The first thing I did inside my room was shut all the blackout blinds. Then I stripped out of the clothes Chase lent me, and in an uncharacteristic display of laziness, left them on the floor. I was too tired to bother putting anything else on.
Chase eyed me as I slipped under the covers in my underwear. “Is this a mostly naked type of nap?”
When I grunted my agreement, Chase stripped down to his boxers and joined me in bed. It felt odd to have another person next to me, but it was nice, too. Comforting.
I shut my eyes and sighed, trying to let go of my thoughts.
Chase’s head nestled against my chest. I threaded my fingers through his soft hair. The gentle rhythm of his breathing finally lulled me to sleep.
19
Chase
“Someone’s at the door.”
Faust’s voice roused me from sleep. My eyes flew wide open, as if he’d spoken directly into my ear. His tone was serious, but not rushed. It didn’t seem like an emergency.
I looked over at Sagitta. He was still asleep. I took the opportunity to stare at his perfect face for a while. With his parted lips and not a single lock of silky black hair out of place, he resembled a model posing for a photo shoot. I didn’t know how he managed to look so hot while unconscious.
Then I heard a small knock at the door.
With a jolt, I rolled out of bed, then glanced at Sagitta. He didn’t stir. I wanted to keep it that way. He needed the rest.
I shoved my legs into my pants so I wasn’t totally naked, then quietly opened the door. I bit back a strangled sound when I saw Cygnet standing on the other side.
His dark eyes rounded to the size of plates at the sight of my bare chest. Then he scowled and turned his head pointedly in a different direction.
“I didn’t expectyouto answer,” Cygnet muttered. “Do you mind putting on a shirt?”
He said it like an adult scolding a child, as if I’d done something wrong.
“Uh, sure,” I replied.
I threw on my shirt and stepped outside, closing the door behind us. A few seconds passed in uncomfortable silence. I felt awkward talking to Cygnet alone, since most of our interactions involved him threatening me. But as he moved, I glimpsed his untouched sword sheath beneath the flowing black fabric. It was hard not to remember how he’d pointed it at my face upon our first meeting, and then nearly cut me down with it a couple hours ago. But right now, thankfully, his weapon didn’t seem to be on his mind.
“Let me guess. You and my brother were... sleeping together,” Cygnet ground out.
“Literally sleeping, yeah,” I confirmed, smoothing out my bedhead for good measure.
Cygnet sniffed. “He’s a light sleeper. I’m surprised he didn’t wake up.”
“It’s been a hard morning. He’s out like a light.”
Finally, Cygnet lifted his gaze to meet mine. His eyes were so much like Sagitta’s—dark, piercing, and intense. But there was something guarded about him, like a bomb that might explode if I breathed wrong. Like he was angry at something I hadn’t said yet.
Cygnet worked his jaw. I waited for him to speak.
“I apologize. For summoning a demon to your apartment,” he said.
I offered him a grin. “Did the doctor force you to say that to me?”
“Yes.”
I chuckled, feeling some of the tension evaporate. Cygnet’s shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly.
“I’m not talking to the demon right now, am I?” he asked.
“Nope.”
