfriend?” Brad asks.

“My wife.” I drop my head.

Brad pats my shoulder with his enormous hand.

“There’s only mess when you want to be with one woman,” Declan says.

I raise my head. “Are you an expert on marital shit or what?”

“I’m an observer,” Declan says. “And my observation tells me—a different woman every night. It’s the healthiest option.”

I look into him. I don’t know why, but I just have to look into him. A grin crosses my face—I can see his wife. His future wife. It’s just a flash, but I know Declan will meet his wife in two months. He will change his mind about many things. About love and being faithful most of all.