I don't even know what to call it.
Maven's lips twitch. "It's not as bad as usual. Maybe touch therapy is actually working."
"But why the fuck did you kiss me if you knew it would end up being uncomfortable for you?" I stress, frustrated at the thought.
"Someone had to break the ice," she grins playfully.
She's joking around about this? I scowl. "You know how many times I've heard that joke in my lifetime?"
"Noted. I'll find a better one. Now, about that extra blanket," she says, glancing at my closet like there might be one there.
Before I can tell her that I'd rather kiss Baelfire's scaly ass than ever let her sleep on the ground, I hear a knock on the door in my office and leave my apartment to go answer it. It's Crypt, and he glares at me like he's envisioning ripping my head off.
Pretty run-of-the-mill for him, honestly.
He glares at the expensive-ass dreamcatcher hanging just inside the threshold of my office before he holds out a backpack and a strange, round object.
"She sleeps with this under her pillow."
"What is it?"
"None of your damn business, Frost. Just give it to her and know that I'll make you pay later for taking our keeper and her dreams away from me tonight."
I glare at him, taking the amulet and the bag, which must have clothes and shit for Maven. "What, you think this was my fucking idea? I just spilled my guts to her about my curse because she knows how to play me like a godsdamned fiddle."
He stares, then smirks. "Good."
"No, it's not."
"It certainly fucking is. I never wanted us to keep secrets from Maven, anyway. Plus, as I said, I doubt your curse ever hurt her."
I grit my teeth. "We don't know that. What if I end up being the death of her?"
"Then I'll shred your psyche and piece it back together over and over until we both die. Sleep tight."
Then he just vanishes away, leaving me to gawk at nothingness.
Fucking insane incubus.
26
MAVEN
I openmy eyes in the morning and stare at an angel.
It's tragically unfair how beautiful Everett Frost is. His flawlessly chiseled face is relaxed in peaceful sleep, one arm crooked behind his head while the other rests on his chest. He's in silk pajamas because, of course, the wealthy elemental professor prefers silk. I study how strikingly light his hair is, though his brows and eyelashes are much darker.
I sigh, relishing the soft scent of mint clinging all around.
I don't regret pushing his boundaries and subsequently kissing him yesterday. For one thing, that kiss was incredible, and it was unexpectedly flattering that he lost control so quickly just because he was so aroused by me.
But for another, now I know what his curse is and how little I need to worry about it compared to their other curses.
It's not like Ican'tdie permanently. It's just highly improbable.
Knowing all of my matches' curses means I now know which are the biggest threats. I dislike all of their curses, but Silas's is particularly concerning.
There has to be some way I can ease it.
