I scowled at him. “Doesn’t stop you from hogging the covers when I sleep here!”
“I didn’t want to offend you. It would be cruel.” Now I really rolled my eyes. The kitsune loved to offend me on the regular. Considering he was my familiar, he was way less supportive than I’d expected.
One of the third years had a feline familiar who acted as her emotional support animal. They adored each other. The cat was forever loving on her witch. All Kenji did was give me snark and act like I’d ruined his day if I failed to provide enough snacks.
He ignored my huffing and closed his eyes. “Please shut up now, witch. I’m having a power nap.”
“How can you possibly be tired? You’ve done nothing but snooze all day!”
“I was up late. Doing important things.”
“Such as?” I wondered if these important things had anything to do with the diamond necklace that appeared in the bathroom this morning before vanishing again.
“Nothing I can talk about. Plausible deniability if the Mage Council subpoenas you.”
I was about to yell at him when someone knocked on my door.
“Coming!”
I yanked it open to see Zane leaning against the door frame while wearing a pair of tailored pants and a black shirt. Stars, the incubus was hot. My panties smoldered, along with my ovaries.
“Yes?” My intention was to sound dismissive and unconcerned by his presence, but the wordyescame out all husky and sexy, like I’d just agreed to go to an orgy with him. For the record, I would never do that. Not without my bear anyway.
He smirked and stroked my cheek with one perfectly manicured finger. How did he find the time for a manicure when I barely had time to brush my hair?
“Are you going to invite me in, pet?”
“You don’t usually wait for an invitation,” I replied somewhat grumpily, still annoyed by Kenji’s comments about me smelling.
“Do I smell?” I blurted once Zane walked in and closed the door to keep nosy witches from listening to our conversation. I had a feeling the witch dorm group chat, which I ignored for the sake of my mental health, had just blown up big time. Zane’s presence anywhere always caused a stir. Mostly because he used his lust magic to incite chaos.
Zane looked at me as if I’d lost my mind. “What?”
I sighed. “Do I smell? Everyone’s avoiding me.”
He burst out laughing. “By everyone, you mean the mage and the merman?”
Without asking, he sat on my bed and leaned back against my stack of pillows. Kenji grumbled but moved out of his way, both tails flicking in annoyance.
“Maybe,” I hedged.
“Pet, yes, you do smell.” Before I could burst into hysterical tears, he chuckled. “You smell fucking delicious. Like chocolate and cherries with a hint of smoke and darkness.” He crossed his legs at the ankle, drawing my gaze to the bulge between his thighs. I almost choked. “Your delicious scent makes me want to lick you all over.”
“Um, you’re an incubus. Pretty sure sex is all you think about.”
“I will admit that sex is on my mind a lot, but only because my magic needs it to recharge unless I feel like scaring stupid wolves to death.” He winked.
I ignored that. While the Supernatural Council had scaled back its investigation of the wolf shifter deaths, it was better if I pretended I knew nothing. Just in case someone had bugged my room. Unlikely, but never say never was my motto.
“So I don’t smell bad,” I muttered, wondering whether my hair was the problem. I mean, it badly needed a trim, not to mention a brush. I’d been so consumed with trying to find a spell to locate the vampire that self-care had flown right out of the window.
Then it occurred to me. I’d asked Alaric for help, but he’d basically told me to fuck off. Zane was a third-year, so maybe he’d know something useful to help me with my search.
“Any clue where I can find a really powerful locator spell to track down the vampire prince?” I asked Zane.
“I was wondering how long it would take you to ask.” The incubus pointed to his lap, making my kitsune gag in disgust.
“For the sake of my delicate mental health, I’m out of here.” Kenji blinked away.
