Page 8 of Falling for Famine
Her home might be cozy, but it was far from the luxury sought by the greedy humans I’d met over the years. Her fridge was barely stocked, her cabinets relatively empty, and the most expensive things she owned were a PS5 and laptop. Everything else seemed thrifted or cheap. Her bed didn’t even have a proper frame. It sat on a simple box spring that was made of recycled wood.
“That you, Ghost?” she called out, her voice sleepy.
The nickname Pestilence called me instead of my name was oddly nice in her soft, raspy timbre. It never bothered me that Zelus called me Ghost, because the impression I gave most was that of one, but with her…
It was a feeling I couldn’t name.
I froze in place. She’d sensed me without looking over. So few could find me when I didn’t want them to, yet she did it withouteffort. This mortal had even seen through my impenetrable mask of indifference, picking out emotions I didn’t immediately understand until she mentioned them.
My familiars had taken to her chest. Water saturated her pale flesh and was a shiny gleam across a long stretch of freckles. Little streams flowed off the lifted mounds of her breasts, saturating her pink shirt and defining her shape in ways that made me oddly fascinated.
I lingered closer, and her pale blue eyes followed me. Despite her friendly personality, one I noted the moment we met, those staggering eyes of hers held such a depth of sadness it dulled the color. Pain lurked inside them that was soul deep. Most surprising was how much I wanted to uncover what had tainted such a vibrant spirit.
Crouching, I cocked my head to the side, noticing the tired lines of her face, the crow’s feet of both laughter and pain, and the years spent suffering and in the glow of affection. I’d never seen such an expressive face. Or maybe the truth was I’d never wanted to look this long at one.
But for some reason, my gaze strayed to where her pulse flickered at the side of her neck, faster than normal. Where her chest rose and fell, not in fear but excitement, aware of my gaze and presence. Where the water bled through the thin material of her shirt and exposed the dramatic curve of her breasts underneath, absent the telling sign of a bra. Instead, her nipples had formed hardened points, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from them.
“Hey,” she whispered, and my gaze finally met hers. “I know this is a dream, but you don’t need to hold back. You can lay down with me, Ghost.”
I had to expel more effort than normal to keep the surprise from twisting my expression. “I’m only here to keep you protected, mortal.”
“Nomi,” she corrected, a soft smile lifting her mouth.
There was a slight flush to her freckled cheeks, and it took substantial effort not to lean in to get a closer look. My eye sight was sharp. I didn’t need to lean in, but the desire to was stronger than anything ever had been.
“And something tells me you can still protect me if you lie down,” her whispery voice teased.
Her pulse grew faster the longer I stared, but nothing like the discomfort most experienced around me. Hers was anticipation. But of what?
I wasn’t sure what possessed me to follow her orders—I rarely listened to anyone, even Ares—but I went around the bed and did as she asked. I laid out next to her, and she immediately turned her head to keep eye contact.
My gaze dropped to her mouth as her tongue swept across her bottom lip. “Sorry the bed’s not bigger.”
I hadn’t noticed. It took her mentioning it before I realized how small it was if I were to stretch out. And then my eyes traced her shape next to mine.
I slipped in closer, inspecting the difference, unable to contain my curiosity. I absently wondered if I wrapped my arms around her if she’d be the perfect shape and fit inside them. If her smaller frame would perfectly mold to mine.
Her breath caught, drawing my eyes to her face. The flush spreading across her cheeks had deepened, making the freckles around her nose stand out.
I was lost in the maze they made and how they reminded me of the stars in the sky. But she barely breathed anymore, her body stiff with the closeness of mine. I inched back in response, catching the tail end of disappointment in her expression as I did.
Still, she smiled it away. “I really should sleep, Ghost. I’ve got to go shopping tomorrow and make the most of my day off.” Ididn’t speak because she wasn’t looking for a reply. “This has been a nice change of pace from the dreams about my father.”
My interest was snagged by her statement. I nearly asked about it, but I didn’t have to. She went on as if I’d already pried.
“He wasn’t a nice man,” she murmured, the smile fading from her mouth. Something grew in my chest at the sight of her long-suffering pain. “You mentioned demons and angels were out to kill me, right? But they’ll never be scarier than he was. He’s dead now, but if he were to show up in my room like…”
Her voice trailed off, and I watched the deeply-rooted hurt flounder in her pale eyes—fear that lived inside her every day no matter if the mortal was alive or dead. He still haunted her.
“Well, let’s just say I’m really good at getting away when I need to,” she told me, her smile rich with self-deprecation.
I’d never wanted to pry deeper into a mortal’s history until she went quiet. I waited for her to say more, uncomfortable with the silence. I’d always found the quiet relaxing. It was where I was at my best. But with her, it was the farthest thing from solace. It was the edge of anxiety.
She didn’t say anything more. The pink blush faded from her skin, and she yawned. It wasn’t long before those pale blue eyes fluttered, then shut. Her breathing evened out and Ignis burrowed closer to her neck as if seeking to comfort her while she dreamed. Glacies was quick to follow.
I’d never seen them take to anyone. They would flutter around Ares, but never touch her. And she couldn’t see them.
“Nomi,” I said softly, testing her name on my tongue.
