Page 34 of Monster's Mistake

I chuckle. “The fact you exist says as much.”

She wrinkles her nose. “I’m going to try and erase thoughts of my family doing the deed from my mind forever. I more meant that I couldn’t be the first gorgon to want to have sex with someone who wasn’t a gorgon.”

“It’s doubtful,” I agree. “So are gorgons immune to other gorgons?”

“It depends on the type of snake we’ve got and if they’re the same species. Something in our blood is an anti-venom to the snakes we have, I think. It’s not like Frank’s never bitten me.”

“He’s a cheeky snake.”

“He’s got an attitude,” she agrees. “And one that’s going to get him into trouble.”

“We’ll work it out,” I promise her. I lean in without thinking and kiss her forehead.

Nati closes her eyes and lets out a satisfied hum, making me certain that she’s not going to give up on what we could have before it’s even truly begun.

CHAPTER 13

Nati

Goingto the secret rooms is starting to become second nature to me. I don’t know how Meic knows which ones are empty when, but he seems to have a knack for it. Either that, or there’s some kind of communication system the students who know about them are using in order to not bother anyone else when they’re in them.

But now that I know about some, I realise that they’reeverywherewithin the academy.

I push one of the bricks to the side of a portrait of a minotaur reclining on a chaise lounge while surrounded by fruit baskets. It’s a strange set-up, but he seems happy with himself. The painting creaks and swings forward, allowing me to step inside.

Flickering candlelight fills the room I step into, and I find myself looking around in awe. Meic has made it look so magical.

“Hey,” he says, taking me in with an appreciative look on his face.

“Do you like it?” I gesture to my dress.

“You look gorgeous,” he responds. “But what’s with the scarf?”

“It’s a turban, actually,” I say, reaching up to touch it. “I don’t know if it’s going to work, the snakes can probably get out of it, but I thought it would help a little.” I go over to him, pausing just before we touch.

“It looks good,” he says. “Is it comfortable?”

“I barely notice it. I sleep with a bonnet on.”

“I don’t know what that is.”

“You’ll find out when we spend the night together,” I respond, leaning in to kiss his cheek.

He turns at the last minute and captures my lips with his. I sink into the kiss, letting myself relax. I’m still nervous about whether it’s going to be safe for the two of us to do this, but I can’t live my life in fear, and I have the spare potion Cethin made with me. I’m going to have to work out how to get hold of more that doesn’t involve him having to steal items from the stores to make it for me.

We break apart and I smile up at him. “Okay, that wasn’t so bad.”

He chuckles, the sound vibrating through me. “Should I be worried about my kissing skills?”

“No, that was excellent,” I promise. “I was just worried about us being so close together and how Frank was going to react.”

“Is he doing anything?”

I pause, paying attention to the way everything is feeling on my head. “Nothing noticeable.”

“Good.”

“Which means I can suggest this.” I pull a silk scarf out of my pocket and hold it up to him.

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