Page 23 of White Little Lies

I took another bite of my food as I approached the bed. Ringo hopped up, fluffing his fur before diving onto one of the silk pillows. The pillow nearly swallowed him up, leaving just his tufted ears visible.

I smirked. “Make yourself comfortable.”

“Devils don’t eat goblins.” His head appeared as he let out a big yawn, then he buried his face in the silk.

Shaking my head, I set my food down on a side table that probably cost more than my rent, then walked into the adjoining bathroom. The bathtub was definitely not one you would find in a standard apartment. I could practically swim in it. More soft light bloomed around me, showing me my face in the gilded mirror. Luckily I had started carrying toiletries in my messenger bag since I was too often ending up not at home.

I brushed my teeth and washed my face, thinking about tomorrow, and thinking about going to the Bogs.

And also thinking about that gods damned kiss back at Isadora’s shop.

9

I ran asif my life depended on it, and maybe it did. But I didn’t know what I was running from, just some dark, amorphous shape. My breath hissed through my lungs, my heart pounding. Pounding so loud it was all I could hear.Bang. Bang. Bang. I was choking on my own heartbeat—

I sat bolt upright in a strange bed with silk sheets. As soon as I sat up, a soft glow emanated from the ceiling, showing me the room at Sebastian’s apartment, and Ringo fast asleep on the pillow beside mine.

The banging continued, and I found myself wondering how I had ever thought it was my heartbeat, even in a dream. The realization didn’t stop me from needing to catch my breath for a moment, each distantbangjolting me.

Pushing my sweaty hair out of my face, I threw back the sheets, slid on my boots, then clompedtoward the door. I opened it, expecting Sebastian outside doing something irritating, but he was simply sitting on a chair adjacent the sofa, the dark city skyline visible behind him. He had one ankle draped across one knee, and an old leather bound book in hand.

“Don’t you hear that?” I waved my hands to get his attention.

His eyes remained on his book. “Of course I hear it.”

“Aren’t you going to do anything about it?”

“No.”

Shaking my head, I walked past the kitchen toward the sound of the banging, realizing it was someone at the door below. I looked down the stairs, narrowing my eyes. The door outside was hidden, so only someone who knew what to look for would be able to knock, at least that’s what I assumed.

I glanced back at Sebastian.

Bobbing his foot, he turned another page in his book.

“Devils,” I muttered, then marched down the stairs. Whatever charm or illusion had created them must have been made to close the space for sound too, or else the banging shouldn’t have been as loud.

I reached the door. At first it was a solid door, then I blinked, and there was a peephole for me to peer through. I wrinkled my nose, not entirely trusting it. Of course Sebastian would have a place like this. Though Ihad a feeling this was just a hideaway, not his main home, because there was hardly anything here.

I leaned against the door, looking out just as the knocking resumed. I watched a strong bare arm, its brown skin coated with misty rain, pounding on the wood outside. Attached to the arm was a rather unhappy looking goblin. Gladiola must have told him where to knock.

I opened the door before he could finish his apparent task of pounding it into wood pulp. “Humansdosleep. You know that, right?”

His black hair hung in damp strands around his chiseled features. Even with irritation creasing his brow, he looked downright scrumptious all damp and sulky. A dark green T-shirt strained across his muscled chest, paired with black jeans. “Gladiola told me what happened with the nymph. I didn’t think you would be sleeping.”

I looked out into the alleyway, glancing in both directions. We were alone, but still it probably wasn’t the best place to discuss things. I stepped back, gesturing for him to come inside.

He did, dripping water onto the wood floor as he loomed over me. He shut the door behind him before sliding a palm over the wood, observing it closely.

I wondered if it felt like he had been knocking on brick or a softer wooden door that whole time.

“Why are you here, Gabriel? I told Gladiola to let you know I couldn’t come tonight.”

His dark eyes were like flex of onyx, his mouth a grim line. “Someone wants this nymph, and you’re harboring her.”

I crossed my arms, not sure whether to be irritated or touched that he was feeling so protective. “I’m in an entirely hidden apartment with a devil. I think I’m fine.”

He lowered his chin, giving me his patentedyou’re being very sillylook.

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