My heart stumbled over itself. It flew into a staccato pace, beating violently against my ribs. I cleared my throat and took a subtle step back from Sagitta so he wouldn’t notice.
“C’mon,” I said, forcing myself to act casual. “Let’s go home, okay?”
That brought Sagitta fully back down to earth. He nodded. “Yes.”
“Hey, you better not forget those donuts,” Faust interjected.
He’d been so quiet I nearly forgot he was there. Rolling my eyes, I picked up the fallen boxes and continued on our way.
But I couldn’t help noticing that, instead of taking control of my body, Faust had letmesave Sagitta instead.
8
Sagitta
I feltlike a total fool during the rest of the walk to Chase’s apartment.
The prickling heat of shame still lingered on my skin. I couldn’t believe I’d nearly stepped into traffic and been struck by a car all because I’d panicked like some prey animal, desperate to bolt. I was glad Chase was the only person I knew around to witness it.
My heart was still racing with quick, sticky beats by the time we reached his place. I wanted to shed the embarrassment like shrugging off a coat, but time was the only thing that would make me feel better.
Time away from Chase. Which, unfortunately, I’d locked myself into. Why did I suggest such an idiotic scheme?
To hide my botched exorcisms from Cygnet, that was why.
I pinched my eyes shut. If I hadn’t screwed up the exorcism in the first place, I’d never be in this mess. Now I was hiding behind layers of lies, and I was stuck living with the physical manifestation of my failure.
“You okay?”
I tried not to start at Chase’s voice. He was in the kitchen placing the boxes of donuts on the counter. I got the sense he was giving me space after my little episode.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I replied without really meaning it.
A nagging voice in the back of my mind told me I’d never be fine again, not after my monumental blunders. Cold dread seeped up my spine. What if I couldn’t exorcise Faust within the week? I couldn’t return to the temple. The shame would be too great.
And if I couldn’t return, then my whole life was over.
“Uh... yousureyou’re okay?” Chase asked again.
“Fine,” I replied, clipped. In an obviously not-fine way.
Chase didn’t reply. He stood where he was, watching me with scrutiny. Then he opened the box, picked up a donut, and sauntered over.
“Eat this,” he commanded.
“Excuse—”
“Eat the donut, Sagitta.”
It was a casual order, but an order nonetheless. Heat briefly flowed into my cheeks at the implication that he deigned to bossmearound. But indeed, our dynamic had shifted. This wasn’t the temple. We were in his domain. His messy, slightly sweaty bachelor pad of a domain.
Chase raised a brow, lifting the donut higher to draw my attention to it. The tawny ring of dough was coated in a tantalizing honey glaze that glinted like cracked ice. The scent of it made my mouth water.
Yet it was more than just a donut. It was Chase’s peace offering, and I’d be a fool not to accept.
With a sigh, I got over myself. I pinched the donut between my thumb and forefinger and took a bite. I tried not to let it show on my face just how damn good it tasted.
Chase grinned. He casually slipped his fingers between his lips and sucked off the leftover glaze.
