Page 52 of Veil of Night & Flames

Sebastian’s mouth curves. He must know it’s a dodge, but he doesn’t call me on it. Instead, he says, “Perfect. In the meantime, the offer stands. Stories about Cassie, anytime. And anything else you might want to discuss.”

He stands and picks up his coffee. His gaze skims over me one more time. “It was good to see you again, Cora.” He nods at Tia. “Miss Mendez.”

And then he turns and walks away.

Chapter

Sixteen

I’m going to lose my mind.

It’s 12:47. A minute ago, it was 12:46.

Honestly, the clock is starting to piss me off.

I fluff my pillow and will sleep to come.

Sleep flips me the proverbial finger.

I pull the blanket up off my feet. Then I tug my feet up under the blanket. Rinse, repeat.

I glare up at the fairy lights, which are sparkling just like they have since classes began. Now, though, I want to rip them down and stomp on them.

I tell myself I’m twitchy because I suffered through both a chem quiz and the Valdez do-over earlier today, and my brain can’t manage to power down.

Except that’s a lie, and I know it’s a lie, and lying to myself at one in the morning is apparently my new hobby.

Except it’s not the quizzes.

It’s him.

It’s been over a week since I left the Nightmare Realm, and somewhere in that time, Adric stopped being a problem I think about and became a thing I miss. I don’t know when it happened. I didn’t approve it. And god knows, I’m blissfully happy most nights in Chase’s arms. Except tonight I can’t be in Chase’s arms. Tonight, Chase and Mr. Griffin are in Paris, chasing a pack of mares who apparently are camped out in the catacombs. Which, honestly, is far too on-brand. I mean, what self-respecting real-life mare would go for that cliche?

But they did, and now Chase and Mr. Griffin are working with some Europe-based Hunters to take down the nest.

I wanted to come along—Chase even said I could. But studying for the damn make-up test got in the way. That, and I knew Chase couldn’t do his job as well if he thought he had to watch over me.

And, of course, Tia is crashed in Riley’s dorm, supposedly cramming for an exam this coming Friday.

I don’t believe it. I think they’re doing what I wish I was doing with Chase. Which, of course, means I can’t blame them.

But I can be jealous. And I’m going to sit here and stew in my jealousy until sleep finally takes me. Hopefully, a lovely, boring, dreamless sleep, because right now, the mares that are interfering in my love life are pissing me off.

And as for my other option…

I let the thought drift, not wanting to go there. Or, rather, not wanting to go to him. Not after what I saw. What he did.

I shudder, thinking of all the blood that spilled in that courtyard, and Adric standing there, presiding over the deaths that came from nothing more than his order.

I rub my temples, wishing I could push him even further out of my head, but I can’t. I keep revisiting our tent in my mind. I keep thinking of his hands, just as I think of Chase’s mouth. Of the way each of them looks at me, and how each of them touches me. Even Adric, who spoke a word and ordered death.

And now I crave his touch.

I shudder. What is wrong with me?

It’s a question I can’t answer, and so I try to ignore it. I close my eyes, try to will myself to sleep, and after another twenty minutes, I log another failure.

Well, damn.