Page 16 of Sweet Surrender
Mrs. Efezino was late again.
“I’m sorry, bros, abeg,” Samuel said, looking honestly apologetic. He’d stayed for as long as he could. “You know I for stay if I could—”
“I know, I know,” Saint said, waving him off. “I understand. I know how it is, na. Better go before you hit that traffic.”
“All right, boss. Have a nice one.”
He’d given Voke his phone, and the shy six-year-old was completely engrossed in Candy Crush, which he may or may not have downloaded specifically for her.
Once the school had emptied and Saint was forced to wait on the curb with Voke after the custodian had locked the gates, Knight seemed to take that as his cue to leave his post on top of the guardhouse.
Voke looked up distractedly, then jolted so hard she nearly dropped Saint’s phone. He managed to grab it just in time.
She pressed into his side with a muffled cry, grabbing his arm and hiding her face half behind it, her nails digging painfully into his skin.
“What the f-freak?” Saint snarled, managing to swallow the curse word in time. “I mean—” He shot a glare at Knight, who, to his credit, looked just as surprised as Saint. “Hey, hey, hey. What’s wrong, honey? What’s the matter?”
Knight, the evil bastard, came closer instead of going away, dropping to a squat in front of them.
“I don’t bite,” he said, thankfully smiling with his mouth closed. If Voke had gotten a glimpse of his fangs, she’d probably have passed out. “And Saint is my friend.”
That seemed to make the little girl pause, confusion taking over her fear. Still clinging painfully to Saint’s arm, she glanced up at him, as if asking for confirmation.
Saint had to applaud Knight’s quick thinking. He hated it when adults lied to and gaslighted children in the name of “it’s for their own good.” Look at where that sort of bullshit had gotten Saint. Twenty-eight years old and still hesitant to form any relationships outside of his phone.Or his dreams, his mind added silently.
“I’m sorry I didn’t warn you,” Saint whispered. He wanted to wrap his arm around her, but he didn’t just in case it might further destabilise her. “No one is supposed to see him except me.” That part was said pointedly. Knight raised both his arms innocently. “But yes, heismy friend. I know he looks scary, but that’s just how he looks. Inside, he’s a big teddy bear.”
It took a moment, both Saint and Knight patiently silent, before she spoke.
“Is he your ... imaginary friend?” she whispered. She still wasn’t looking at Knight, her face half-hidden behind Saint’s arm.
“Not exactly,” Saint said. “If he was, you wouldn’t be able to see him, too.”
She frowned in contemplation but seemed to think that made sense. She finally braved a glance at Knight and blinked. She blinked again.
“He’s—you’re—” She looked even more confused but less afraid.
“What have you donenow?” Saint hissed.
“Nothing. I just ... slipped on a more comfortable skin.” Saint blinked, and he saw what Knight was talking about.
His horns, wings, and tail were gone. His purple skin was now a deep, rich, dark brown. His billowing, smoky robes had been replaced with a plain, black jalabiya. His waist-long locs werenow almost black, instead of dark purple. The red glow of his eyes had been replaced by a warm, velvety brown.
“Is this better?” Knight asked softly.
Voke nodded shyly, her death-grip on Saint’s arm loosening. Saint’s heart was pounding erratically. He couldn’t stop staring.
Like Knight could feel him looking, his lips—full, plump, pale peach—quirked in the corner, though he was still looking at Voke.
“I’m sorry I scared you. As Saint said, no one but him is supposed to see me.”
“So how come I can see you?” she asked boldly.
“I don’t know,” Knight answered honestly. “Perhaps you’re just that special,” he said with a playful grin.
Voke squirmed and ducked her head, blushing. Saint couldn’t help but feel a little charmed, too.
At that moment, a white Mercedes jeep pulled up to the gates, parking on the curb. Mrs. Efezino practically flew out of the driver’s seat.
