39. The Days Are Different

The Days Are Different

T he screech of my alarm jolts me awake like it's trying to summon the dead, but this time, I'm not alone. It's not even 7 a.m., and I already want to hex something. Maybe the alarm. Definitely the alarm. I reach for it, but before I can get my hands on it, Derek swats it off the nightstand with a sleepy grunt.

"You're welcome," he mutters into the pillow, his arm still draped lazily over my waist.

I chuckle softly, nestled between two warm bodies—Derek on one side, Sebastian on the other. Apparently, getting up was never going to be easy, but now it's a little more… complicated. Not that I'm complaining.

As much as I'd love to snooze back into oblivion, I've got things to do. Spells to perfect. And now, two mates to drag along with me. Fun.

Carefully, I untangle myself from the human (and non-human) pretzel I'm in, trying not to disturb the peace. My feet hit the creaky hardwood floor of my dorm room— our dorm room now, sort of—and I stretch, feeling the familiar sense of chaos wash over me.

This room still screams "I'm special," courtesy of Mom and Dad's generous donation to the school. The Book Fort, as I like to call it, hasn't changed much, except now I have to navigate around even more clutter. Towers of grimoires and spell manuals loom like bookish mountains, threatening to avalanche at any moment. There are herbs spilling out of jars, crystals littering every surface, and candles tucked into every nook and cranny. It's chaotic, it's magical, and it's home.

Sebastian stirs behind me, his hand brushing my back as he shifts. "You really think you're getting out of bed without saying good morning?" His voice is a low, sleepy murmur, but there's that familiar teasing edge.

"I thought I'd let you two sleep," I say, throwing him a grin over my shoulder. "You both look so cute when you're not bickering."

Derek makes a sound halfway between a snore and a laugh. "We don't bicker. We… discuss."

"Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night," I mutter as I walk to the closet.

I throw open the doors, scanning for something that screams badass witch but still works for a day of classes. After a minute or two of rummaging, I pull out my usual—something black, something vintage, and of course, my signature red stockings.

"Red again, huh?" Derek's voice is clearer now, more awake. "You know, I think you could pull off a different color every now and then."

I smirk, giving him a quick once-over. "And I think you could pull off being quiet in the mornings, but here we are."

Sebastian chuckles as he finally sits up, stretching lazily. "Don't mess with her fashion, Derek. She's got a brand to maintain."

I roll my eyes, slipping on my outfit. "Exactly. Can't be a badass witch without red stockings. It's a rule. I'm sure of it."

I glance at myself in the mirror, giving my reflection a once-over. Messy, cute, a little witchy, and 100% me. Perfect.

Just as I'm about to head out, I feel a tug on my sleeve. I turn to see Derek standing behind me, that mischievous grin on his face. "You're not leaving without breakfast, are you?"

"Depends. Are you two coming with me, or are you planning to sleep through the rest of the day?"

Sebastian smirks, pulling on his shirt. "I'm coming, but only because you make the mornings slightly more tolerable."

I grin. "I'll take it."

As we head out, Derek stretches, his arms flexing as he pulls a shirt over his head, making a playful comment about how he's starting to miss his peaceful mornings before I became a part of them. I roll my eyes.

"Sure, like you'd go back to your life before me," I say, giving him a playful shove as we walk down the hallway together.

"Not a chance," Derek responds with a smirk, wrapping an arm around my shoulders as we head toward the cafeteria. "You keep things... interesting."

"Interesting? Please," I scoff. "I'm the best thing that ever happened to you."

Sebastian chuckles beside me. "She's not wrong." His phone buzzes in his back pocket and he checks it with a frown.

"What's wrong?" I ask, my curiosity piqued.

Sebastian shakes his head, a little too quickly. "It's nothing to worry about."

I raise an eyebrow, not convinced. "You know that's exactly what people say when it is something to worry about, right?" I mock.

He exhales slowly, his eyes meeting mine. "It's my mother."

"And...?" He hesitates, glancing at Derek, who's now looking at him with concern as well.

Finally, Sebastian sighs. "She wants me to move back home after graduation."