Page 359 of The Spider Queen
“Desperation.” She sighed. “I’m fine, Stella. Blaze and I are fine. My life is fine. Now, you can’t put it off any longer. Tell me what’s been going on.”
So I did.
For the better part of two hours, Herron’s mouth hung open. I assumed it was in shock, or maybe now, she finally thought I’d lost it, that I was truly insane.
But I should’ve known better because when I finally ended my story, she closed her mouth, leapt off the chair, and hugged me.
“This is the most fantastical thing ever. And I read paranormal romance.” I patted her back and she quickly released me. “Sorry. Did I hurt you?”
I shook my head, frowning in confusion.
“What?”
“Touch doesn’t bother me the way it used to,” I said slowly. “I don’t know why.”
She ran a hand through her long hair. “I’m in awe.”
“So you don’t want to have me committed?” I asked warily.
“No.” She paused. “Of all the people you could’ve been friends with, you found me. And I believe in a lot of things that don’t have rational explanations.”
I let out a breath.
“What’s he like, then?” she inquired.
“Who? Lucifer?”
She snorted. “You sound so blasé about it.”
“What’s he like?” I repeated. “I’m not sure. Wicked? Yes. Vulnerable? Yes. Sexy as all get out?Definitely.”
“It’s more than that, though. The physical stuff I get, but you genuinely care about him, don’t you?”
I nodded, my throat tight. I wasn’t sure I was ready to bust all that open, to feel through everything I’d gone through with him. The betrayal in his devil eyes still haunted me.
Because she knew me, Herron wisely didn’t continue down that path. Instead, she decided to derail me completely when she asked, “What are you going to do now?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean your life. You can’t really expect to come back here and pick up where you left off. Doing what you’ve been doing.”
“I don’t know.” I frowned. “I just knew I needed a place that was mine to figure out my feelings.”
“I missed you so much,” she said softly. “In a way I’ve never missed anyone.”
I reached over and squeezed her hand. “What ever happens, whatever I decide to do, either live in Purgatory with my parents or choose to be with Lucifer, I need you to know I’ll never leave you again like that.”
She smiled. “You can’t get rid of me. I won’t let you.”
Just like that, we were okay. Because Herron understood me in a way no one else did. And didn’t think I was completely nuts.
I woke up in the middle of the night because I had an itch. Sitting up in bed, I tried to reach the spot on my back, but my arms weren’t long enough. I got up and went into the kitchen. Grabbing a wooden spoon, I then shoved it down the back of my shirt and scratched at the spot beneath my shoulder blade.
Unfortunately, it only made it worse.
I scratched and scratched until I was sure I caused the skin to open. On my way to the bathroom, I whipped off my shirt, so blood didn’t stain it. I turned on the bathroom light and nearly screamed. My reflection looked different than when I’d gone to bed three hours ago.
My golden skin was back. But that wasn’t the only change this time. Now I had elfin-like ears and needlepointed teeth.
