How good it is to wear clean clothes again. I feel like I could sob. The lent clothes are just a shirt too large for me that covers me like a blank up to my thighs and a short that even being elastic is still too lose, I have to improvise, roll up the sleeves and use a hair tie to tighten the waist of the shorts enough to not fall while I walk.
Loren enters the cabin, he looks me over, his eyes flicker with something too quick for me to catch then gives me a friendly smile.
"So, have you lived here for a long time?" I try making casual conversation.
He laughs.
"I don't live here, I live in the city, I hope you come visit me someday."
"So why are you staying here?" I ask curiously.
"Because the sea is good for me. And I like being alone."
He shrugs.
"Was that a hint?" I joke.
"No, of course not." He's quick to deny. I giggle.
"Well, then how are we going to get to this city? I didn't see any cars or motorcycles around here. Although 6 kilometers isn't that much, I'm still not that quick on my feet, and these days running around left me on the verge of collapse."
I had taken a walk around the house to check it.
"Let's say we go by faster and more economical means." He looks at me with laughter in his eyes.
Then he leaves the cabin.
I follow him with the still snoring Sinuhe, I tried waking him up but the poor thing must be too tired.
This time there is no coat.
Loren spreads his wings.
Oh no.
I think I already understand how we are going to get to the city.
His hands come to my arms and with just a little force I'm against his very hot chest, Sinuhe between us.
"Don't be afraid, I won't let you fall, I promise." He whispers close to my ear.
It's worth remembering that he continues to insist on only wearing shorts.
I quickly blush to the roots of my hair as he wraps his arms around my waist and squeezes.
His wings move, with an impulse we are hovering a few meters above the sand, the movement making me cling to him desperately, Sihune squished between our waists, he finally wakes up with a start and instantly goes into his space.
Soon we are far above the ground, the cabin turning into a spec, opening up my view, from the sea to the forest, all the land boundaries turn into only colors painted in a canvas.
Suddenly he turns in the air (with me now on my back parallel to the ground), my legs go around his hips and lock tightly on my calves without a thought. Now that Sinuhe is not here I can do the octopus grip while my heart goes a mile a minute and I try very hard not to scream.
He gives another impulse.
All I see is just a blur of mixed colors under and immense blue above, my face against his clavicle, his grip around my waist so tight I think I can physically feel his heart beat.
My hair hits my face hard.
Loren doesn't look forward, he looks down at me.
His face is so close I can see there's actually golden dust in his irises, it's what makes the silver glow.
The cold air makes my skin break in goosebumps over and over, while his body is like a furnace against my front. I don't try to say anything, if I open my mouth right now I'll scream. I can only look at him with eyes wide.
Studying his face and focusing on him makes it easier to ignore the height I'm in with only someone's arm as the difference from flying and falling into certain death in pancake form.
His skin is very smooth, not pale, more like lightly tanned, I don't know if being not human inhibits melanin or what.
But his muscles are just like I imagined, insanely hard. I think just by flying he already has the workload of a gym rat or more, because those wings must be super weighty. There's nothing soft about him but his hair.
And in the blink of an eye we are back on land.
Loren keeps holding me. It takes a little while to unlock my legs that have gone numb and force myself to accept I won't die if I don't hold on.
When my feet touch the concrete my legs start trembling like I've run a thousand miles.
"Well, we're at your friend's house, right?" I say, trying to get out of his grip.
"Yes, most precisely on her building's rooftop."
Reluctantly he lets me go.
"Come."
He takes my hand and patiently helps me walk slowly down the stairs, I don't look around, just focusing on not dropping on my face.
Walking down the stairs takes a long time with my snail pace.
"What is the name of this city?"
"Havenwood."
Never heard of it.
I've even gotten used to not having a normal, ordinary life anymore.
We stop at the 13th floor. There are only 2 doors on each side of the corridor. The floor is all good quality wood, polished and clean. I feel a little out of sorts going around without shoes.
We follow the corridor to the end and stop in front of a room with a small sign with the number 1303 in italics.
He knocks on the door in a rhythm similar to the one Lucca did when knocking on the door of the mansion.
Is it something like morse code? I have to ask about it later.
A tall, tanned girl with dark brown hair, light brown prominent round eyes, and full red lips appears at the door.
She is really beautiful.
"Amanda Santos, Alexandra Lobaczewski, Alexandra, Amanda."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Loren told me you'd be my new roommate," Amanda says in a very friendly voice.
When he did this, at no point did I see him with a cell phone!
The last few months have taught me to be wary of people with nice voices.
"Yes, I hope I'm not bothering you." By the end it sounds like a question.
"Of course not, here everything is too silent, I like lively houses. Come on Alex, can I call you Alex?"
"Of course." I reply.
"As for me, I'm going now, and when you want to visit me, just ask Amanda to take you." Loren says turning to go.
"Wait!"
He turns around.
I don't know what comes over me but my brain just freezes and I hug him.
He squeezes me tightly, as if I might disappear at any moment.
"Thank you." I murmur.
I don't want him to leave.
"See you later." he whispers back.
***
The apartment is huge.
Simply beautiful.
All harmoniously painted in strong and light tones.
"This is where you will stay from now on, come I will show you your room."
She leads me down a short hallway to a large door.
The room has a simple elegant decor.
Same as, or better than, Lou's.
The box bed is next to a nightstand, a huge LED TV is in front of the bed, two parallel doors, and after the nightstand there is not a wall, but floor to ceiling windows.
"Look, there's a closet and a suite. You can make yourself right at home."
Amanda points to the two parallel doors.
"If you don't mind, my boyfriend Rodolfo often visits me. Don't worry, the room has soundproofing measures. If you need anything, my room is across from yours, and you don't need to worry about stocking the cupboards and refrigerator, I just don't want to live alone."
"Uh, Amanda, thanks for letting me stay… but why are you being so kind, we are strangers… don't get me wrong, I appreciate it, just…"
"I know, I know, but if you're friends Loren, you're my friend, and besides, you're not a danger to me yet, so don't feel bad, I like being around people, just don't mind me calling you to hang out!"
There's something off about what she said.
Before I can think deeply about it I remember Sinuhe, I send him a push to get out of the space.
"So there's this little thing, do you mind it?" I say when Sinuhe appears and Amanda just stares at him, mouth agape.
"Is this… a bonded wolf?" She asks.
I hum softly. Sinuhe lets out a cute little bark and goes around her feet. She remains still just looking at him.
When she looks up at me her eyes are shining.
"I never saw one before, this is like… stuff of legends, damn girl you're so lucky!"
"Uh, thanks?"
Sinuhe comes to my side and sits next to me.
"Of course there's no problem with him, he's so cute, who wouldn't want to house a bonded wolf?"
I get a little curious.
"Are they that awesome?"
"More than that, this little cutie will be an absolute menace when he grows up, like that's the dream of everyone who grows up in a family like ours, finding a soulmate like this that not only has cool support powers but become a family protector and you can share everything with? That's like asking if someone wouldn't want a dragon, a phoenix or an unicorn. And they have become sooo rare, you barely ever hear of someone bonding with an animal like that. Born just to be by your side."
Sinuhe lets out a little cute sound and rubs his little head on my leg, I pick him up and hold him tightly.
I get a little teary by the end, indeed, my little Sinuhe feels just like that, like home. My little soulmate.
After gushing more about Sinuhe Amanda leaves and closes the door.
I go to the parallel doors, the first one is my newest, super-chic suite, the second one is the gigantic closet.
After packing my things and taking a nice bath, I lay down on the bed with Sinuhe next to me. I guess he shares more than just my emotions, he's as tired as I am.
I think about how much I miss Sammy, in Lucca, I think about our good times, and I think about a plan to get revenge on Theodore, while sleep doesn't come.
I ask Sinuhe to take out my phone and battery then send Sammy a message recounting my previous encounter with Theodore and saying I'm safe now. I ask how she is and how it is going there.
She answers almost instantly with at least 30 messages asking where I am and questioning about everything I did.
Well she's safe too and still with Lucca, that's all that matters. I put the phone in Sinuhe's space when starts calling me.
Not yet.