Page 113 of Quiet Burn

No Roots

Kit/Kat

Iswallow hard as Salem moves away from me, shivering as my body immediately misses the heat of his pressed close. My lack of panic proves how much I’ve learned to trust my roommate over the past few months. I don’t know what to make of that, but I definitely know it’s ahugestep in terms of healing. These dudes have been slowly conditioning me to accept physical touch—something I didn’t really notice, but I realize now was to help me in ways they couldn’t say out loud.

Thinking I’d bitch at them is a fair assessment.

My defense mechanisms are sharp and formidable; I needed to keep the softest parts of me away from the people who could hurt me after the incident. But Salem and some of the others are peeling them like a fucking onion, which is both exciting and dangerous. I couldn’t tell him ‘no’, though. My body, my heart, even my brain—none of them wanted me to say that word when he asked. All I could do was consent and now my insides are this weird mess of buzzing anticipation and squishiness for the kind panda demon.

So I do what I know: deflection. “Hearing the steps is one of the power manifestations, right? That’s maybe…. a shifter thing?”

His lips curve up and by the look in his eyes, I know Salem has caught on to my scheme. However, he doesn’t call me out; he just nods, walking over to the cabinets and gathering some supplies from our stores. “I do, Kit Kat. Obviously, alotof animals have good hearing and most have better hearing than the humans. It doesn’t tell us much—yet.”

“And the magic thing is confounding us for now.” I frown, my elation at the small moment of connection with him fizzling. “So really, we don’t know hardly anything more than when I got here.”

Salem makes a huffing sound as he methodically packs up his granola bars, organizing each pile by the ribbon color before he slides them into a sealed bag. “Don’t be silly, KK. We know youmighthave three things which is rare as shit, and we know that your magic is scary AF. The time thing paired with that display at the stadium gives us some clues, and so does the hearing. I bet you’ve had other?—”

A loud pounding at the door precedes it sliding open to reveal a beaming X and Anton. Xerxes holds up two bags, their eyes dancing. “Uniforms and the casual stuff—school logoed, of course. I have plans for some other stuff I’ll make for non-school fashion.”

I blink, my chest tightening again as I look at the two of them. “You had to get up super early to catch the supply store without a line on a Saturday.”

“Point of fact, they didn’t sleep,” Anton grumbles fondly. “Naps don’t work well for Xerxes; they tend to fuck up their circadians.”

Dipping my chin, I mutter, “Sorry, guys. That’s my fault.”

X snorts, and I look up to see them striding into the room without waiting for permission. “Hardly. We’re grown demons and I didn’t give a shit. It was very comfy, and my snake is practically docile since. Don’t take on guilt that doesn’t belong to you, KK.”

Anton gives me a small smile, his chin tucked as his pretty eyes communicate similar happiness in his less flashy way. “You seem to be well this morning.”

My eyes widen, but I clamp down on my emotions quickly. Salem chuckles as he continues preparing for our trip at the counter. I clear my throat, shrugging as if it’s no big deal. “I do feel stronger. Obviously, so does X. I should probably take the stuff they’ve got and get dressed for the trip, right?”

Salem turns to wink at me, then looks over at the other two. “We should let Kit Kat get settled before?—”

The door to the dorm flies open again, and Oriel slips in, a stack of clothing in his arms. It doesn’t look new, but a sniff tells me it’s not dirty. His eyes are tired, but he’s smiling a little. “Morning, KK. I brought you some surface-type gear from one of my hordes. I figured you didn’t have much to wear up there since you came with so little shit.”

Every demon in the room looks at him with their jaws dropped like a fucking cartoon character. I frown, tilting my head as I study them then glance at the crow shifter. “Why is everyone acting like you showed up naked painted in pancake syrup?”

Oriel guffaws, the caw-like edge of it telling me that he finds thisextremelyfunny. I haven’t heard him do that before—I don’t think? His eyes sparkle at me as he catches his breath a moment later. “Kit Kat, you’re fucking ridiculous. That isnotthe ‘naked in syrup’ expression—I promise you, you won’t be able to missthat.”

“Okay, Mr. Pedantry, why are they so damn shocked?” I fold my arms over my chest, giving him a stern glare.

“Because… Orielneverand I really meannever in a thousand yearshas givenanyof us a damn thing from one of his fucking treasure troves.” X puts their hands on their face, still looking amazed. “I mean, my flabbers are fuckingghasted, man.”

The crow furrows his brows, frowning at them darkly. “Stop it, asshole.”

“Is that true?” I ask curiously. “Like never?”

“It’s not as big a deal as they’re making it,” he grumbles as he stomps towards the kitchen area. When he gets close, he thrusts the pile at me, and I look at it. I get the feeling it’s sized perfectly and probably exactly like something I’d wear. “Just go get dressed before Prince Prickface gets here.”

I lick my lips, hugging the pile to my chest as X jerks their head at the door to my room. “Okay. But um, thank you, Oriel.” I get the strangest urge to peck a kiss on his cheek, but there are too many people in this room. Instead, I give him a soft, grateful smile before I follow the cobra towards my room.

X opens the door, setting the bags they brought inside the door and winks. “Don’t worry, Kit Kat. We’re out here if you need help with anything.”

“I’m pretty sure I can get dressed on my own, Xerxes.”

At least, for now I can. Who knows what I’ll need to keep my secret later on?

By the timeI finish dressing and binding myself, I’ve worked myself into a bit of a frenzy. I don’t knowwhereJasper plans for us to go, nor do I have any clue what kind of beings I could encounter. According to what Dank told me, his potion will mask the ‘feminine’ parts of my scent as I continue to gain powers, but I have no fucking clue if that will work with anything besides demons. My guys aren’t big surface visitors—a fact that helps me immensely. But supernaturals who live up there?

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