“Okay,” I murmured, turning to Creeper as he rounded the bed to stand beside me.
“So, this is what sex smells like,” he stated, and I groaned as I hung my head, while Bug and Jack chuckled. He really had no filter.
“Interesting,” he said softly as he bent over.
I gasped as he lifted my chin up and claimed my mouth in a tender kiss.
I melted into it as his hand cupped my cheek, my skin prickling at his warmth. Since when was he so willing to take charge like this? not that I was complaining. Too bad it was cut short as he pulled away.
“We will be back, Lily,” he said with a firm nod as he moved away.
“Be safe, please,” I said as I looked between the pair as they headed for the door.
“You too,” Jack tossed over his shoulder before he left the room with Creeper.
I sat with Bug in silence as I chewed my cheek nervously.
They’d handle this job easily. I knew I needn’t worry.
So why was I feeling so uneasy?
* * *
I headed to breakfast with Bug, wondering where Chumley had disappeared to. He was probably in the kitchen again or waiting for us at breakfast.
Bug was quiet as he held my hand, but it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence.
He’d been quite a gentleman, leaving my room so I could shower and get dressed before he met me out in the hall to walk me to breakfast.
We entered the dining area, and he led me over to the table where all the other students and teachers were already seated.
Chumley sat with two seats free beside him, and when I plopped down next to him, he informed me he’d made some of the breakfast on offer.
He rested a hand on my leg as I helped myself to a yoghurt and muesli cup and a piece of French toast while Bug served himself up some toast and jam.
“Hey, Lily, how’s that magic of yours going? That fire is wicked,” Hershel asked from across the table.
“It’s going good. I can control this one really easily, but it drains me quickly,” I admitted with a sigh. I hated how quickly it exhausted me, but Mr. Baron was positive that it would be like a muscle. The more I used it, the more I could do and the stronger it would get.
“Would’ve been cool to see how it fared on that monster. Bet you would’ve pulverized it,” he said with a grin before tossing back a red grape.
“Would’ve been nice. How’s your possession training going?” I asked.
I’d chatted with the guys over the past few months, although I tended to hang out with Hadley and Diane mainly.
“It’s going great, I possessed an eagle to test how far my reach can go. I’m able to possess up to nearly five miles away now. It grew weak once it passed that distance, so I had to release it from my hold. If I hang on too long, they could die,” he explained.
I was glad he released the bird rather than push it to its limits and kill it, it made me like him even more.
“Damn, I remember when you could only do a few yards. You’ve gotten a lot stronger,” Hadley pointed out, causing him to puff out his chest happily.
“What’s the weirdest thing you’ve possessed?” Diane asked as she leaned forward on the table.
“Um, damn, probably a snake. Possessing animals is weird. You’re within them while inside your own body, and you have to figure out how they move. Many come rather naturally, although tails and wings always feel funny at first. But the snake one was really weird for a few minutes while I got used to it,” he said after a thoughtful moment.
“I’ve done a ton of research online and in all the books, and I haven’t seen anything about golden-white hellfire. It must be super rare, probably because you’re the daughter of Asmodeus,” Dylan spoke up. Matthew sat beside him with his hand covering Dylan’s on the table.
I couldn’t help but smile as I noticed that.