“So does this mean you want the honor of telling Dean Caldron?” I smoothly reply while sipping on my iced latté.
“Oh! Yes, I need to tell Mattie. He will DIE! Oh well, I don’t want him to die, but you know what I mean,” she quickly says while pulling out her cell phone and dialing him.
Trying not to overhear her conversation, I look out the window and watch the creatures passing by while enjoying my drink. I’m starting to recognize a few of the species when I spot someone staring intently at the coffee shop across the street from us. I stiffen for a moment as I notice a cloak wrapped around them, but most of the creatures are dressed in warmer clothes since it’s getting colder out. Not wanting them to think I’m staring back, I look down at my drink and phone for a few seconds before looking back to see if they are still staring and indeed they are.
Before I even contemplate sticking out my tongue like a toddler, a loud sucking noise comes over the coffee shop like a hissing noise in an air chamber. Gus runs out of the back room and yells, “Everyone down!” in a booming voice that compels me to drop to the ground right as the window shatters, spraying tinkling, sharp jagged glass everywhere.
It takes a minute, but after checking Moni is alright I pull myself off the ground. A crowd has formed around the window, gawking at the mess. Glancing back across the street, I notice the cloaked figure is gone, but my gut says this won’t be the last time I’ll see them around. I think I'd rather attend thirty pap smears in a day than deal with this shit.
ChapterThirty
THE DREAM WITCH
Rez
After yesterday’s ordeal, I was eager to stay home today, curled up on the sofa reading Lexie Winston’sGalaxy Circus. I almost blow off my appointment when I get to the tentacle sex, but JP reminds me it’s with Desar. A cold shower just to cool off is completely necessary to get my hormones under control. I do my best to make it quick, but wow, that was a good scene. After getting dressed we’re out the door, and I vow to myself that I’ll reread it before going to sleep tonight.
“Rez?” JP questions, squeezing my hand.
Standing outside of Desar’s room, I’m trying to find the courage to knock, but I might have cold feet. Okay, let’s be real, I’m actually cemented to my spot.
How did Wednesday get here so fast? And why am I doing this again?
“We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” he says, shaking me out of my musing.
Shit.
Pulling my bottom lip free from my teeth, I give JP a sincere look. “If I don’t, the next time we can do this won’t be until next month, and I don’t think I can wait that long,” I confess.
Entwining our fingers together, JP pulls me in front of him so I’m looking up into his chocolate eyes.
“You know I would do anything for you, right?” His look is so genuine that it makes me want to either kiss him or totally ruin the whole moment. So of course, I blurt out the most romantic shit I can think of.
“I know! That’s why you’re my walking, talking lie detector tonight.” I smirk at him as his face falls in disbelief.
“Oh, you’re going to get it now.” He reaches for my sides to tickle me, but I plead a truce.
“No, wait. I’m knocking!” I raise my hand and he squints at my fist.
“Fine, but I’ll get you back later,” he promises.
Giving JP’s hand a squeeze, I knock on the door and wait patiently for Desar.
“Hey, come on in,” she answers with a tentative smile on her face, moving aside to allow us entry. Closing the door, she motions for us to follow her. The dorm is one of the ‘normal’ ones that I’ve heard about but have never seen before. As soon as you walk in, you’re in a cream-colored living room and there’s a small kitchenette off to the side. There are four closed doors on each side of the room with an open bathroom to the right of the entrance.
Desar grabs a golden blanket off the back of the sofa and pulls it around her shoulders, smirking when she looks back at me. “Let me guess, you have an elite suite, huh?”
“Uh. Yeah, how did you know” I ask and JP chuckles next to me.
“The confusion on your face gave you away,” she chuckles, taking in my blush and turns to JP. “Hi. I’m Desar.”
“Oh God. I’m sorry. This is JP. I hope you don’t mind me bringing him with me. I haven’t had the best experiences with rituals.” I shrug and she gives me a small understanding smile.
“I can understand that and it’s okay. You need to be comfortable, that’s why I asked my roomies to give me a few hours tonight so we won’t be disturbed,” she says flippantly as she scoots a chair over to make room on the other side of the sofa.
My stomach churns thinking that I’m the cause of someone being put out of their own safe haven even if for just a few hours. “Please tell me that it wasn’t an inconvenience for your roomies? I guess I could have waited for next month.” My voice goes high in pitch as I become more anxious.
Desar waves off my concern. “Don’t worry, I was tired of their boyfriends hanging around here; it was about time they went and stayed with them for a few hours and gave me some peace.” She laughs lightly, her blue eyes shining with mirth before getting back on subject. “I’ve only done this a few times to be honest, but it’s simple enough. I even called my grandmother to make sure I had everything and walked over the steps to give this the best possible chance of working.” She pulls out a box, sets it on the coffee table before her, and beckons us over to the opposite side where she has pillows set up for us to sit on. “If anything, it should help clear the dream webs from your head and help with the connection.”
