Page 37 of Tethered Souls

Grabbing the shower head off the railing like a zombie, I lower it to my vagina. The sudden burn of a cut causes me to jump, waking me up just a little bit more. I wince as I wash, taking care of whatever little tears Varius’ cock has caused. Or perhaps it was his knife.

The next time I see Dayne, I owe him a punch to the face. “Useless fucking friend,” I mutter as I finish cleaning it, then the rest of me, lathering soap across my body.

“And who the hel sticks aknifeup a vagina? Tell me I’ve only ever seen porn without telling…” I trail off, my cheeks hotter than the spray hitting them. Varius is a virgin.Wasa virgin. Just like me.

“Don’t be daff,” I mutter as I rinse the soap off my body, pushing aside the budding desire to make a connection that isn’t there just because we shared a moment.

Monsters can still be virgins, I tell myself.In fact, they all start off as virgins.Varius opening up to me means nothing. Him being kind enough to help me get the knife out means nothing. Because he put it there.

He dragged me into this situation.

Told me my only worth is in my womb.

That I can’t speak unless spoken to.

So any kindness he shows –

No, any kindness Itrick myself into believing he showsis just stupid.

I am a womb.

Nothing more; he made that clear.

Scowling, I wrench the shower off. Then sigh. Or is it more stupid of me to keep seeing him as a monster?

After all, I cannot change the fact we are engaged, that I am forced to spend the rest of my life with him. Shadows do not divorce, so would it not be wiser to let myself believe he is capable of kindness so I’m not so fucking miserable all the time?

I groan. “No. No, it’s way too early to be having this kind of debate without coffee.”

Stepping out of the glass cubicle, I grab the towel off the heated railing and pat myself down. Throwing on a clean pair of sweatpants and a black tank, I leave my room and head down the hall. The smell of roasting beans fills my lungs, and I inhale deeply as I step into the kitchen. Sau, Varius’ mother, sits at the large wooden table, alone but with a cup of coffee in her hands.

I look around to see if there’s a coffee pot half-full, but my eyes snag on the curved zebrano counter that splits the kitchen in half. The table Sau’s at is in front, the cooking area behind it. Power hums from it, deep and rich, and the hairs on my nape rise.

In old times, a witch’s kitchen doubled as their spellroom to make potions and brews. Now, they’re more commonly located in attics or basements or spare bedrooms, but as I stare at the magic shifting under the stripes and the knots of the wooden counter, I know this kitchen has seen some shit. Perhaps even a human sacrifice given the darkness clinging to its surface. I can practically see a naked woman laying on the counter, her eyes empty as well-dressed men shove forks inside her cracked open chest. Lovely.

“Shall we get started?” Sau asks.

And it takes me a moment to realize she doesn’t mean shall we join the men in cannibalism. Ripping my eyes – and imagination away from the counter, I say, “I know the shops aren’t open yet, but I’m A-okay with breaking and entering to steal some perfectly made store-stolen waffles.”

She looks at me in sympathy.

“Alternatively, I can make a mean bowl of cereal,” I say hopefully.

“He is lactose sensitive.”

Great. I now know what to put in his food. Though if he’s still capable of eating waffles, maybe I should just jump straight to using poison.

Pushing such dangerous thoughts down before the joy of his demise dances in my eyes, I yawn. “I need coffee.”

She rises and crosses behind the counter. I follow her to the post of fresh brew.

“The cups are here.” She points to a cupboard hanging on the wall beside the counter, then waits expectantly. I open it to find it full of mugs, glasses, and plates. There’s also a container of small spoons for stirring. I reach for a random cup, then stop, my eyes widening. They flick left and right, opening even further. “Holy shit. There’s a row of dicks.”Photographeddicks wrapped around custom-printed mugs.

“You can’t drink out of those,” she says as if I just said something about the weather. “Pick one further back.”

Clearing my throat, I try really hard not to look at each cup to try to figure out whose dick is whose. Although the only brother I’ve met so far is Khalid, having been dropped off when the house was dark and shown straight to my room by his mom, I know there are six others. And the twins are known forvibratingtheir cocks. A lot of other men with telekinesis have tried to copy, but concentrating on magic that well while balls deep in someone? Turns out, it’sreallyhard.

Hard.