Page 106 of Fangs
“I’m pretty sure this is your fault.”
“Well, you can stop looking so damn pleased by it,” he grumbled, but his eyes looked lighter than they had yesterday. He glanced up at the window, looking as confused by the daylight as I was. “What time is it?”
“I have no idea. Did you know you snore?”
He turned back to glare at me. “Yes, Jax loves to complain about it.”
“It was kinda cute.” I fully grinned now as he blinked at me, eyes widening in outrage. “Like a little baby snoring.”
“You know it would take very little effort for me to smother you with this pillow.”
I dissolved into silent laughter, and he flipped me off, but he smiled.
“Sorry to interrupt.”
I jumped, and Sam swore. Lee leaned his elbows on the loft floor, grinning at us.
“Mornin’ sleepyheads,” he said.
I glared at him, but Sam rolled his eyes and asked, “What time is it?”
“Just past noon,” Lee answered, completely unfazed. “You two slept for almost twenty solid hours.”
My eyes widened in astonishment, and I glanced at Sam to see my surprise reflected on his face.
“I volunteered to try kissin’ you both awake just in case magic was involved, but everybody else seemed to think you were just tired.”
Sam made a funny sputtering sound, his mouth moving like he was speechless for the first time in his life. I pressed my sleeve to my mouth, trying to hide my smile.
“You alright there, Freckles?” Lee looked sideways at me with a smirk.
“Freckles?” Sam finally seemed to remember how to speak. “Freckles!”
As they launched into a heated argument about nicknames, I tried not to overthink how much lighter I felt. Was it normal for a person to swing back and forth between intense emotions like this? Did most people go from wanting to die to laughing? Or was I losing my mind?
I suddenly remembered Leda standing in the clinic, squeezing my hands and telling me she was here if I wanted to talk. I didn’t know what had come over me, but I did. I wanted to talk to her. When I stood, Lee and Sam fell silent, looking at me in surprise. I felt a little dizzy but was sure eating something would fix it.
“Where are you goin’?” Lee asked.
“I need to go talk to somebody,” I said, pulling on my boots.
“Who?” Sam asked curiously.
“Leda.”
I strode to the ladder, but Lee didn’t move, staring up at me from where he still stood on the ladder.
“You should drink that broth first,” he said when I raised my eyebrows.
I turned, and sure enough, there was a mug of broth on my dresser. I heaved a sigh but walked over and drank the whole thing. It was cold, but I didn’t mind. When I finished, pointedly waving the empty mug at Lee, he finally started going back down the ladder so I could leave.
“You want any company?” Sam asked.
I looked at him and recognized the flash of loneliness in his face from feeling it myself.
“I gotta do this alone, I think.” I grimaced. “But I’ll be back.”
He nodded, then seemed to force himself to grin. “I might get some more sleep then without you hoggin’ the covers.”
