Titania held Cole by the shoulders outside Agent Withcote’s office and looked him in the eyes. “You have nothing to worry about. Aphelia was going to come across you sooner or later. I need you to keep a level head and not make a bad situation worse. It’s an easy mistake to escalate with people who have incredible powers.”
Cole took a deep breath. “Aphelia tackled me and shoved her tongue down my throat. Who does that? She’s acting like we’re in a relationship when I clearly broke up with her.”
She shrugged. “Aphelia’s used to getting her way. Now she’s found someone who pushes back a little and gives her butterflies. I’ve seen this before. If you play along for a little while, she’ll get bored of you, and before you know it, she’ll be onto the next new shiny thing that passes in front of her.”
Cole held up his hands and shrugged. “A million other guys would jump at this chance with her. I gave up my life to be a hero, not get caught up in drama.”
She pulled him into a hug. Her awe-inspiring energy no longer sparked the same goosebumps. He now found the ethereal thrumming of her power reassuring. Cole hugged back, wishing she didn’t see herself as a big sister type. He wanted more.
“Sometimes I wish you had crashed into that marsh instead of her.”
Titania grew rigid in his arms for a second, then pushed him away and laughed. “I’d never let Tephra get the drop on me. Why would you say that?”
He chuckled back and scratched his hair. “Yeah, that’s crazy. Never mind what I said. Let’s go in.” He knocked on the door and let his gaze drop to the floor. Titania lifted her hand as if to touch him, then retracted it when Agent Withcote opened the door.
Withcote’s face and eyes were blotchy pink, and her voice was hoarse. “Why don’t we add more fuel to the fire? Come on in, you two.”
Aphelia rose from her chair as they came into the office. “Hi, sweetie. We were talking about how you’ll be coming to live with me in Weston for your first assignment in Boston.”
Titania sat on the couch against the wall and folded her arms. “Wouldn’t it be better if he had a place in Boston to start?”
Cole sat in the chair next to Aphelia, smiling, but not hugging her. “Yeah, I’m taking classes in the city as well. I want to avoid the Pike if I can.”
Aphelia pouted. “It takes me only a few minutes by air.”
Titania raised her hand. “He can leap really far, but he can’t fly like you and me. He needs more practice.”
Withcote stood behind her desk and looked out the window at the mist-covered valley, muttering under her breath.
Aphelia put her hand on Cole’s and patted it. “That’s fine. I have an apartment in the Back Bay. We can start him out there and then move out to Weston after a few months.”
Cole smirked as he talked. “You’re making it sound like we’ve already decided that I’m living with you.” This story is hosted at g.com.
Aphelia tilted her head as if he were speaking a different language. “What? You’re saying you don’t want to live with me?”
His heart pounded in his ears as Aphelia’s stare bored through him. He flicked a glance to Titania, who pushed her hands down in the air and shook her head quickly enough not to be noticed when Aphelia turned to her.
“It’s not like that, Aphelia. I feel like things are going very fast.”
She squeezed his hand. “There’s nothing to worry about, sweetie. We’ll take it as slowly as you need.”
Agent Withcote turned around and pointed at Aphelia. “Cole will be in Boston until we approve the move to Weston. Are we clear, Aphie?”
“Clear as crystal,” Aphelia said, batting her eyelashes. “He’s just staying at my place as a roommate. Perfectly harmless.”