Page 15 of Something Worth Keeping
“Cillian.”
“Cillian, what?”
“Just Cillian. I predate surnames by several millennia.”
Julian wrote that down. “Second question. Are you going to keep stealing things for me?”
“Do you want me to?”
“That’s not an answer.”
“Yes,” Cillian said. “I will continue to bring you gifts that demonstrate my understanding of your value. If you prefer I not steal them, I can acquire items through legal channels, although that seems unnecessarily complicated.”
“It’s called purchasing. Most humans do it.” But Julian’s mouth twitched. “Third question. How long have you been watching me?”
“Since the night in the alley. Three days, fourteen hours, and approximately sixteen minutes.”
“That’s very specific.”
“You asked.”
“I did.” Julian made another note. “Fourth question. Why me?”
Cillian stared at him. “You are my fated mate. My beacon. The light that anchors my darkness. Your soul calls to mine across every plane of existence. There is no version of reality where I don’t belong to you.”
Julian’s pen stilled. Pink flooded his face again, creeping down his neck. “Oh.”
“Was that not clear?”
“It was extremely clear. I just wasn’t expecting that level of... directness.” Julian cleared his throat. “So, this is a fated mates situation. Like in the romance novels.”
“I’m unfamiliar with romance novels.”
“They’re books about people falling in love. Often with supernatural elements. Fated mates is a common trope. They involve two individuals destined to be together, usually marked by an undeniable bond.” Julian looked up from his notebook. “Is that accurate to your experience?”
“Yes. Although ‘falling’ implies a lack of control. I didn’t fall. I recognized you, and my entire existence reoriented around that recognition.”
“Hm. All right.” Julian wrote something else. “Fifth question. What do you eat?”
“Corruption. Sin. The darkness in human souls.” Cillian watchedJulian’s face for disgust or fear. But Julian was still curious. “I only hunt those who hurt others. Predators. Abusers. I consume what they’ve become, and it sustains me.”
“So, you’re essentially a supernatural sanitation worker. You remove societal contaminants.” Julian nodded. “That’s elegant, actually. A self-sustaining justice system.”
“Most people would call me a monster.”
“Most people are statistically average intellects who fear what they don’t understand.” Julian met his eyes. “You protect others by eliminating threats, and you gain sustenance in the process. That’s efficient. I appreciate efficiency.”
Cillian felt something warm unfurl in his chest. “You’re not disturbed.”
“Why would I be disturbed? I watched you drain a Vane Syndicate enforcer,and my primary concern had nothing to do with him.” Julian tapped his pen against the notebook. “I’ve spent three days researching guardians and cross-referencing folklore. Your existence makes sense. My reaction to you makes sense. This conversation makes sense.” He paused. “What doesn’t make sense is why you didn’t just knock on my door instead of watching through my window.”
“I was concerned that appearing in your private space would violate human boundaries I don’t fully understand.”
“But you did appear in my private space. You moved me to my bed. You left me gifts on my balcony.”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
