22. The Slayer
The Slayer
Iwake up feeling as though another vampire has ripped out my throat. A sense of grogginess that’s nearly paralyzing slowly slips away as I hear Iris whimpering in her sleep.
With limbs that feel like a million pounds, I head over to her and sit next to her on the bed. Her brows are pinched, and she’s whispering in her sleep.
The need to settle her and make her feel better is overwhelming. It’s indulgent, I know, but I cup her soft cheek and in amazement her body softens against my touch.
I don’t get much time to bask in the feeling of her touch as exhaustion takes me under.
It’s so heavy that I can’t get back up and move to the couch.
Instead, my body slowly falls against my mate’s mattress.
It’s not the way I pictured us sharing a bed, and I wish I could actually enjoy it, but as my lids close I lock the sight of her peacefully sleeping so I can remember it forever.
The next time I wake up, it’s to a scream.
“What the fuck are you doing in my bed?” Iris says, the black bow on her head is askew and there are pillow marks on her face, so it’s really hard to not to smile even while she yells at me; she’s perfectly sleep rumpled and beautiful.
“So tired,” I groan, grabbing the pillow she slept on and burrowing my face against it.
This must be heaven.
“When did you get up here? How didn’t I wake up?”
I’m still so out of it, I can’t even really blink my eyes as I answer her. “You were having a bad dream. I soothed you.”
She blinks at me, wrapping her arms around herself.
“Was it a vision?” I ask, and she looks away. “One day you will tell me all your secrets, I’m sure of it.”
She groans, knowing that she can’t move me as she all but leaps over me to get off the bed.
“I need to speak to Adam,” she says, and that has me waking up a bit more.
“No,” I say sharply, and she places her hands on her hips.
“Yes. It’s important.”
“No.” I’m even more firm.
I hate Adam.
“Feeling’s mutual motherfucker,” Adam hisses in my head.
“Fine,” Iris says, pointing her wand at me. I’m not sure how she does it and I don’t think she really knows either, but her magic whirls through me. The boiling sensation hits me again as I’m completely pushed to the back of the vessel.
And here I thought this was going to be the best morning of my life.