Page 31 of Beauty's Monstrous Demons

“I don’t know,” I gasp. Samael is crouched by my body, no doubt coming to investigate the unanswered phone call. “My closet was open when I came home, and everything is wrong in here. Someone was in my room.”

My voice ends in a whimper, and Samael snarls at the sound of my fear. Lifting my body, he moves to seat himself where I was and pulls me tightly to his chest. I shove my nose against his skin, breathing deeply to replace the foreign scent. Just because the chicory scent is screaming that it belongs to me, doesn’t mean shit right now.

There’s been an interloper inside of my nest. It’s my space, my domain, my?—

“Deep breath, Baby Girl,” Samael reminds me, purring. “I got you. I’m not sure what the fuck is going on, but I’m here.”

The deep purring in his chest helps regulate my body. Every nerve has been telling me to run, the adrenaline dump making me slightly nauseous.

“You’re not staying here,” he says. “If you don’t feel safe, it won’t get any better with time. Someone came in here without permission, violating your space. Dammit, I’m not helping. I’m trying to make sure I keep it together for you, baby. Fuck it, pack a bag because we’re leaving. You’re not coming back without me, so don’t leave behind anything you’ll need.”

It takes me a few minutes to get my body moving, but I’m able to finally push myself up to stumble toward a duffle bag. Making a face as I pack things, I shudder. Someone touched my things.

Does that mean every item I pack is tainted now?

“You can wash everything when we get to Phenex’s,” Samael says, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Bring your laundry detergent with you.”

Nodding, I continue to pack before glancing at the door with a sigh. I can hear voices out there, as well as a third that has joined them. I really don’t want to walk past the kitchen to leave the dorm.

“Don’t worry about them, we’re not going out that way,” he says, pointing at something to ask if I need it. Together, we finish packing and he hooks the strap of the duffel bag over his shoulder. “Grab your backpack, Lorelei.”

I’m working off of pure autopilot as I do as he says, taking his hand when he offers it. I don’t know what the plan is, but I know he has one. That has to be enough for now.

My laptop is still at Phenex’s, as are most of my books. I only came home to change for work. Pulling me tightly into his side, he wraps his arm and tail around me.

“Hold on and don’t let go,” he says, waiting for me to wrap my arms around his body before the world simply disappears. My gasp is inaudible as the invisible particles of our bodies move through space and time at a much faster rate than I’d ever have thought possible.

I’m still dazed as Samael materializes our bodies in Phenex’s living room, and I sag heavily against him.

“What happened?” Phenex asks, scrambling up from his spot on the couch.

“Someone’s been rifling through her shit,” Samael grunts. “She’s not going back to her dorm. I hope you enjoy having two new roommates.”

Phenex simply shrugs, though his forehead is furrowed with concern. I guess Samael is moving in too.

“Someone broke into your room?” Phenex asks, moving to help take my bag from me and toss it to the side. He picks me up to snuggle against him on the couch, his hands rubbing over my newly chilled skin. I guess traveling the way Samael and I just did causes me to be cold.

My teeth are even chattering.

Samael sits as well, my duffel bag left on the armchair so he can take my boots off and rub my feet.

“I always lock my door,” I explain. “Whoever it was relocked everything afterward, but didn’t put everything back in its place. My blankets on my couch were all askew, there was a drawer still open, and I could smell them in the air. Even my closet was left open. It smelled like chicory. The problem is that my body reacted to the scent. Whoever this is, they’re also my scent match. I fucking have a stalker!”

I’m angry. All the panic and fear is turning into rage very quickly.

“I don’t know that they’re stalking you, but they obviously don’t have a problem with invading your space,” Phenex grunts. “Samael is right. You live here now. If you need something from your dorm room, he’ll get it for you, okay?”

“Is the lighting going to be a problem?” Samael asks, surprising me. “We’ll get blackout curtains for the bedroom.”

“Should we get curtains for the bed? I can order some,” Phenex muses. I feel as if they’re speaking some kind of secret language. They shouldn’t know that I like this stuff. “I don’t want you sleeping in my closet, Baby Girl, but I can mimic that kind of vibe.”

“Who… how do you know any of that?” I ask, wide eyed as my eyes bounce back and forth between them.

“Your room says a lot about your needs,” Samael says easily.

While that may be true, they both seem to be holding secrets.

“Why do I feel like it’s more than that?” I ask.

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