CHAPTER 17 — “Alec Blood”

Somewhere quieter than the rest of their world—

Stephanie found him.

First Meeting (Proper)

A bookstore.

Of all places.

Dim lighting. Old wood. the faint smell of paper and dust.

Completely unremarkable.

Which made it perfect.

Stephanie hadn’t come for anything specific.

That’s what she told herself.

Him

Alec Blood stood between shelves, flipping slowly through a worn book.

He looked—

fragile.

Pale. Thin. Quiet in a way that wasn’t defensive like Jenny’s or controlled like Stephanie’s.

Just… gentle.

And yet—

Stephanie felt it instantly.

Power.

Deep.

Coiled.

Dangerous in a way that didn’t need to prove itself.

The Interaction

“You’re in my section.”

His voice was soft.

Not accusatory.

Just… factual.

Stephanie looked at him.

“This isn’t labeled.”

“It doesn’t need to be.”

A pause.

Then—

“…You’re not wrong.”

He closed the book.

“You feel it too.”

Not a question.

Stephanie’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“…Yes.”

Recognition

Not Phantomthornheart.

Not Blackwood.

Something adjacent.

Something rare.

“I’ve seen you before,” Alec said.

Stephanie didn’t ask where.

“You didn’t approach.”

“You didn’t either.”

A small pause.

Then—

“I didn’t want to interrupt,” he said.

That… caught her off guard.

Something Unfamiliar

They stood in silence for a moment.

Not tense.

Not awkward.

Just… quiet.

Comfortable.

Stephanie didn’t leave.

That was the first sign.

Jenny (Of Course)

“You’re staring.”

Stephanie didn’t react.

“I’m observing.”

Jenny leaned against the shelf beside her, smirking slightly.

“You’ve been ‘observing’ him for ten minutes.”

“He’s unusual.”

“Oh, he’s something,” Jenny said lightly.

Stephanie shot her a look.

Jenny’s smile widened.

“…You like him.”

“I don’t—”

“You do.”

“I don’t.”

“You’re defensive.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

Stephanie turned fully toward her now.

“…Stop talking.”

Jenny grinned.

“Make me.”

Alec (Noticing Everything, Saying Little)

Alec glanced between them.

“…Are you two always like this?”

“Yes,” Jenny said immediately.

“No,” Stephanie said at the same time.

A pause.

Alec nodded slightly.

“…Okay.”

Subtle Pull

“You should come back,” Alec said to Stephanie.

Not pushy.

Not intense.

Just… offered.

Stephanie blinked.

“…Why?”

He thought about it.

Then—

“Because I’d like that.”

Simple.

Honest.

No angle.

No manipulation.

That was what got her.

After

Outside the bookstore—

“You’re in trouble,” Jenny said.

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

Stephanie walked ahead.

Jenny followed easily.

“You like him,” she sing-songed.

“I tolerate him.”

“You tolerate him fondly.”

“That’s not a thing.”

“It is now.”

The Realization

Stephanie stopped walking.

Just for a second.

“…He’s different,” she admitted.

Jenny softened slightly.

“I know.”

A pause.

“And that scares you,” Jenny added.

Stephanie didn’t answer.

Didn’t need to.