Page 42 of Finn's Solace

Grinning, I jumped to my feet and hurried over to him. "Let's find out, though I have high hopes for him."

Sixteen

Finn

After our shower together, Levi asked me to spend the night, and I agreed. Tonight felt precious, and I didn't think I could be away from Levi. My basilisk side seemed to be in agreement with me for once. I was used to having to tamp him down or shut him up because we were so different, but when it came to Levi, we seemed to be on the same page. I just couldn't figure out if it was because my basilisk side calmed down around Levi, or if I was crazier.

I pulled on the t-shirt Levi had given me earlier, then texted Dad I wouldn't be home tonight. Putting my phone on silent, I set it on the nightstand before he could reply. Knowing Dad, he would've said something that would embarrass me.

"Okay?" Levi asked, and I turned to him with a smile, then snuggled closer until there was barely any space between us.

"I'm better than okay," I assured him, and he smiled, then leaned back to turn off the lights before wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me close.

Sighing softly, I slid my arm around his middle and tucked my head under his chin. My legs hung off the bed in that position, but I didn't mind. I liked being tucked in against him. It made me feel safe. I was pretty sure I'd slept like this with him before, back when he'd been the taller one.

"Good night, Gin," Levi murmured, and I pulled back to smile at him.

"You haven't called me that since the day at the grocery store."

"We've been getting to know each other all over, and I wasn't sure I could."

"I like it," I assured him, and he gave me a relieved smile. I wasn't sure why he'd worried I wouldn't be okay with it, but it was sweet. He was the only one who'd ever given me a nickname—my name was short enough no one felt the need to find an alternate—and I would've loved it simply because of that.

"All right, then, Gin. We should sleep. Tomorrow, we can have breakfast in bed, and then spend the day together, if you're up for it. We can invite Penny, Amelia, and the twins, too and just hang out."

"That sounds wonderful," I said, and he gave me a squeeze, then tucked my head back under his chin. His fingers siftedthrough my hair in a calming motion, and I found my eyes sliding shut.

I blinked my eyes open, unsure how long I'd been asleep. Sitting upright, I glanced down at Levi, who was out like a light. Smiling down at him, I went to lay back down, then frowned as I noticed how hard the surface under us was. What the hell?

I looked around, but it was too dark to see much. What was wrong with my eyesight? I should be able to see better than this.

Turning back to Levi, I placed a hand on his arm, and his eyes snapped open, startling the crap out of me.

"Levi?" I whispered, and his eyes met mine. He blinked, and then his skin started turning gray. What? No, no, no...this couldn't be happening.

A second later, he was stone, and I jerked my hand away, shaking my head repeatedly. He'd said he could change back. Why wasn't he?

I watched, waiting for him to use his earth magic to become skin and bones again, but there was nothing. Nothing until...I sucked in a breath as two cracks appeared on his wrists, then started spilling dark liquid all over the blanket we lay on. I couldn't tell what color the liquid was, but the stench of blood was unmistakable.

"No, no, no," I mumbled as I scrambled to cover his wrists with the blankets, to somehow stop the bleeding. But just asI got a grip on his wrists, two new cracks appeared on his forearms and started spilling blood.

Why was this happening? We were supposed to be safe. This wasn't right. This wasn't real. It couldn't be.

The blood stopped, and I exhaled loudly. Was it done? Were we safe?

Levi's body shuddered, and my breath caught in my chest as I waited for him to change. Instead, he shuddered harder, and then broke apart into a million little rocks.

No!

I shot up in bed, my heart thundering in my chest as my ears rang. I could hear growls, and low murmurs. They were coming—they were coming for us!

Turning around, I spotted Levi, fast asleep. He was completely vulnerable. I had to get us to safety, somewhere they wouldn't get us.

"Levi!" I hissed, shaking his arm, and he grumbled unintelligibly. I covered his mouth before he could say anything and alert them to our presence. "Shhh! They'll hear you."

Levi's eyes opened, and his brows furrowed as he peered at me. "Finn?" he mumbled through my hand, and I shook my head as I slid off the bed, then grabbed his hand and pulled him toward me.

"Come on. We have to hide."

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