Page 6 of Astaroth
Aster’s smile split into a grin. “I’ll be admiring you.”
Chapter Three
Morning brightened Briar’s bedroom. He buried his nose in soft cotton sheets and tangled his legs in the plush down comforter draped over his mattress. Through the frosty window, fresh snow flocked naked maple trees and fluffy firs. His bones were used to thin barrack cots and hard concrete, leaving him strangely sore. He flexed his stiff muscles and curled under the blankets like a pleased cat. For a moment, he stilled, brought his wrist to his mouth and bit, trying to pinch his way out of a dream. But he was awake. Completely, inarguably awake. Footsteps padded the hallway and muffled voices echoed from the first floor. Otherwise, quiet filled the house.
How have I landed here,he thought, and then he wondered, briefly, where Aster slept. He squeezed his eyes shut.How is this possibly my punishment?
“Briar?” Mallory rapped her knuckles on his bedroom door. “Are you awake, dear?”
“Y-yes, I’m—”
The door flew open, followed by Mallory’s floor-length paisley dress. “Good morning! There’s breakfast in the dining room.Luca assembled your closet—intimates in the dresser, finery on hangers, denim folded on the shelf. The washroom is down the hall on the right, in case you’ve forgotten. And. . . Oh, there was something else.” She tapped her mouth. Her brows puled together, wrinkling the white gauze tied around her eyes. “Right! Aster wants to take you riding! If you’re up for it, of course. He mentioned early-afternoon. How does that sound?”
Briar instinctively burrowed under the blankets and fought back a bout of embarrassment when he realized Mallory couldn’t see his bare skin. He cleared his throat. “Riding?”
“Horses, dear. He’s quite fond of them.”
“Right. I’ll. . . Sure, I’ll join him,” he said, licking away the sour sleep coated on his teeth.
“Splendid. I’ll let him know. Your riding clothes will probably be marked, but if you need assistance, call for Luca.” She pointed to a sleek, black iPhone on the nightstand. “His number is programmed, as is mine. Your phone is a private possession, talk to whoever you’d like, but check with Aster before inviting any guests to the estate. We don’t want to. . .” She paused, pursing her lips. “Frighten anyone, you know.”
Briar blinked, glancing from the nightstand to Mallory. “Is there anywhere in the house I shouldn’t go?”
“Bedrooms are off limits unless you’re invited. Aster’s wing is on the far left of the house, second floor, and he prefers his privacy. Although, I’m sure you have special privileges,” she said, shimmying her shoulders excitedly. “Any-who, just be mindful. Is there anything I can do for you while you get settled?”
“I think I’ll be all right, thank you.”
“Good, good.” She hesitated, shifting from foot to foot in her yellow house-shoes. Her voice softened on a sigh. “Briar, dear, I’d like to see to your clippings,” she added, forcing a smile. “If we don’t take care of them, I’m afraid you’ll need antibiotics.”
“I can handle them,” he said. His stomach knotted, anxiety shooting through his spine.
Mallory wrung her hands. “If you get feverish, you’ll call?”
“Yes, I’ll call.”
“All right, then.” With that, she left.
Briar waited for the door to click shut before he sat up, gazing out the window toward the tree line in the distance. He reached over his shoulder to finger at the scabbed flesh coiled at the root of his sheared wings. Bone jutted, pulsing hot where the wound refused to heal. A shower would help. Soap and fresh clothes would, too.
He picked up the iPhone as he would a dagger, turning it over in his palm. The screen lit. He flicked through it and tapped on the message app. One unread text sat at the top of the white screen. Briar arched a brow. Aster had—no joke—programmed a bat emoji next to this name.
Aster (Bat Emoji):Morning
Briar blinked at the screen. He typedhiand backspaced it. He triedhelloand backspaced again.
Briar:Hey
Three dots bounced on the screen.
Aster (Bat Emoji):How’d you sleep?
Briar:I slept well
Aster (Bat Emoji):Did Mallory stop by?
Briar:Yeah. I told her to tell you yes.
Aster (Bat Emoji):?
