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“First of all, I resent that. Second of all, even if this becomes little more than a dream, dreams linger somewhere once we wake up. It could result in some unexpected questions that require honest answers.”
I peer between them, breaths uneven, plastic smile slipping from my face. “I…I don’t understand what’s going on.”
Willow looks deep into my eyes, like visions of horrors aren’t seated just feet from us. Her mouth opens, but Pollux interrupts, “Better not use the advantage of my glamour to tell her. Your words might stick better as your humanity persists.”
As her humanity persists?
“I want to know.” I look at him, grip my fists against my slacks. “I deserve to know, don’t I?”
“Naturally, dear. However, whether or not it is our place to tell you remains a mystery.”
“Why wouldn’t it be your place to provide knowledge about something that affects me?”
“Because. It would rob something from someone we…well, I tolerate and she cares about.”
I search him, even though every additional moment makes my skin feel raw. Finally, I say, “Doliver? Does whatever you’re talking about have something to do with Doliver?”
The low, grating sound of his affirming grumble sends an unwelcome sensation up my spine, petrifying me long enough for Willow to say, “I would prefer not to give Zy more work if Ollie’s fears create another boogeyman.”
Pollux fixes her with a narrowed look. “Most fade by morning.”
“Most that are the product of humans fade by morning.”
“Don’t concern yourself overmuch. Zylus’s fears centered on losing you in ways he could never undo. At their core, they were selfish. Ollie’s terrors stem from a sense of inadequacy. He’s afraid of trapping the person he holds most dear in a position that will cause them an eternity of misery. His is the pure sort of fear capable of making creatures like me.”
Willow’s eyes go wide.
“He is so scared of not being worth the sacrifice that he would rather let everything precious to him slip away than risk burdening the one he loves. He isn’t afraid of rejection or loss; he is afraid of accepting something that would steal something else more precious. Something he holds in higher regard than his own self.”
Even though I don’t understand, my heart aches. “Can you please explain?”
“Forgive me, dear, it is not my place to.” Brushing his thumb over his lips, he watches me, red eyes dull and weary. “I am already not a fan of this much meddling.” He fixes his gaze back on Willow. “However, as someone with no hope of what Ollie squanders, tell him this for me…” When Pollux stands, lifting the crystal skull, weight pushes me down into the couch until I can barely breathe. Through gritted teeth, he mutters, “Get yourself the—” He swears. “—together.”
Willow tilts her head. “Is that with one or two XO’s?”
His eye twitches.
“Get yourself the—” She echoes his curse. “—together. XO, Pollux? Or XOXO, Pollux? In fact, would you prefer to write him a note? It will mean more if you draw the little hearts for yourself.” She opens the to-go bag. “I think I have a napkin in here if you have a pen.”
The edge of a terrible smile sharpens Pollux’s lips. He lifts his free hand, stopping just short of reaching the top of Willow’s head.
I’ve gone ice cold—every function in my body geared toward survive.
But it’s in this moment I realize Willow has paled to the shade of her clothes. A bead of cold sweat slips past her smile, and Pollux pulls his hand back, putting distance between himself and us as his own smile falls. Without looking at her, he says, “I appreciate your efforts in attempting to socialize me.”
“Don’t be silly. I’d never impose something like socialization on someone. I just really want to have a photo shoot here.”
He grunts, running his thumb across the bottle cap of the vodka. “Not today.”
“Pity. Can I come back tomorrow?”
“I’ll hardly do anything to stop you.”
With those words, Pollux turns out of the room, leaving a curl of dust whispering across the floor behind him.
Willow escorts me outside, and sunlight hits my face, stealing everything that just happened out of my head. I stop short on the broken sidewalk before I lose the final sensations completely. “Willow. What just happened?”
“Hm?” She wipes her brow with a corner of her flowing sleeve.
