Carter side-glanced again at the table she sat at. He obviously couldn’t stop thinking of her. Then who wouldn’t? She was as fucking gorgeous in this life as all the others. With long toned legs from years of ballet training, but for me, it was her smile and when the light caught her hair and it glistened like liquid gold because that was when she looked how she always did.
But there was so much more, and I knew why Carter couldn’t get over her. “You’re not giving her any reason to be anything other,” I said, nodding to the girl hanging off his arm.
“Fuck off, Seb.” Carter glared at me.
Not that it bothered me. I’d prefer he pissed Lacey off. Anything to drive her to me because I realised a few years ago that the one thing Raphael had done was he managed to get the Gods on his side, but it was Aurora that didn't remember. And as I was the only one with Aurora when she died in her last life, I had a feeling I was the only one given a warning—"let her find you, tell her nothing, or you will feel the wrath of the Gods and removed from her life permanently."
And that’s why I was different. Yes, the girls are swarming around. Even quiet Ryan had his pick of the ladies, but he was still getting over his ex-girlfriend doing the dirty on him, which meant he did the same as every week, he’d sneak off and do whatever he did, who knew what. Besides massive trust issues, Ryan had a secret kink issue, but that’s something I decided not to delve into. Me, I wasn’t into anything remotely perverse.
“He has a point,” Kane joined in. I was still gobsmacked that Kane didn’t remember her. He was here, but I could tell the way he acted that the Gods had removed his memory of her. He had to find her the same way I was ordered.
Jack Stanford and Blake Connors sauntered in the bar. They were also knights of the magical kingdom, as we were. They were also two of the university football team and had girls flocking to them like flies on shit.
Polly, the girl that lived with Lacey, placed her hand on Blake’s arm, and he spun to her. They chatted near the bar as Jack bought the drinks, and then Polly pulled him to where she and Lacey sat. I groaned as her palm waved into the booth. Just knowing she’d introduced him to Lacey was a problem. Blake’s smile was big and wide, and my heart missed a beat when he crouched down to Lacey’s level.
Blowing out a deep breath, this was a problem because if Blake recognised that she was Aurora, he wouldn’t give me a chance, but I didn't know if he remembered who she really was.
But it still meant all three angels were back and this time, and this life we said we weren't working together. The argument following her death, we each made a vow.
"The next life it is each man for himself."
And now the only one we were waiting for, was a sign that the Dark King was here. But he was unusually quiet, which was worrying. Because she was here, we were here, which meant he was definitely here.
Blake stood and twisted to the bar as he waited for Jack to catch his eye. When he did, Blake curled his finger and gave a quick nod to Jack. Jack leaned to one side, looked at Polly, and gave a salute.
“What the fuck are you grinning for?” Carter snarled.
I didn’t know why I was grinning. I didn’t want her to be anywhere near Jack and Blake. But knowing I was about to piss Carter off added to my snickering face. “Blake Connors is chatting up your ex, and he’s with Jack.”
“What the fuck?” he said and swung around, almost knocking the drink out of the hand of the brunette standing next to him. It didn’t make a difference. She still stood and waited for his adoring attention.
These girls just didn’t know when to quit.
Carter bit his lip as he nervously watched Jack strutting to the girls’ table. The crowds seemed to part for him, but he had a certain something. That something made Carter uneasy, but this was Jack, and he was fine looking. If he wasn’t a doctor in training, he could definitely grace catwalks with his chiselled face and puffy lips.
Jack disappeared into the booth, followed by Blake, and finally Polly. From where I stood, I could see Blake and Polly, but Lacey and Jack were out of my view. I side-glanced at Carter and, for a short time, he seemed composed. But the longer we stood, his chest rose and fell swiftly and his anger swelled like he was about to combust. Carter stared at Blake, who glared back equally.
The Verve’s Bittersweet Symphonycame on, and Lacey and Jack emerged from where they sat. I narrowed my eyes as they danced together—closely. They both knew the words to the song as they leaned into each other and sang to each other.
“He looks like he is trying to disguise the fact he is having a heart attack,” Ryan said, tilting his head at Carter.
I nodded and smiled. Though I wasn’t happy either but I could hardly drag her away and tell her who I was—I wished I could.
Jack lifted Lacey’s leg and wrapped it around his thigh, holding her lower back with his other. They stopped singing when Jack leaned into her, kissing her gently on the lips.
I looked at Blake. He didn’t seem thrilled at first either, but it didn’t stop him glancing at me and grinning. But I’d already seen the flash of displeasure that landed on his face when Lacey’s lips landed on his friend’s.
Jack lowered Lacey’s leg. She smiled at him as he ran his hand over her hair, then he pulled her to him for a passionate kiss. I looked away for a few seconds as blood thundered in my ears but exhaled a sigh of relief when another song started and they returned to the booth.
I stared at my watch and started the countdown, because I knew Carter wouldn’t last much longer. I handled it—just.
Taking another sip of my drink as I slowly watched Carter unravel before my eyes. His face was red from the rage that burned inside him.
“Fuck it,” he finally hissed and muttered under his breath, thinking nobody could hear. “If her fucking uncle hadn’t altered her dream I would still be her boyfriend.”
I looked at my watch: it was nine minutes and twenty seconds before he caved and I was sure his aorta had stretched and gave him an aneurysm with the amount of stress he’d put his body under. Carter picked up his drink and marched to the booth.
I followed, mainly because I was interested in how he was going to react once he saw her. But also to help stop whatever was going on. Ryan and Kane came along to watch the fallout, and the three of us stood at the edge of the booth as Carter manoeuvred himself inside and sat next to Jack.