My eyes bulged. I slid my hand across the right side of my face. It was solid, but when I touched the left nothing was there. Looking at my hand beside Prudence’s head, it was just a black mass.
“It’s okay,” she whispered.
I stared down at her rosy cheeks and bright smile. More joy filled my being. My soul wanted to burst out of my flesh and bones to claim her. There was nothing natural about my reaper form, yet she accepted it, anyway. “Prudence…”
Slipping her palm around the back of the head, Prudence pulled me down.
Someone knocked, and we froze.
“Prudence?” It was a woman—maybe one of her sisters. “Everything okay? I felt someone’s presence. I wanted to check before Payne barged in.”
I went rigid, hands twitching to break something at the mention of his name. Prudence patted my shoulder softly, and I glanced at her. Despite her bright grin, my nostrils flare. There was nothing amusing about Payne entering her room.
“Everything’s good, Kitty. It’s my soul reaper,” Prudence called out while watching me closely.
My?
Each time she said it, my chest swelled. There was nothing I wanted more than to be claimed by the one I called mine. But fuck Payne. I loathed that Reaper being near my mate.
“That’s what I thought, but it never hurts to be sure.” There was a pause on the other side of the door. “Hi, Prudence’s soul reaper. Try to go easy on her. Reapers have good ears.”
“Oh, God. Get the fuck out of the hallway and drink some milk.” Prudence groaned and covered her face.
“That’s a good idea. Can you materialize me some in the kitchen? Oh, and some of those sandwich cookies to dunk.” Kitty said. Her footfalls padded down the hall.
“Payne lives here?” I piped in.
“Don’t you start.” Prudence huffed. “He’s like a brother.”
“So that’s ayes?”
“It is. A lot of extra security has been put in place since the human festival,” Prudence muttered, pushing at my chest.
I didn’t move. “I’m not leaving.”
She gawked at me before bursting into a fit of giggles. “What about the gremlins?”
“What gremlins?”
“Come here.” She tried to pull me in for a hug.
“Up,” I said instead. “Let’s get some work done, then I’m taking you to your place.”
As soon as I moved, she leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek. I rubbed the spot as she jumped out of bed. She glanced down at her black nightie and then closed her eyes. After several seconds, she opened them and looked down again.
Sensing her confusion, I asked, “Do you want me to dress you?”
Holding the flimsy fabric up, she frowned. “What…”
“What is it?”
A tight black shirt and pants materialized, replacing the gown. Tapping her chin, she hummed. “That’s strange.”
“What is?”
“It took a second for my clothes to materialize.” She shrugged. “Come on.”
_____