“Okay,” I replied, not knowing what else to say.
With one final sneer, Cygnet whirled around, flashing his black cloak in a dramatic display before storming down the hall.
When he was gone, Faust piped up and said, “Huh. That was strange.”
I sighed. “Tell me about it.”
“That fellow really hates demons. Wonder why.”
I hadn’t even thought about it, but now that Faust brought it up, I was curious, too. Why had both brothers dedicated their lives to demon exorcism? It wasn’t exactly the most obvious career choice. Now I felt embarrassed that I hadn’t asked Sagitta about it sooner.
Winded from that conversation, I returned to Sagitta’s quarters and found him fast asleep. I crawled beneath the covers, careful not to wake him. He still didn’t budge. I wondered if Hartford’s medicine had knocked him out. In any case, I was just glad that he was getting the rest he needed.
I tried dozing off next to him, but I was too wired from talking to Cygnet. Instead I cuddled closer to Sagitta and soaked up his warmth and softness. I could’ve melted into that bed with him forever, but I didn’t know what the future held for us.
Wasn’t this just a job for him? Would he lose interest in me once Faust was gone?
I bit my lip. I’d promised Sagitta that our relationship didn’t need a label and it could be whatever he was comfortable with, but now I wasn’t so sure.
I wanted more.
I wanted him to be mine.
Faust chuckled darkly in my mind.
“What?” I hissed softly.
I winced when I noticed I’d spoken out loud. But Sagitta didn’t budge. His steady breathing told me he was fully knocked out. I doubted my whispers would reach him.
“It took you this long to realize that?” Faust teased.
My face flushed. “Why do you care?”
“Excuse me for having a vested interest in my host’s happiness.”
“Again. Why do you care?” I whispered.
Faust groaned. “It’s like talking to brick walls with you people. So defensive! Relax a little, my human friend.”
I almost snarked back that we weren’t friends, but that wasn’t entirely true. We weren’tnotfriends.
“Aww, that warms my corroded little heart,” Faust cooed.
I rolled my eyes hard enough that I hoped he felt it rattle my skull. But then I remembered what Faust said to Sagitta when he’d taken control of my body. He’d shoved my consciousness aside, so I’d watched from the sidelines. It was strange, watching from my own eyes and hearing from my own ears, and yet feeling like an audience member in my body.
The memory was fuzzy but coherent, like a dream I’d just woken up from. Faust said he liked me and Sagitta—and I felt like he was telling the truth.
“Getting warmer,” Faust said.
My eyes widened.
In a whisper that was barely voiced, I asked, “Are you trying to get us... together?”
Faust squealed with unbridled joy. “Ah, finally!”
My mouth hung open.
I extricated myself from Sagitta, hauled myself out of the bed, and stepped into the open air.
