Page 30 of Wicked Magik

My cheeks flushed with heat, and I turned my gaze elsewhere, desperately trying to avoid his eye holes. There was no denying the growing connection between us, but it felt like we were teetering on the edge of something forbidden. He wasn't just from another world—he was a species I couldn't even identify. How could I possibly justify this? And yet, the pull between us was undeniable, leaving me torn between desire and the fact we were both way too different.

Oryx hung his head. “I also have night terrors, so my Lord says.”

I turned back to him, my brows raised high above my head. The monster has night terrors? Shouldn’t he be the one invading everyone’s dreams?

“I have dreams that terrify me, they are so bad I have to chain myself to the wall.”

Ah, that was why there were chains.

Was it weird that I was happier to know I was the only prisoner he's had.

I’m mental. Something is wrong with me.

And why was I thinking about this now, when my monster was terrified of his dreams?

I shifted closer to him, feeling the soft fabric under me, and tentatively wrapped my arms around his neck. His shoulders tensed and he jolted slightly, clearly caught off guard, as I usually leave it to him to initiate a lot of our touches.

He immediately pulled me onto his lap and held me close. “I can’t wake from the terror. My Lord can’t wake me either. I thrash and ruin the room. I destroy things. The chains keep me within my bed. I didn’t want to sleep while you are here, I don’t want to hurt you.”

Be still my heart.

“Oryx, you must sleep, it isn’t good for your vessel, your body, to go without. Has it been three days? Almost four? You are going to get sick!”

“I don’t want to hurt you. You are weak. Besides, monsters don't get sick.”

Wow, thanks for calling me weak.

I rolled my eyes. “You will be the first if you don’t sleep. I have an idea. You are going to sleep. You will be chained, I will stay awake. I will go to the other side of the room if you get bad.”

Oryx sat up abruptly, his body went wild, and he shook his head vehemently. "No, you will leave! You can’t leave!" His voice was a blend of desperation and command, echoing through the space. The hair on his arms and back bristled like a threatened animal, standing straight up as if charged by an unseen energy. The intense fury that I had witnessed once before, when he had mercilessly ended Leo's life, surged forth again.

I raised an eyebrow, not bothered by his temper. In fact, I found it a little hot.

Down kitty.

“I can promise you I will not leave this room, in fact, I can give the swears of all swears that I won’t.”

Oryx tilted his head and crawled closer to me. I held up my pinky finger, and he stared at it. “What’s this?” He poked it with his claw.

“My pinky finger, bone head. Now do what I’m doing.”

Once he did the same I hooked our pinky fingers together. “I pinky swear I will not leave this room. I will stay awake and make sure you get the best sleep. Then in the morning you can cuddle me back and I can take a nap.”

Oryx tapped his forehead with his claw. “This swear? Is it like an oath?”

I nodded. “Yup, it’s very serious where I’m from. In fact, so serious I’ve never done it with anyone else. You are the first.”

His ears rose up in excitement. “I am your first?”

I pursed my lips together and snorted.

“Yes, my firstpinky swear.”

Chapter 11

Veylor

Ithrew my magnifying glasses to the table. I stuck my thumbs into my eyes enough to where I could feel the prick of my nails into my cheeks.