Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 134706 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134706 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 674(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
“Meeeooowww.”
“What?” I whisper angrily as I sit up in a rush. “What the fuck do you want, Muff Cat?”
Purr, purr, purr. The cat jumps on top of me, and I wince. It crawls onto my lap and sits there.
“What?” I snap.
The cat looks up at me.
“There aren’t a thousand other places to sit in this house? You have to fucking sit on me?”
“Meow.”
“Shut the fuck up.” I push it off me and lie back down and turn my back to it.
“Meow.”
I close my eyes tight, and I feel something hitting my face. I open my eyes to see the cat tapping me with its paw. “Are you serious?” I whisper. “Fuck off, Muff Cat.”
“Meow.”
Oh hell, the wizard is probably sleeping pretty at camp. My eyes snap open as I have a realization.
His bed is empty.
Yes, I’ll sneak up there and sleep in his bed. Great idea. I gather my blankets and pillows and make my way upstairs and creep down the hall with the flashlight on my phone.
Must be this room, the only one with the door open.
I shine my torch in, and an empty single bed comes into view. Perfect.
I close the door and climb into bed. It’s comfortable and warm. I find myself instantly relaxing and slowly drifting off to sleep.
I hear a scratch at the door. “Meow.”
I put my pillow over my head. “Shut. Up.”
This is unbearable.
I roll over and inhale deeply. Finally I’m relaxed.
Sleep is a wonderful thing. It’s morning, but I don’t care. I’m too exhausted.
I think I got two hours at the most.
I snuggle back in, and I get a strange feeling that someone’s watching me.
I open one eye. The wizard is standing over me; the look on his face is murderous.
“What the hell are you doing in my bed?” he growls.
Chapter 14
I sit up with a start and flinch. “What are you doing here?” I snap.
“This is my room,” he barks.
I lie back down and pull the blankets over myself. “Well, I’m sleeping here. Get out.”
“Why, you—”
I sit up like the devil himself. “Listen, kid,” I whisper through gritted teeth. “I’ve had a really bad fucking night, and if I get up now, I’m probably chucking you out the window.”
“Are you going to make me cry?” he whispers in a baby voice. “Mommy doesn’t like big scary men picking on me.”
I narrow my eyes. Why, you conniving little shit. “You cry to your mother, and see what happens to you,” I whisper angrily. “Don’t push me, kid.”
“Don’t push me,” he growls.
“Get out,” I whisper.
“This is my room. You get out.”
I glare at him. “I’m not moving.” Our eyes are locked, and then, as if having an epiphany, he smiles darkly, turns, and storms out.
I lie back down and stare at the ceiling for a moment . . . what was that evil smile for? What is he up to?
Claire.
I sit up in a rush and nearly run down the hall to her room. The door is shut, and I put my ear to it and listen.
Is he in there?
I swear, if he tells on me . . . he’s dead meat.
I can’t hear anything. I look left, and I look right. Nobody’s around. I slowly open the door, and I find Claire fast asleep. I slip in and close the door behind me and flick the lock.
I creep toward the bed. Claire is sleeping on her back, her hands above her head. I find myself smiling as I watch her. She’s like an angel.
She’s so beautiful.
I look around the room. Her presence is so strong in here. God . . . I just want to take her in my arms and kiss her.
But I can’t . . . can I?
I raise an eyebrow as I watch her.
Maybe?
I slink into her bed and lie on my side, facing her. I watch how her lips part as she inhales. Her dark hair is messed up, and her eyelashes flutter. My eyes drop lower, down over her neck, her perfect décolletage . . . down lower to her floral nightdress and the tiny patch of white skin that disappears beneath it.
I’ve never known a woman as beautiful as she is.
She’s perfect—everything about her is perfect.
Her eyes flutter open, and she frowns at me, as if trying to focus.
“Hey,” I whisper. I pick up her hand, and I kiss her fingertips. She watches me in some kind of dazed state. “How did you sleep?”
“Tris.” She frowns.
I smile. She’s back; my soft girl is back. “Yes, baby, I’m here.” I lean closer to her.
I hear a bang, bang, bang on the door. “What are you doing in there?” the wizard screams through the door.
She jerks back from me and seemingly comes to her senses. “Oh my God.” She looks around with wide eyes. “What are you doing?” she stammers.