Page 26 of The Dominion of Sin

“For what?” I whispered. He brushed his thumb against my cheek.

“For being so strong.” He came even closer; his breath gently caressed my lips. The scent of cinnamon was so strong I could almost taste it.

“Amon, I -” I started to say, but before I could finish, he gently took his hand away and took a step back.

“Sweet dreams,” he said softly, “I’m right next door if you need me.” Then he was gone. The lingering aroma of cinnamon was the only testament that he had ever been there at all.

19

I dreamt of the widowmaker that night. It crept toward me, on a long stinking thread of black web. It spun over me slowly, bile dripping from its child-like mouth as it reached out with one of its long, spindly fingers.

‘My mistress knows,’ It cooed, and I tried to pull away, I could not let it touch me. When I looked down, I was trapped, once again in its web. ‘My mistress is going to kill you. You and your little prince too.’ It sang, and I woke up.

I shot up in bed, gasping for air with the feeling that spiders had been crawling on my skin. Gooseflesh erupted over my body beneath my silken slip at the thought of it.

I groaned before swinging my feet out of bed. I wasn’t sure if I would share the same long life that full-blooded daemons had since I was half-human. It occurred to me that it would be excruciating to live forever if it meant being plagued by nightmares each night.

I was about to head to the bathroom when I heard a soft knock. I looked up to see Amon, leaning against the door frame, with a large cup of coffee in his hand.

“Good morning, Raven.” He greeted me with a lazy smirk. His eyebrows rose as he took in the flimsy black silk slip, I had worn to bed. I was suddenly very aware that I was not wearing anything underneath it.

“You look… ravishing.” He purred as his gaze lazily roamed down my body before sliding back up to my face. I felt myself flush with heat and I wrapped my arms around myself. I wished I could cover up the intricate lacings of scars that marred my arms. I didn’t want him to see them.

In an attempt to hide how much he could affect me just by looking at me, I rolled my eyes. “Go lurk in someone else's door frame, I need to get ready.” His grin widened.

“Fine, I suppose I’ll have to give this cup of coffee to ‘someone else’ too.” He teased with mock ruefulness. That caught my attention.

“Is that for me?” I asked in surprise, gesturing to the large steaming mug he was holding that smelled like liquid happiness.

“It is,” he responded, still not moving from where he stood in the doorframe. “An Obeah Man once told me that caffeine is the only way to your heart. He also said you take it with milk.” I laughed at that. Imagining Amon asking Conrad how I took my coffee so he could surprise me with a cup this morning was… so heart-wrenchingly sweet my toes curled.

“Well, give it here then,” I grinned. Amon smirked.

“I would much rather you come take it from me.”

I glared at him. Fine. I stalked over to where he stood, wrapping my hands around the mug and pulling it away from him. I met his gaze before bringing the cup to my lips and taking a sip. Closing my eyes, I let the buttery smooth coffee envelope my mouth before sliding down my throat.

I smiled as the warm coffee spread through my core. It was delicious. The quality of the coffee here was night and day compared to the drip coffee I had drank my whole life in my home in Toronto. When I opened my eyes, Amon was looking at me in that intimate way again.

“What?” I asked. He reached out to tuck a piece of stray hair behind my ear, mirroring the action he had done the night before.

“I love it when you smile,” he told me. “I suppose I will need to make an effort to give you more reasons to do so.”

I scoffed. “Whatever you say,” I waved him off. “Now get out of here so I can change.” His eyes darkened again, and he arched a perfect brow. I glared at him but bit back a laugh.

“Out!” I pointed to the hallway, taking a step back. He waved a hand towards my bed, and an overnight leather bag appeared.

“Pack enough things for a few days in case we need them.” He paused, smirking at me in that way of his that always made me feel off balance. “Make sure to pack one or two more of those silk slips, just in case.” His aura brushed over mine, rubbing in just the right places to make me shiver before he slid back into the hallway and disappeared. I shook my head, my face flushed from the feeling of his aura against mine.

Lecherous asshole.

Though, I found I had a hard time keeping myself from smiling as I made my way to the bathroom to shower.

The team was gathered in the common room when I arrived, toting my bag in black lambskin pants and a comfortable black sweater. I grabbed a muffin from the table in the pit before joining Meredith, Conrad, and Amon, where they stood by the mouth of the common room. Dossidian and Kasha approached as well, while Rycon kept his distance, leaning on his back against the far wall next to the obsidian fireplace.

“Do you guys have everything?” Dossidian asked as he approached.

“I think so,” said Meredith. Conrad nodded gravely. He seemed far away. I nudged him gently.

---