A strange, protective urge wrenches through me.
Why didn’t she tell me she got hurt? The skaddler must have got her.
Now that I’ve noticed, I can smell the blood. Her sweet scent is so overpowering, I completely missed it before.
Stupid human, getting herself hurt.
Well, it’s not my problem.
She’s fine now.
Probably.
Humans heal so damn slowly.
I shove that stupid, protective concern away, smirking at her strange little outfit as I ask, “Is it customary to walk around in front of strangers in your underwear nowadays?”
“It’s not underwear!” She protests, blushing brightly. Like I’ve successfully embarrassed her. “These are my pajamas.”
I laugh, setting the cereal box back where I got it.
Sure, sure, little human. Call them what you want, they’re still just as revealing.
But her embarrassment turns to anger as she notices the mess I’ve made of her kitchen.
“Hey,” I say, throwing my hands in the air as she glares at me. “I hadn’t eaten in like 150 years, okay?”
She frowns, like she doesn’t believe me. “Not 200?”
Right. Because I said it was eighteen-something when I got imprisoned.
But my head is clearer now that I’ve eaten, and I’ve seen a calendar.
“It was closer to 150.”
“Well, I’d believe 200, based onthatmess.” She shakes her head, turning away. “Just make sure you clean it all up when you’re done.”
Annoying. That’s what she is.
Who does this human think she is, ordering me around?
Even if thisisher apartment.
I could crush her in an instant—if it wasn’t for the magic binding us.
“Okay, Mr. Mysterious Book Dude,” she calls from around the corner. “It’s very late. That means I need to sleep, which meansyouneed to find something silent and not-creepy to do for the next eight or more hours, otherwise I’ll be cranky. Unless this is all a dream—in which case, cool. I guess this is where we part ways.”
And—what the hell—she’s going to sleep!?She’s seriously just going to sleep—nearly naked—with a strange man in her apartment.
Sure, I’m bound by magic to protect her.
But she’s putting a damn lot of faith in someveryvague magic.
After all…it would be fun to see how much I can get away with before the magic tries to stop me.
9
A Date Without the Hot Guy
