Page 56 of Beauty's Monstrous Demons

“I have lots of ways to entertain myself,” she says. “Spill, or I’ll do that thing you don’t like.”

Shuddering, he shakes his head. Barking out a laugh, I wonder what she means. It would almost be worth him spanking her pretty little ass for it.

It just means I’ll have to kiss it better.

CHAPTER 13

One week later

LORELEI

Listening to Phenex teach about the history of omegas and monsters in class today and how they were wiped off the earth by a sickness no one could figure out the cure to, I bite my lip as I shift worriedly. It was a bold move for my parents to create me from a lab and steal the DNA from ancient times.

It explains why I enjoy science though, and makes my mind race as I think about the implications of it. Phenex gave me my own private lesson about this a week ago, but now I have time to really think about it all as he speaks.

Humans and monsters haven’t been on the best of terms over the years, constantly fighting despite at times being the other’s perfect match. I’m discomfited with the idea that omegas lived secretly with monsters, as if they were a concealed affair. I don’t want to hide forever.

It’s something I’m currently struggling with as I listen to Phenex. He’s very passionate about this topic, and I can understand why.

“There were monsters who didn’t survive losing their fated mate, and they also died alongside their omega,” he explains. “Think of the epidemic and the loss that occurred on both sides. Family members would go visit their homes to check on their loved ones, and there would be several deaths.”

“Doesn’t a love that strong make you weak?” a student asks. “To be bound so tightly that you literally die of a broken heart.”

“You can have a broken heart and be dead inside, but still survive it,” Phenex counters. Thinking of Alecto, I wince in sympathy. “Would you rather have everything around you feel broken because you’re half a person? The bond between an omega and her or his alpha was said to be so strong that they could speak to each other in their minds and knew when the other was suffering.”

Raising my hand, I frown. “Does that mean that as their omega was dying, they felt all of it?”

I’m horrified by the thought, my eyes threatening to water.

Is this what Phenex did by biting me? God, it’s a death sentence.

If I don’t find and bond to all of my scent matches, does that mean he’ll fall asleep for a hundred years as well?

I check out of the rest of what Phenex says until the end of class, numbly packing up my things. As I’m walking down the stairs, I stumble as a voice breaks through my fog. Only it's coming from within my mind.

“I’ll always want to be as close to you as possible, no matter the cost,”Phenex says.

My head swings to the left to find him smiling smugly as he discusses something with a student.

“As soon as you’re no longer my student, I plan to kiss the fuck out of you as often and as publically as possible,”he adds.

Hiding a smile, I nod as I finish walking down the stairs and out of the classroom. A few days ago, my favorite boots disappeared and in its stead were a brand new pair. I was upset until I saw the note that was attached to the laces.

I want to keep you for a long time, so I’m taking these to a cobbler to fix the bottoms of your boots. I refuse to allow you to break your neck with these death traps.

Love

-Samael

The gesture was incredibly sweet, and these boots feel as if I’m walking on clouds.

My next class is Favored Theatrical Plays. I have it once a week for ninety minutes, and I’m enjoying it more than I thought I would. It fulfills my literature requirement for my sophomore year as well.

My professor is also a riot. He’s dramatic, has a good sense of humor, and keeps me entertained for the entire class. The reading material isn’t boring either. I have a paper due at the end of the course that’ll count for a large majority of my grade as well as a midterm and a final.

Otherwise, it’s very straightforward.

“Did you eat yet?” a voice asks next to me, making me squeal with fright.

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