Page 32 of Beauty's Monstrous Demons

“Give me a little time and I’ll explain it fully,” Phenex murmurs against my temple. “For now, let’s make my apartment look like somewhere you can call home. Don’t argue, please.”

Picking up Phenex’s laptop, Samael says, “You need more blankets. You left them all on the dresser.”

“What if he touched them?” I ask, shuddering. “I only went home because I have to go to work tonight. It’s my first night. Thank God I thought to pack what’s essentially my uniform.”

“You never mentioned where your work is,” Phenex says, his stare heavy as I glance up at him.

“Ah, I didn’t?” I ask, knowing neither of them will like it. Oh well, I’m not going to freeload off either of them. “It’s the only place that was hiring in town. I’m bartending at The Siren’s Lounge and begin tonight. I thought I was getting ghosted since I expected to start sooner. The manager texted to confirm I could start this morning.”

“The Siren’s…” Phenex looks hard at me, his swirling blue-green eyes getting cloudier by the second.

“I’ll go with her,” Samael says immediately, shrugging as I sigh. “At least you won’t see me, and I can scare the shit out of anyone who tries to pull anything inappropriate, Lorelei. Take the gift that this is. Phenex is right to be unhappy with this job.”

“I’ve worked shittier jobs than this,” I say, getting up to pick up my duffle bag. I really need to get moving.

“Maybe so, but you don’t need to do so unprotected,” Phenex grumbles. “We aren’t stalkers, we’re barnacles on your cute ass. If we could follow you everywhere, we would. Unfortunately, Ihave a university faculty event with the Dean that I can’t get out of.”

“That means I get to be your barnacle,” Samael says, smirking. “Go get ready, I’ll just be over here spending Phenex’s money.”

Chuckling, I shake my head as I turn and walk away to shower and change. I wasn’t originally planning to shower, but now that I don’t have to worry about avoiding my roommates, I’m going to use the opportunity to freshen up.

A scent check shows that my work clothes weren’t affected by whoever came into my room, and they just have a hint of cherries attached to them. That’ll dissipate with the descenting spray. I’m okay, or at least I will be soon, and I’ll be able to get to work and have a decent shift.

My eyes close happily as the shower flows over me. My hair is tied up and out of the way so I won’t need to fuss with it, and I can feel the fear and smell that comes with that, beginning to melt away. It’s a metallic, sour scent because I was covered in a cold sweat while I was freaking the fuck out.

Scrubbing away the fear feels good, and the knowledge that I won’t need to return to my godforsaken bedroom at the dorms is even better. Fuck, what were they thinking putting me with all male monsters?

Phenex told me he took it upon himself to call the head of housing to ask about my placement, and the reality of things is that there was nowhere else to put me. I suppose I should simply be grateful the university accepted me at all, or I would never have met Phenex and Samael.

The thought puts me in a reflective mood, and I finish my shower soon after. Ten minutes later, I’m dressed and ready for work. I’m wearing a low cut dark long sleeved blue cropped shirt, a pair of leather pants, and my trusty combat boots. My makeup is on point, my hair properly scrunched.

So I’m unsurprised when my scent matches salivate as I walk back into the living room. Damn, maybe I should put a little more care into my appearance.

“Did you spray your descenting spray yet?” Samael asks, wide-eyed. “Please say no or I’m going to lose it. All I can smell is cherries right now.”

“It’s still in my backpack,” I say with a smirk. I’ve begun to bring a small atomizer with me at all times in case I need to quickly reapply during the day. It’s given me the ability to stay confident that my scent is remaining under wraps, even while Phenex eye fucks me in his class.

Nodding, Samael digs through the front pocket of the bag to find it before thoroughly dousing me with the spray.

“Okay, my shift runs until two in the morning,” I say as I pull out a small messenger bag and load it with my keys, wallet, atomizer, and cell phone. The weather has gotten significantly cooler, so I throw a black jacket over it all.

“I’ll be up,” Phenex murmurs, coming over to kiss me gently. I can tell he’s trying not to rile me up so my descenting spray will make it through my shift. “That’s a really long night, beautiful.”

“I know,” I sigh. “I’m working three nights a week, but it’ll help me buy what I need throughout the semester.”

There’s a heavy pause in the air because I’ve never made it longer than that before at a job or higher education institution. I’ve always been forced to move by the clawing need to find my scent matches.

“Something tells me you’re done running, Lorelei,” he says, as if he can read my mind. “Have a good first day at work.”

Even though he may not approve of my place of work, he’s not arguing with me about it. Gracing him with a wide smile, I walk out of the apartment with Samael to head toward my car.

“I like when you’re happy,” Samael murmurs as we walk together. I’m parked halfway across campus still since I’ve been bouncing between my dorm room and Phenex’s apartment.

If I’m staying full time with Phenex, then I’m going to need to find a closer parking lot for students that allows overnight parking.

“I feel like my emotions have been all over the place in a very short period of time,” I say. “I can’t explain how helpless I felt when I saw all of my things moved around. Why did you decide to come by?”

“You didn’t answer your phone,” he states. “I decided to come over and explore the reason for it. Your safety is paramount to Phenex and I. We're never going to stop worrying about you.”

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