It’s not great, but it’s honest.

I am very much aware that this isn’t a great way to seduce a woman. Or, well, a way at all. There are no sweet words, no skinship, no loving promises… Just weird shit right off the bat that should have her questioning my sanity. But this is no normal relationship she’d be walking into.

Back when things first started with Mila, Grace and Sarah, none of us were aware of what was happening. We knew things were weird, but we didn’t jump into conclusions and screamed MAGIC or SPIRIT OF LUST. Things were happening and we didn’t understand it. Now, though, I do understand it. I couldn’t, wouldn’t, even attempt to bring anyone else into this without first explaining what was going on with me.

“Magic… is real?” Fernanda was stunned, but there was little to no incredulity in her voice. I thought there was even a bit of interest, but the poor girl was just bewildered.

I nodded. “And this is the other part of the secret. Nearly a year ago and without me noticing, I was possessed by something. Someone. A spirit. A magical spirit, not a ghost. I’ve learned since that her name is Frey and that she means well, but in possessing me, we’ve become… tangled. Her magical powers are mine to use, but I also need to feed her the energy she needs to survive. That we both need now, actually.”

“Energy?”

I sighed. “Frey calls herself a Spirit of Lust. Meaning…”

“Ah. S-Sexual energy?” she inferred.

Yeah, Fernanda is pretty genre savvy. She’s catching on quickly.

“Exactly. Energy born from sex. And well, as you can imagine, her powers are also… sex related.”

Fernanda swallowed and turned her head back to look at the elevator. Then, with some worry in her eyes, she asked, “Then… The others… What are…? How?”

“What are they? People I love dearly. Also free, if that’s what has you worried. I haven’t **** anyone into this. That said… I won’t lie and say these powers haven’t had an influence. At first, they made me more alluring without me realizing it. I’ve learned to turn it off, in a matter of speaking, but it’s also more than that. The girls don’t mind sharing, and they even enjoy it, but these powers may have had something to do with it. It’s… hard to tell how much of it is magic and how much is their own preferences.”

Fernanda seemed to relax at that. “So all the girls know?”

“My girlfriends, yes,” I said.

“Who else?”

“My mom and my sister. Thomas, too. And Luke Allen.”

She smiled weakly. “I was wondering why a big shot like him was here. Does he… No. No, I won’t ask.” Fernanda shook her head, and that apparently made her dizzy. “It’s… a lot to take in.”

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“Why tell me all this?”

“Because I like you and it’s only fair that you know.”

“And you’d trust me to keep that secret?”

“...” I sighed. “As these powers developed, I started to gain the ability to read people’s feelings, sometimes even read minds. There’s also something even rarer than that. Sometimes I see someone and get the strongest feeling that… she and I would be good together. Like we’re compatible. I got that feeling when I first met Diana. And… I also felt it when I met you.”

Fernanda chuckled awkwardly. “Not with the others?”

I answered with my own awkward smile. “No. My powers weren’t developed enough when I met them. At that time we just… took our chances at happiness, I guess.”

“...” Fernanda took a deep breath and began to pace around, never going too far before returning to the same spot. “I… I don’t know what to say.”

“Which is fair,” I said. “I know I’m not making a good case for myself, but I really do like you, so it’s not something I can hide.”

“I… I thought I’d be happy to hear you say you like me, but I’m just… I don’t know what I’m feeling right now. I don’t know if I’m feeling anything.”

“Do you think I’m crazy?” I asked her.

“It’d be easier if you were,” she said, giggling.

“Probably,” I said, grinning back. “Hey, you don’t need to give me an answer now. I know it’s a lot to process. It’s a different matter if I got it all wrong and you don’t like me, obviously, but I hope you feel the same way I do. And if all I’m saying is too much… Then I understand.”

“...” I could feel the storm of awkward and conflicting feelings inside Fernanda. Happiness, worry, confusion… and a dash of disappointment?

Shit. Well, it really was as far from a romantic confession as you can get. The girls were probably hoping for that and I did something else entirely.

“We… better go back,” she said. “I think… I think I need some time.”

I nodded. “I’m sorry to throw all this on you.”

Fernanda shook her head. “No, I’m glad you were upfront with me. Finding out later would’ve been… harder. Grace, Sarah and Diana dropped hints before, but I don’t think I was expecting… this.”

“Would you go back first?” I asked her, rubbing the back of my neck. “I’d like to think for a minute.”

She chuckled. “And I don’t want to think for a while. Don’t be too late. You’re still the birthday boy.”

At least she didn’t seem too upset. I smiled and nodded at her before seeing her go back to the elevator.

Okay, here comes the regret. It was difficult to think of what else I could’ve said, but I already wasn’t liking my own words. Mostly it was that hint of disappointment I felt from her that hit me the hardest. I suppose I could’ve read her mind to find out what it was, but it didn’t seem appropriate, either.

Somebody please remind me. How is it that I got myself six girlfriends when I’m like this?

When I went back to the party, the first thing I saw was that Mila and the others had taken Fernanda aside to talk. From the looks on their faces, it didn’t seem like too serious a discussion.

“Hey, what happened?” Thomas asked me as he and the guys approached me. “Fernanda came back and the girls immediately kidnapped her.”

“Did you guys fight or something?” Kevin asked me.

I shook my head. “No. Just… I told her a couple of secrets of mine. Things she should know.”

“You have secrets?” Kevin asked me with a smirk.

“I’m three leprechauns in a trenchcoat,” I told him.

“Please, you’re two at best,” Mark said.

True.

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