Page 19 of Forsaken Dream
Chapter Nine
Echo
Iwould be the first to admit that I was a coward.
After five days of half-naked, sweaty males prancing around my property, their muscles straining with the effort it took to fix everything that had been neglected for years, I became hot and bothered, my libido skyrocketing and clouding my judgment. So, I did the smartest thing I could think of.
I hid.
Hiding in the house, and mostly in my bedroom so I wouldn’t have to talk to them—or look at them—I was losing my mind. I wanted to scratch my eyes out so I didn’t have to see them, or be tempted to be close to them and touch them, or, worst of all, press my lips to theirs to see how they taste. What in fate’s name was happening to me? Casting my gaze down as if I found my feet the most fascinating thing in this realm, I got through my days at the market by concentrating on ignoring the heat of their bodies moving around me—and much too close for comfort—instead of selling stuff so I could keep my house. Well aware of the long, smoldering glances thrown my way, it was difficult to sleep as well. Every morning, the cover and sheets were twisted around me and drenched with sweat. Nothing could remove the growing ache inside me.
What in the worlds did I get myself into this time?
Creeping out from the bedroom and straining my ears for any sign of them, excitement coursed through me when nothing but silence greeted me. With a sigh, I rushed to make my tea—chamomile and mint to calm my nerves—before facing another day of torment. The whistle of the boiling water soothed my sleep-deprived soul, and while pouring it in my cup, I stared through the window as I dipped the tea bag in it. Something had to give. Each day I woke up with determination and was ready to tell them to take a hike, but each night I went to bed after telling them I’d see them all in the morning.This is unlike you, Echo.As if I needed an additional reminder of that little fact.
“You look like shit.” Not even Proto popping out of nowhere could startle me anymore. I was dead tired.
“Thanks, Sir Fartsalot,” I drawled back. “I feel like it, too.”
“We need to return home. You soundtoohuman.” His claws clicked across the wooden floors as he scuttered closer to tangle between my feet.
“There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, I kind of like it.” The first sip relaxed my shoulders, and I leaned more on the kitchen counter, practically draping myself over it.
“Well, I don’t like all the testosterone drenching the air around here. The stench it spreads is choking me.” The whine unmistakable in his tone, my familiar was rubbing himself all over my legs. My eyes narrowed at the creature. “I don’t like it here anymore. We need to leave. This realm is boring.”
“I fail to see when it became my job to keep you entertained, Proto.” Pushing him away with my foot, I moved to the table and lowered myself heavily in one of the chairs. “You are free to return any time you want. I’m staying right where I am, thank you very much.”
“You need to return.” Hissing menacingly, his red eyes glared at me.
Eyeing him for a long time, I wondered what his problem was and why all of a sudden he was homesick after all these years. Apart from the three males constantly moving around—and there was no way to miss them no matter which way either of us turned— everything else had been the same. Proto had never complained before. Actually, he had never voiced an opinion one way or another. Thank the fates they hadn’t seen him yet, and that wasn’t for lack of trying on his part. Because of him, I had kept my magic at the ready, glamouring him every time he popped into existence around them and forcing him to retreat to whatever place he visited when he wasn’t annoying me.
“I wonder if you don’t like them because you are an attention whore.” Despite how tired I felt, my smile grew when he bared his teeth at me. “I’ve asked you to scare Josh many times in the past, but you scoffed at me, never showing yourself to the human. Now I can’t stay alert enough to keep you hidden from the three of them. Why is that Proto?”
“I don’t like them.”
“Why?”
“I don’t need to have a reason, you stupid girl.” Snarling, he bristled. “Because I don’t, that’s why.”
I thought I heard a sound coming from the hallway and my heart skipped a beat, but after a moment and since the house stayed silent, I relaxed with a sigh.
“I think you are intimidated by them.” It was a bad idea to needle the creature, but I was cranky, so whatever.
“It isn’t me who is moaning their names in my sleep.” The jerk grinned so wide at my gasp that his head could’ve rotated around it.
“I do not moan their names.” All the blood was rushing to my face, because yes, yes I did do that, and I wasn’t proud one little bit.
“Moaning who’s name?” The timbred voice spoke from the hallway, and instinctively my wrist flicked, casting the glamour over a still-glaring Proto.
There will be hell to pay judging by the look he was giving me, but I forced him to disappear regardless of the consequences. Good thing too, because the next second Vaser stepped into the kitchen, his presence saturating the air of the small room with heat. I could feel the sweat beading around my hairline as my heartbeat picked up, drumming in my chest.
“What?” Squeaking like a scared mouse, I had to clear my throat so I didn’t embarrass myself more than I already had. His knowing look was very telling, but I wasn’t sure how much of the conversation he’d heard.
“Do you mind if I join you?” Not waiting for an answer, he was already lowering himself on the chair next to me, his knee brushing mine under the table.
My body came alive, every nerve ending lighting up like it was the Fourth of July. Goosebumps covered my bare arms, something that Vaser didn’t miss if the twitch of those lips was anything to go by. These males wanted to kill me, and I was sure of it at this point. My body working against me wasn’t helping, either although I was doing my best to ignore the urges that were driving me insane. Something was going on, I just refused to look at anything too closely.
“Make yourself at home.” Surprised that sand didn’t spill through my lips from how dry my tone was, I buried my face in my cup to hide the stupid blush from the demon. “None of you need my permission to do anything around here anyway,” I muttered grudgingly before taking a sip.
