Chapter 17 - Owen - Purge With My Demons

It was early, but sleep had been something that wasn’t coming very easily to me this week. I couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that our future queen was out there somewhere. The more I thought about it, the more I suspected it was Eleanor. It had to be.

With a coffee in hand and my favorite lounge pants on, the sliding glass door creaked as I opened it and stepped onto the balcony outside of my room. This time of year was my favorite in New York, mornings were cold, and the city was so quiet it’s almost eerie. I sat down on the oversized chair to sip my coffee and enjoy the sunrise.

The show at Purge was just two days away. We were all equal parts nervous and excited. Ashton has had us on a tight schedule practicing, and truthfully, if it weren’t for them, I don’t know how we would function. Tonight, we would be putting the final touches on our set list.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I saw it’s almost time for Eleanor to leave for Luci’s morning walk. I stood and stepped inside my room quickly to change clothes, putting on black pants and a hoodie. This had become a routine—wake up way too fucking early, work out, shower, have coffee, and then make sure Eleanor made it to work safely.

I had become fucking obsessed with her. I had to know she was okay at all times. Texting wasn’t enough, I had to see her. The fact that she had my soul is one thing. I would feel this protective instinct toward anyone who had this soul, but this was different now. I needed to keep her close and knowing that she was likely our queen amped this primal need up tenfold.

Flying to Eleanor’s was almost too convenient. Once I landed on the fence around the park by her house, I waited.

A few moments later, I saw Eleanor step through her front door. She looked effortlessly sexy. She had on checkered vans, a beanie, a hoodie that was at least two sizes too big, and tight black leggings that I’m certain did wonders for her perfectly toned ass. My chest began to tighten, and I could feel my hold on my shift to my crow form begin to slip. I wanted her so bad. But if I were to shift right now, as I was perched on this fence, that would not end well.

Eleanor kept this walk with Luci on the street right in front of her house. I was able to see them the entire time from where I was perched. Luci does eye me for a moment before they make it back to the front door.

They got back inside safely, and I flew up to a branch on a nearby oak tree to wait until it’s time for Eleanor to leave for work. I basked in the cool October morning, closing my eyes and savoring the breeze that flew through the feathers across my body. Sitting and waiting here was just as enjoyable as it was sitting on my balcony. It was still early enough that the city was quiet and seeing it from this perspective was refreshing.

I scanned the area surrounding Eleanor’s home, recognizing when her neighbors started to leave at their normal times to start their days. Ms. Nichols opened the curtains facing the park, which was my sign that my soul should be leaving shortly.

Like clockwork, Eleanor emerged from her home. I felt magnetic energy immediately pulling me to her. I flew a safe distance from her, making sure I could see where she was at all times.

A familiar face caught my attention as we got closer to Eleanor’s work. Brad was trailing closely behind Eleanor on the now crowded sidewalk. He had to be kidding. I contemplated the best way to handle the situation. I needed to get him the hell away from her. I didn’t know if he already knew where she worked, but if not, this would not be when he learned.

I swooped down and pecked at Brad’s head. Was it petty? Yes. But it was also hilarious.

“What the fuck?” He began flailing his arms above his head frantically and looking around.

I targeted him again, and he yelped and swatted at me. “I swear, bird, if you shit on me.”

I was flying high again, and Eleanor turned at the commotion. Her eyes went wide when she saw Brad, and she began walking faster, taking the next turn. Good girl.

“Dammit!” Brad exclaimed, frantically looking around. He turned and began to head in the opposite direction of her office, while I flew in the direction she went.

I caught up to her in time to see her enter the building she works in. I’d learned that she works at a small graphic design company.

Eleanor sat at her desk with a cup of coffee and glanced out the window. I took advantage of the way the sun was reflecting in her gorgeous brown eyes. She eyed a vase of wilted flowers that sat at the window on her desk with a sad expression. I was reminded of how the flowers she had at the coffee shop were ruined.

I found a dark alley and shifted from my crow form, adjusting my hoodie that always seemed to get twisted one way or another. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I quickly searched for the number of a nearby florist.

After the second ring, a woman answers. “Ravens and Roses, this is Bethany. How can I help you?”

“Hi, Bethany, I’m looking to place an order for delivery near your shop today. Is that a possibility?” I asked, crossing my fingers that not only could they deliver today, but that they also had the flowers I needed.

“Yes, sir. As long as it’s not a custom order, we can take care of that. What are you looking for?”

“You don’t happen to have black tulips, do you?” My fingers were literally crossed over one another. I shook out my hand. I was being ridiculous.

“We do, lucky for you, it’s the perfect time of year for those since we are so close to Halloween. We can always special order them if need be, though.” I made a mental note of that. “How many were you looking to get and delivered where?”

I shared the details of my order with Bethany and saved the phone number in my phone.

* * *

Everyone was in the living room when I arrived back home. Sitting comfortably on the couch, Finn, Cora, Ashton, and Tristan were watching a movie.

Ashton followed me into the kitchen. “Owen.” Their tone was whiny; they wanted something.

Slowly turning around, my eyes drifted down to their green ones. Ash’s were more emerald than golden like mine were. “Ashton,” I mimicked them.

“I want to meet Eleanor. Please.” They started bouncing back and forth on their toes.

“You’ll meet her at the show. Relax.”

They stopped bouncing and stood in the kitchen, staring at me with their hands on their tiny hips. Pissing off Ashton was actually terrifying. They were so small but could release a wrath so vicious, no one wanted to be on the receiving end.

“Okay, I’ll text her.” I conceded.

Owen:

hi gorgeous, free for lunch?

While I waited for Eleanor’s reply, we all sat in the living room talking about the show. After we finalized the set list, I went upstairs to relax.

I was mindlessly scrolling through videos on my phone when Eleanor’s text came through.

Eleanor:

sure am! purge at 12:30?

When the time came, I knocked on Ashton’s door. “Come on, little one, we’ll ride there.”

They grabbed their helmet off the hook in the hallway, and I followed suit before going out to the garage.

We pulled onto the street and began heading toward Purge.

The florist said the flowers could be delivered before one, so I wasn’t sure if they would get to her before I saw her for lunch.

Parking the bike in the alley next to Purge, I got off the bike, followed by Ashton. “Hey, the space back there is a decent size. Finn and I didn’t get a chance to see it.”

“Yeah, we’ll go look at it while we are here.” Ashton shook out their long brown hair after having the helmet on.

We walked around to the front and met Giordana right inside talking to Ty, the bouncer Finn and I saw the other night.

“Hey Owen, how’s it going?” Giordana was very casual with me now. “Oh, hey, Ashton! What are you two doing here?”

“Meeting Eleanor for lunch, she should be here any minute.” I said.