Page 4 of House of Malice
There were enough secrets around them, within their House and outside it. Blaze was tired of the secrets. They felt like shackles.
He wanted to shout about his relationship with Alecto from the rooftops. So Inathis at large would hear.
“Fine,” Alecto said with a sigh. “It’ll be good practice.”
Blaze cocked an eyebrow. “A good practice for what?”
With a teasing smirk, Alecto said, “To see if we can be a good match in the real world.”
“You always wound my pride, and my heart, and my—”
Alecto cut Blaze’s tirade off by taking his hand and lowering it to her other thigh. Blaze’s mind went completely blank when she pushed his hand up her skirt and his fingers grazed the rough lace of her panties.
“I might. And I’ll probably always will,” Alecto said, her voice seductive. It sent shivers down Blaze’s back. “But here’s what I can promise you—I’ll always make it up to you afterwards.”
3
Alecto stretched her arms over her head and twisted her body to the side, enjoying the sensation of her muscles relaxing. She had slept in her own bedalonetoday, for the first time since…forever, it seemed like. And while she missed having Blaze’s hot body against her at night, she woke up rested.
Her white linen sheets were soft against her naked skin, and instead of getting out of the warm bed, she pulled the covers up to her chin and burrowed herself deeper into the pillows.
If it were up to her, she would spend the day like this. Sadly, the Gods had other plans.
“Bitch,” Val said, opening the door without knocking. “Why are you still in bed?”
Alecto growled, covering her face with a pillow. “Why are you here, Val?” she mumbled.
“What was that?” Val asked. A moment later, she ripped the pillow out of Alecto’s hands. “Get the fuck up. The meeting is in thirty minutes, and before that, I want to talk with the Inner Circle privately.”
Alecto didn’t get up, glaring up at Val, who stood over her with her hands braced on the hips. Val cocked an eyebrow.
“Long, lazy morning in bed are for witches who have nothing better to do with their lives than waste their precious time,” Val said. “We’ve got shit to do and problems to solve.”
“I know. One of the many privileges of being a Snake.”
Val smirked. “Would you rather belong to another House, one that doesn’t have the status and power?”
Alecto pressed her lips together, and Val smiled, satisfied.
“Get dressed, because the others will be here any mo—”
Val didn’t get to finish her sentence because Alecto’s door opened again, and Jolene, Andro and Blaze all strolled in casually into her room.
Alecto leaned on her elbows, glaring at them all now. “What the Hel is this? Ever heard of privacy?”
Andro and Jolene both exchanged a glance and shrugged, not even bothering to answer Alecto’s question.
Blaze yawned and plopped on her bed from the other side. He folded his hands under his head and stretched his long legs, getting comfortable.
“Be quick, little witch,” Val said, her voice teasing. She sat down on the corner of the bed and leaned back on her hands. “Ticktock, ticktock.”
Alecto rolled her eyes, tossed her duvet to the side, and climbed out of the warm and comfortable bed. The cool morning air lingering in her room enveloped her naked body, and goose bumps skittered all over her skin.
Jolene and Andro’s conversation stopped, both staring at Alecto as if she’d just performed a miracle in front of them.
“What?” Alecto snapped.
Jolene blinked; her lips parted. No words came out of her mouth.
