Page 66 of The Howl
He silently watched me prepare his meal. When I was done, I walked through the house, looking at his work. I didn’t try to compliment him again, but what he’d done was impressive. Everything looked fresh and clean.
“Did you paint?” I asked.
“No.”
I touched the couch. The cushions looked fluffier, and the material lighter. I was dying to ask how he did it. Instead, I sat with a sigh. This would be a perfect place to—
A shoe hit the side of my head.
“Ow!”
I turned to glare at Elbner, who was watching me suspiciously from the living room opening.
“This isn’t your house,” he said. “Out.”
“Megan doesn’t mind if I stay here.”
“I mind. Leave.”
He reached down and plucked off his other shoe.
“Okay, okay,” I said, standing. “I’m going.”
The goblin glared at me as I retraced my steps to the kitchen.
“Can you speak your old master’s name yet?” I asked hopefully.
The goblin tried and choked on it.
“Never mind.”
Leaving Megan’s, I headed back to the Quills’. The house was huge. I’d just find somewhere else to hide out and fall asleep. No big deal.
I could hear the music pouring from the main part of the house as the garage door closed behind me. Reluctantly leaving the car, I continued to hold onto my hope that I’d find a quiet corner somewhere. The moment I opened the kitchen door, I knew that wasn’t going to happen. Naked people were in the kitchen.
“Hey, do you know where the wine is?” a woman asked. “Nicolette said there was wine down in the kitchen somewhere.”
I pointed to the panel that hid the wine fridge.
“Thanks.”
I quickly averted my gaze as she bent over to read the labels on the bottles on the lower racks of the cooler.
“Would you happen to know where the chips are?” a man asked.
“We’re out of chips. Help yourself to what’s in the fridge.”
I left before anyone could ask me anything else. A man and woman were making out near the entry. Another pair was in the shadows behind the stairs Mom was descending.
“Sweetie, how was school?”
“Fine, Mom. Um, should these people be wandering the house?”
She smiled at me.
“It’s more fun when they find their own little corners to play.” She opened her mouth and pulled in some of the lust just floating around us. The couple by the stairs started moaning, their petting growing more frantic.
“Do you want some?” Mom asked.
