25. Kitten with Claws
Kitten with Claws
KYRA
A knock forces a groan out of me as my weighted blanket keeps me immobilized. Courtesy of yours truly. The sun shining over my face, leaves an inviting warmth, and I snuggle in, not giving a damn who is at my front door, when a whisper kisses my ears. “ Blaiiiise .”
“What the fuck.” Sitting up, I peer around with blurry eyes and find myself alone. Figuring it’s a remembrance from a dream, I lie back down.
*Knock* *Knock*
“Go away!” I yell, hoping the pest takes a hint. But they don’t, and the pounding continues. I throw my cover off, standing in haste with an exaggerated attitude, and lunge for my bedroom door. ‘Go A…”
“Hi, I have iced coffeeeeee.”
Angie’s beautiful face startles the ever-loving shit out of me, and I scream, jumping and clutching my chest as my heart skips a few beats. “Angie!” In the same span of time, I throw my arms around her shoulders, taking note that Alex kept his word .
“Did you miss me that much?” she teases, but I squeeze harder, disregarding the cold liquid seeping into my shirt.
“Yes, you scared me. Don’t ever be so reckless again.” Tears coat my lashes, and I try holding them back as she nestles into my shoulder.
“Alex informed me to see you before doing anything else,” she mumbles into my shirt. “I made a mistake that’ll never happen again. I promise.”
I raise a hand to wipe my eyes, but the action is too late.
“You…better not. I’ve already lost someone close to me.
I can’t lose another friend.” She bobs her head in response, and we hold a second longer.
The weight of this hug softens my posture, and I exhale, running my hand over her back. She’s really here.
“Kyra, I think you wasted the iced coffee.”
We separate, and a roaring laugh travels down the hall. Angie’s soured sulk eases my mood, and I wipe the remaining moisture from my lashes. I missed her all of yesterday, and her being here now feels good.
My palm brightens, and another mug appears, filled with the caramel liquid she so loves.
“This is for you.” Handing it over, I notice her slackened jaw and wide, piercing blue eyes.
Screeching, “Look at you!” Angie takes it from me and gives it a taste, drinking damn near all of it before taking a breath. I chuckle, entering my closet for a change of clothes, when an unpleasant gag chases after me.
“This is horrible,” she coughs, taking another sip.
“Then stop drinking it. I’m still working on creating quality things.” A part of me knew it would be bad, but here’s to hoping.
“I don’t think practice will help. My tongue burns,” she shouts dramatically, and I roll my eyes, chuckling once again. “And I missed you, too. Sorry I was absent on your first day. Fill me in on everything.” She follows me into my closet, invading my privacy because around her, there is none .
“Angie, I’m trying to change.” Stumbling, I miss one of the pants legs.
“I see, you should pay attention,” she mumbles, judgmentally. “Soooo, who do we have a crush on, and who do we need to kill?”
I snort, almost falling over at her ridiculous enthusiasm.
After getting dressed in my normal attire–black tights and hoodie–I give her a full info dump. My run-ins with Horus, the infamous Blaise, and even Caspian’s squeezable cheeks. We talk at length about the three of them, having a good laugh over my short stories.
But things go south discussing Gina, Paige, and Tish. More time is spent on the three musketeers than I would have cared to indulge. Not to mention Sofia. AKA, Ms. ‘MINE.’ Her nails still hold me hostage.
Angie has had a few run-ins with Sofia, as well as an unofficial battle, but she chose to spare her life. She goes over the details with a wink. I can assume it’s in case I find myself having one of my own. Pertinent information.
I’ll never understand why killing is normal here, but I won’t become a participant.
She notices a few bruises around my chin and jaw, inquiring if “those bitches” had a hand in the matter.
I inform her that Alex isn’t as rough as Ethan, but he certainly doesn’t pull his punches, and we spend a few minutes on the subject.
She isn’t a bit surprised he belongs to House Death, which means I’m more behind on things than I’d hoped.
Alex and I spent all of last night training and laughing.
My body aches in places only he would find an easy targeting point.
I drained my aura down to its uncomfortable level before we called it a night.
Or early morning, depending on who is asking, but not before I apologized for pushing him.
I was rewarded with a hand placed on my stomach, healing the four-inch burn from one of his lightning attacks.
I relish the burn of Alex’s touch. How his hand engulfed my bruise with a delicate embrace. His magic thrumming along my skin and seeping past the wound, filling me with an enticing urge to keep it in place.
“Shit, Kyra, you have to get to class.” Angie nudges me, glancing at her phone. We ended up on my bed, talking and reminiscing after she handed me a gift I’m not supposed to open until later.
“Speaking of class…” Not sure how she’ll react hearing the bad news, I rip off the band aid. “Tish destroyed the books you leant me, but I promise once I figure out how to get my money back, you’ll be paid in full.” It’s high on my to do list.
Angie frowns before waving me off with a chuckle.
“You speak of this ‘money’ as though we fays have use for it. Mortal currency, or rather currency period, has no place here. We trade. Information, goods, or services. Including spells and other mythical objects. As far as Tish goes, something tells me you’d like to handle this situation? ”
“Hold on. Trading?” I return a frown of my own. “Not even gold or jewels? Is wealth not a thing?”
“Our definition of wealth and that of mortals is conflicting. Wealth here is a keeper of knowledge, power, abilities, goods, or something unattainable. Someone who’s sought after for what they can provide.
And with your creation abilities, let’s say you shouldn’t have an issue with wealth.
” Angie smiles, relieving me of the anxiety over her belongings being destroyed. “You’re going to be late.”
“Right, what time is it?”
“Almost time for you to be late. By the way, what’s this?” she asks, holding up the letter of instructions Raine gifted me.
“I’m not sure. I can’t read it. But I’ll figure it out later.” I rush, continuing to get ready for the day.
After Alex walked me to my room, I found Raine’s gift within my bookbag and opened it. I fell asleep trying to read the damn thing. I don’t know how many times I spoke it aloud, undoubtedly blotching the phrases, figuring it was best to save it for later.
“I’ll meet you outside Marcel’s class after I change. Don’t be late.”
Her dazzling white glow steals her away, and I slide my feet into a pair of black running shoes, thankful my sparring partner wields Earth magic.
Specifically, water. Not having to shower comes in handy when they can wash away all the dirt and grime, leaving my body feeling a new level of cleanliness.
He is pretty thorough.
My stomach rumbles for the first time in days, letting me know the spell wore off, and now I’m craving a delicious bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich. Extra bacon.
“Why not?” Shrugging with a cautious gleam, I feel tickling in my palms as they glow crimson. The light vanishes in a blink, and I’m left with ingredients sitting between two toasted buns, cooked to perfection. “Please be good,” I pray, remembering Angie’s disapproval of my beverage.
Taking a whiff, I feel the scent tingle my nostrils. “At least it smells good.” Then I bite into it and cringe from a sour taste. Lurching, I spit it out. I race to wash out my mouth, using created toothpaste that is far too minty, but since there are ten tubes of it, I’m left without a choice.
“Negva-ahgin,” I say beneath a flow of running water. It takes every bit of five or so minutes for the taste to subside. Afterwards, a quick “absentis” fixes my issue, and I continue getting ready.
Forgetting to put my bonnet on before falling asleep leaves me with this. Bed hair. But it’s nothing a little magic can’t fix, right.
A scarlet twinkle covers my hair, and I swipe through a catalog of mental pictures, searching for the right one to get me through whatever today may hold. Perfect. In an instant, glitter fades into nothing, and a fresh shine over my Halo Braid pulls a smile from me.
I rush to my bookbag, feeling alive and well, summon a sigil, and vanish.
Angie waits outside Marcel’s door as promised, and Russ is with her.
At first glance, it appears odd, but then I remember they both belong to House Life, which sways my concerns.
She has everyone else frozen, clearing a path for me to walk upon arriving, and despite laughing at her notion, I demand she release them .
“Kyra, fancy seeing you here.” Russ’s dimples greet me along with those eyes and infectious smile.
“Horus, you know damn well I have this class. The question is, why are you here?” I still hold a smile as Angie looks between us both.
“We’re back to full names, I see.” He raises a well sculpted brow. I swear, these males have it easy. Full lashes and perfectly arched eyebrows. “And I guess you caught me talking with Angie, stopping by for a quick chat.”
“Not true,” she says, finding his stare.
“Russ was standing here when I arrived. Stating, and I quote, ‘there’s a cute kitten taking this class, and I’m hoping to catch her before it starts.
’ Is Kyra the kitten?” Her eyes squint with authority.
“If so, she may be a cutie, but that kitten has claws. If you break her heart, I’ll do more than leave you on top of a snowy mountain.
Dildo included.” Angie’s eyes flash white, and judging by the way he raised his eyebrows, it’s a bluff not worth calling.