Page 75 of Of Demons and Witches

I lower my arm and find Ashton propped up on an elbow beside me, a faint smile on his lips, though his eyes don’t reflect it. Instead, his eyes are intent on me, a question in them—and my bet would be on‘are you sane enough now to handle?’

“What,” I mutter irritably.

This is what happens when I don’t take any drugs to sleep. Or even when I take them, most times, but at least, I’m usually not a danger to the people around me.

“You’re a joy to sleep with,” Ashton mutters. “That’s all.”

I almost tell him that he can fuck off if he doesn’t like sleeping with me, but manage to stop myself at the last second because… Because the thought of not sleeping with them makes my stomach twist.

I mean, he’s right. There’s a reason no girl or boy has ever stayed the night in my dormitory room.

“Fuck,” I whisper as reality returns. “Fuck, I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t hurt me, man,” he replies. “Relax.”

Relief rushes through me, uncoils the knot in my gut. “And Mia?” I rasp.

“Right here. You were only mumbling in your sleep,” Mia says, shifting about. “You shoved Ash once, and then you were saying something about a tower.”

Fucking mortifying. I close my eyes, taking a fortifying breath. But before I can say anything else—not even sure what that would be—Ashton pats my shoulder.

“We all have them, man. Fucking nightmares. Don’t worry about it. I was teasing earlier.”

I let out the breath, realizing I’d held it. Surprise stirs in me—didn’t realize Ashton had nightmares, and what does he mean they all have them?—but maybe he’s only trying to calm me down.

It sort of works.

Mia says nothing, and I know she wants to ask what it was about but is holding herself back, and fuck, I appreciate it. I’m not ready.

Maybe one day. But not today.

“Rise and shine,” Ashton says, looking bushy-tailed and fully awake, theabeshbastard, getting up from the mattress on the floor and stretching like a cat.

Of course. Heisa cat, a big bad one, and you can tell by the way he moves. I follow him with my eyes as he pads around the room, glad for the distraction from the nightmare images still playing on my mind, clad only in his briefs. I stare at that trim ass and muscular thighs, the narrow hips and the flare of his ribs, and those wide shoulders…

I blink, lick my lips. Damn vampire looks good enough to eat this morning.

Then Mia scoots closer and my attention is fully caught by her, her long-fringed eyes, her soft mouth, her curvy figure barely covered up by her top and panties, her shapely legs folded underneath her. It’s the expression in her face that really reels me in, though—the emotions playing in her dark eyes, warm emotions that could be concern or affection, I wouldn’t really know.

Hard to name things you’ve hardly ever experienced. Maybe I’m making it all up.

But then her hand trails over my face, so damn gentle, and I have to close my eyes not to let my own emotions show.

The other guys attract me, it’s no secret anymore, physically and emotionally, but she is the brightest star in the sky, the sun around which we orbit. I’m drawn into her warmth as she wraps her arms around my neck and presses her body to mine, holding on until I return the hug, my limbs relaxing, my pulse calming.

Her touch makes life seem manageable, the panic coming to heel, the horror fading. I almost feel like I can face the day ahead, when I remember…

Ah,kraish. It’s family fucking visiting day.

So much for coping. Usually, I stay well away from the joyful reunions on such a day, preferably sprawled on my armchair and all hopped up on fey drugs.

But there is a thing or two I need to ask the family today, and I’ve already put in the request, so I can’t skip it.

The elders wouldn’t be pleased.

The day drags on after I leave Mia’s room. I don’t have any classes with her, I realize to my annoyance, and I start plotting to change more of my classes to coincide with hers.

Does this make me a psychopath? Is it normal for a guy to like a girl so damn much? I mean, Paris stole Helen and started an epic war so he could be with her. Surely changing a few classes can’t be that bad.

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