Page 102 of Satanic Shadow
He stays on the bed but gestures for me to come closer, and I listen. My skin prickles when he sits at the edge of the mattress, dragging me between his parted legs by gripping my hips. “It would only be possible to slow it down or weaken it through a release of energy.” He pinches my fingertip, and I flinch. “Since you’re human, that’s not possible.”
He sucks his bottom lip into his mouth, sliding his finger against my palm and sending waves of his own energy through me.
“Can you feel that?” he asks, pushing more energy into my palm, and I nod. It’s tingly, and the pulse ricochets off each nerve and settles in my chest. “Keep your gloves on regardless of the state of your hands. I’ll make new ones for you.” He releases my hand, but neither of us moves. His eyes are a beautiful, dazzling shade of green as he keeps his gaze on me. “Do you feel okay?”
“Yeah.” I nod, slowly stepping away. “You should go before your inspection. You don’t need to siphon right now. I’ll see you tonight?”
Dane doesn’t respond right away. If anything, he seems to want to stay a little longer, but it’s far too dangerous. If he’s caught, this is done. Whatever this is. A friendship? A student–student bond over human relations? Enemies who like touching each other? I think, even after the way he treated me to begin with, I’d happily be his friend.
Dane blows out a breath and stands. “No offense, little mortal, but I don’t want to be your friend.”
I refuse to show how much that hurts me. “Good.”
“Good,” he counters. “I don’t know of many friends who are tasked to fuck each other, let alone what we have to do for task ten.”
I nod and look to the side. “It’s nearly the end of day.”
“I’ll be back around eleven,” he says, flattening my duvet, which was creased from him lying on it.
Before he can leave, I step towards him. “Thank you for what you did today. He was being a jerk, and I appreciate your help.”
Dane looks confused. “I’ve no idea what the fuck you’re talking about,” he says then disappears, leaving me in silence.
I slowly blink a few times, staring at the spot he was in.
If he didn’t do it, then who did?
30
Acrack in the atmosphere at half past eleven has me spinning on my heels in fright, nearly dropping my hairbrush.
“Good evening, mortal,” Dane drawls, pulling lint from his cuff and flattening out his sleeves, making sure his sleeve garters at his biceps are perfectly in place. He regards me with a grimace. “Forever in your sleep clothes, aren’t you?”
“It’s nearly bedtime.” I place a hand on my hip. “Why are you dressed up?”
Dane looks down at his waistcoat before pushing his hands slowly into his pockets. “Have I been so lazy that you seem to think this is medressed up?”
“You’ve been wearing human clothes the last two days. I guess I was getting used to an immortal creature in cotton shorts and white tops.” Then I pause. “How do you get clothes when you’re in the dungeons?”
“One of my—”
“Powers. Yes, forget I asked.”
He shakes his head. “We have to practice. We’ve missed three classes so far, and I refuse to dance with you at the ball if you fall over my feet. Plus, you’re a terrible dancer.”
I gape at him. “And how, pray tell, do you plan on attending? Your trial—formurder—is in a few days, and the ball is in two weeks. Poppy will find me another date.”
“His name is Silas, and all he’ll want to do is fuck you, which is not happening. Forget it.”
I stifle a laugh. “Are you jealous, Dane Dalton?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Then I’m going with someone else. You’re not going to see the light of day for a long time, according to the laws in this academy.” I throw my hands out. “I need to go to the ball, Dane. I don’t have a choice.”
“Nothing will come of my trial,” he says, inspecting my room like he hasn’t spent the last nine days visiting it. “Do you have something that plays music? Or shall I conjure a piano?”
Of course he changes the subject. “Depends. Can you play?”
