Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

B eeping. That's what drags me out of oblivion and lets me know my body isn't happy with me. I'm really getting tired of waking up in new places and not knowing how I got here. It's happening way too often these days.

Wait, what day is it?

That beeping doesn't stop.

I peel open my eyes and blink blearily at my surroundings. There are gray cabinets across from where I'm lying with a stainless steel sink to one side. The smell of citrus antiseptic is subtle, but it makes my nose itch.

It's dim here, just a single light over the sink. Though the blinds are drawn, early morning light filters around the edges. How long have I been out?

I scan the room for that damn beeping and find a monitor by my left shoulder. Owlishly, I blink at the hodge podge of numbers and lines on the screen. And the fact that I can see the information perfectly, what does it mean?

Why isn't everything blurry?

"One of the perks I mentioned," a deep voice says softly.

I jerk in surprise and immediately hiss in pain. Pretty certain my toes are the only things that aren't hurting right now.

In a blur, Asenath is at my side, brows pinching in concern. "I swear if you offer to kiss anything to make it better, I'm taking this needle in my arm and shoving it somewhere uncomfortable for you," I grumble.

He arches a silver eyebrow, a faint smile on his lips. "Threatening a lust demon with penetration of any kind is typically considered foreplay."

I roll my eyes, shifting to get into a more comfortable position. It hurt like hell, but I'm expecting it so I only let out a soft, painful grunt in the process. Asenath reaches out to me and I instinctively flinch, but all he does is fluff my pillows a bit so that my neck doesn't get a crick in it.

Odd. Very odd. I thought demons were more prone to ripping the pillows to ribbons and using the remains to kill their victims as slow as possible.

I blink at Asenath's arm. And then blink again. "Why are you sparkly? You weren't sparkly in the tunnel. Were you?"

Asenath chuckles, before turning to look behind him. I follow his gaze and see a still form on a small recliner next to my bed. Ben is passed out, snoring softly. My heart speeds up, the monitor tattling on me as the beeping increases, but I don't care. He's here and that makes my chest tighten and my stomach get that fluttery feeling.

"As to your question, it's because I'm still shielding myself within your magic."

"So, like an invisibility cloak, but with sparkles? How very . . . Twilight of you." I don't get to say more as a quiet knock sounds on the door before a nurse opens it and flits in.

Literally. Her tiny body can't be more than two feet tall, and her colorful wings are nearly invisible as she darts to the monitors, twittering something in her own language as she jots down information on her notepad.

If a sprite is my nurse that means I have to be in the medical wing of the Academy. Her dark blue hair floats around her face, accentuating the pale blue of her skin tone. After she finishes her notes, she flits over to me and lands softly on the handrail of the bed, peering at me with warm blue-gray eyes.

"I'm so happy to see that you are awake," she trills softly. She asks me a series of questions, jotting down my answers; although every now and then she glances around the room with an intent expression. I have to keep myself from looking over at the very naked Asenath, who is standing silently in the far corner, tail twitching impatiently.

"I'll let the doctor know you're awake and let a healer know you need their assistance with the pain. If you need anything just push that call button and I'll fly right in." I chuckle at her pun as she leaves the room, letting my head fall back onto the pillow as soon as the door shuts softly.

Ben jerks at the sound, mumbling something before rolling onto his side and dragging a thin hospital blanket over his shoulders. Once it's apparent he is still asleep, Asenath approaches me silently, I avert my eyes from his very large member hanging between his legs. I guess it's a plus that he's not aroused. That would be majorly awkward.

"If we are going to have any sort of conversation, you need to cover up," I grouse.

"I will never understand you humans and your discomfort of nudity," Asenath replies, grabbing a sheet from a cabinet and wrapping it securely around his waist.

"Has more to do with the fact your dick has tentacles," I point out. I'm also not going to have any sort of conversation lying flat on my back. I glance around for a way to lift the head of the bed but to no avail.

With a sigh of exasperation, Asenath reaches above my head and does something. The next thing I know I'm sitting up at an angle, the sheet falling down around my waist. With a squeak, I grab for the it, almost desperate to cover my bare chest with the thin material, but the IV in my arm sends a bolt of pain up to my shoulder and I freeze.

Asenath's hand shoots out, gently returning my arm to my side. Even still my arm throbs from the sudden movement. Fluidly, he crouches beside my bed, crimson eyes running up my bare torso and I blush. I can feel the heat in my cheeks and I have to look away from him.

I don't know why the demon is staring. I don't work out and I'm definitely not bulging with muscles. In fact, I have absolutely no muscle definition in my abs at all, just a pooch from too many noodles, too much gaming, and not nearly enough exercise.

I'm a nerd. Don't judge me.

"There is nothing wrong with your body, so I do not understand why you wish to hide it from me," Asenath murmurs, one hand softly trailing up my exposed skin to stop over the center of my chest. I take a shuddering breath, the pain forgotten as he rubs his thumb over one nipple. It hardens beneath his touch and I shiver, not able to look away from him.

This close, I can see that his eyes aren't just red, but rather a subtle mix of maroon and deep orange too. Like some neon version of fire.

"Unfortunately, this is a bit concerning," he sighs, tapping my chest. The sudden shift snaps me out of whatever dick deficient trance I'm in and I wrinkle my brow in confusion. Glancing at my chest I'm met with a fancy black sigil standing out starkly against my blindingly white skin.

Yes, my nerd status includes lack of sunlight. And chest hair, I might add. An embarrassment for me throughout high school and my first year of college.

But that sigil has a coil of fear twisting in my gut. "What the hell is that?" I gasp out, smacking my chest as if I can slap off the sigil.

"Proof of our incomplete binding. If it remains incomplete. . . ."

"What happens?" I hiss out, staring into his eyes.

He regards me quietly, seemingly calm despite my growing apprehension. "The magic forces the completion and if unable to do so, annihilates those involved."

My stomach plummets at his words and it feels like my heart stops. Though, from the sound of the monitor alarms going off by my head, it might have done just that.

"What the hell am I supposed to tell the doctors?"

Asenath gives me a patient look. "The binding sigil is visible only to those who are involved. And a regular human will not be able to see it either way." My shoulders relax at that. Thank the gods. I don't even want to think about how awkward it will be to have to explain why I suddenly have a sigil on my chest.

With a snort, Ben sits up, eyes wide at the blaring alarm. I see him from my peripheral vision, but my focus is on Asenath. "How exactly do we complete it?"

He gives me a scornful lift of his lips. "My powers reside with lust and sex." With that, he drifts away from me, making room for Ben as my best friend trips over the blanket to get to my side.

"Issac! Are you okay?" Ben asks, leaning close to me and trying to get me to focus on him. But I can't. I can only focus on the demon in the corner. His implication very clear, and absolutely terrifying.

In order to complete this binding and not get annihilated, I'm going to have to have sex with Asenath.

Fuck my life.

Ben grabs my shoulders and shakes me at about the same time the door to the room thuds open and a man in a white coat with a stethoscope over his shoulders comes barreling in, the sprite hovering beside him.

I look between all three of them, embarrassment burning my cheeks. I'm going to have to lie through my teeth about his, and Ben knows me well enough to know when I'm lying. This will get awkward.

All three of them start talking at once — the doctor shining a light into my eyes, the sprite checking the monitors and Ben only inches from my face demanding to know if I am ok. And on top of all that, Asenath in the background, his shoulders and jaw tense as the others continue to crowd me.

Space.

I need space or I'm going to have a freak out.

Or Asenath will take matters into his own giant hands. Going by the glowering look on his face, that won't end well for anyone.

I throw up my hands, letting out a sigh when they all take a step away. At least the doctors and nurse do. Ben stays at my side, his fingers wrapping around mine.

"I'm fine, I am. I just. . . ." I take a deep breath, squeezing Ben's hand. "How long was I out?"

"Most of the night," the doctor replies as he puts his little flashlight back into his pocket. "There were some concerns, enough that the police have been alerted. We gave you IV fluids and some meds for pain. The damage that was done should heal without any issues so long as you apply an ointment to the tears. If you want to speak with someone, I can have a counselor come see you."

Ben's hand tenses and he looks between me and the doctor in confusion. I shake my head at him. The last thing I want right now is to tell him what happened.

"I just want to go to my room. Is that possible?"

"You just went tachycardic and were temporarily unresponsive. You should stay here for observation," the doctor points out.

"It was a flashback," I say quickly. "Please, I'll have Ben with me. I won't be alone." Well, I won't be alone no matter what, but they don't need to know that. I peek quickly over at Asenath, my pulse pounding when he meets my gaze knowingly.

The doctor makes a sound of disagreement and I realize he's staring between me and the monitor with an expectant look. "I'm nervous around doctors," I say weakly.

Ben gives me a look that says all too clearly that he knows that's bullshit.

"I'll bring it up with the dean and if she says it's okay, then I can have you discharged, but not a second sooner," the doc huffs out.

"Do you want to talk about what happened?" Ben asks softly once the doctor has gone. I look down at our joined hands, his skin only a few shades darker than mine. Finally, I bring myself to look up at him, and the compassion I see in his eyes makes my chest tighten all over again.

My tongue feels heavy and I swallow convulsively. He's my best friend, and I know I need to tell him, but fuck, the shame is like a lead weight in my stomach. "Not right now. Please," I beg, hoping he won't push.

"Okay. But scoot over. I'm getting into bed with you."

My attention jerk to where Asenath is still silently standing, head tilting ever so slightly as Ben lowers the rails on his side and slowly climbs in beside me. I scoot over, rolling onto my side and making sure my arm with the IV in it doesn't jostle around too much.

I'm hyperaware of my body as Ben shifts behind me, nestling himself against my back, one arm draping over my waist. Ben is my best friend, but this doesn't feel like best friend territory. This feels like something more.

"Try and get some more sleep," Ben murmurs and I swear he's close enough that I can feel his lips moving against the skin of my back. My heart pounds against my chest, the beep, beep, beep of the monitor letting everyone know what being in the same bed as Ben is doing to me.

Surprisingly, exhaustion sweeps over me again, despite only being awake for a short time and my eyelids drop.