Page 17 of Vicious Little Vows
He stayed leaning over me for a moment, his arms still loosely cradling me. “Sleep,” he whispered. “We face the terror that is my sister in the morning.”
Sebastian disappeared then, but I stared at the darkness for a long while. Maybe he really was the awful person he wanted me to think he was, but as he’d laid me down, I’d gotten another hit of his normally well-guarded emotions.
He cared. In his own twisted way, he cared, and he had probably felt when I sensed it. Maybe that was why he’d disappeared so quickly.
EIGHT
Islept like a rock, cringing as my watch alarm chimed from the nightstand. It took me a few tries to find the right button to turn it off, and by the time I did I could hear the coffee pot brewing in the kitchen beyond the closed bedroom door, along with a distinct sizzling. I thought about grabbing a cup of coffee before getting ready, then thought better of it. It might be just Sebastian out there, and I really wasn’t sure how to feel about what had happened between usagain.
Shaking my head, I slipped from the silk sheets and walked toward the closet as I secured my watch around my wrist. I had initially avoided hanging up my clothes, wanting to believe I’d only be at the apartment for a night or two, but after those first few nights I started feeling silly living out of a suitcase. And the closet had been empty and ready for use. I wasn’t sure where Sebastian kept his clothes, and I was yet to ask. Maybe he just kept them in some demonic shadow pocket void space.
I tugged down one of my folded pairs of jeans from the shelf above the clothes rod, then reached for a silky green button up. I had only met Penelope once, and she’d been dressed like a villain from a Victorian fantasy novel. I had a feeling in a teeshirt I would be underdressed. With Ringo still asleep on his pillow, Icrept toward the bathroom, breaking into a run the last few steps and shutting the door behind me just as his fluffy head popped up. He had a bad habit of racing into the bathroom before I could get a chance.
I had showered the previous night, so it didn’t take long for me to get ready and braid my hair. I preferred wearing it loose, but I had been tossed around a lot lately. Didn’t want the hair getting in the way at the wrong moment. I dutifully avoided looking at the counter and remembering what had happened just a few hours ago.
As I brushed my teeth my watch buzzed. I spat into the sink, then looked down at a text from Gabriel.
All is well here. Did you sleep?
Frowning to myself, I dictated a text back.Did you?
Not a wink.
I knew he must be at the border to be sending texts and I considered calling, but there wasn’t much time if I was going to have coffee and breakfast before the meeting with Penelope. So instead I typed back,I’m going to go forage for coffee. Talk soon.
I’m already at the border. I’ll be there before the meeting,was his reply.
Sighing, I exited the bathroom. I supposed it was wishful thinking that I might be able to keep Sebastian and Gabriel apart until it was time to hunt my great grandfather. When that time came, I would likely need all of the guys together to give me enough of a power boost to reach him. Hopefully Sebastian would keep his promise and leave his mocking at the door.
I stepped out of the bedroom to find not the devil in question, but Crispin. He stood in front of the stove, eggs and bacon sizzling before him. When he turned, I saw that he wore a white apron over his emerald button up and houndstooth pants. I frowned down at my shirt, exactly the same shade as his.
Not seeming to notice, Crispin waved a spatula in the air. “Almost ready!”
I approached the other side of the counter, sliding onto one of the stools there, wondering if he had sensed what happened last night. “You went to bed just as late as I did. How are you up early enough to make breakfast?” It wasn’t the first time I had been shocked by his early rising, but he looked fresh as a daisy and it was annoying. At least maybe that meant I hadn’t kept him up.
Toast popped in the toaster just as he plated three eggs and a heap of bacon, sliding the plate in front of me before reaching for the toast. “As I’ve told you before, I do not require much sleep.” He buttered the toast, then added it to my plate.
It was a much more pleasant interaction than anything I would have gotten out of Sebastian, but still, was I… disappointed?
“He went to that alchemist’s shop,” Crispin explained, reading my expression.
Of course he did. He would want to be prepared for any tricks his sister might try to pull. Although I wasn’t sure if Isadora would help him since we still owed her for the last batch. Her potions had saved our asses when we faced a fairy with a magical vortex ready to eat up my magic—they were well worth giving her some of that magic to bottle up in return, but we just hadn’t had the time.
And byhadn’t had the time, I meant I had deemed visiting the Bogs as more important.
I looked down at the eggs and the ungodly amount of bacon as Crispin fixed his plate. “Is this really how much you think I eat?”
He slid a mug of coffee my way, then walked around the counter to sit on the stool beside me. “All you had yesterday was a donut and takeout.” He lowered his voice as he leaned innear my shoulder. “And if I’m not mistaken, you worked up an appetite last night.”
I rolled my eyes, hoping it distracted from my blush. “Okay,mom.” My elbow bumped his as I reached for my fork, and a little flash of cool magic crept up my skin, making my cheeks flush.
Crispin let out a slow breath, seemingly more affected by the flare than I was.
I lowered my fork without taking a bite. “Are you okay?”
“Fine, dear Eva. Now eat your breakfast.” Though his tone was even, he wasn’t meeting my eyes.
Setting aside my fork and taking up my coffee instead, I swiveled my stool toward him, lightly kicking his leg with my bare foot. “You’re acting weird all of a sudden. Why?” He had teased me the first time I’d slept with Sebastian too, so I doubted it was that.
