Page 41 of Hell Burns Between Us
“I don’t really know. It’s just that…” Perine huffed out an irritated breath. “I just thought….” She bit her lip. “We are partners after all! I’m allowed to stop by and… well, obviously I was mistaken and you’re absolutely fine.”
“That’s adorable.” Wisteria said in a tone that was supposed to be friendly but was still somehow imperious.
“You know what? This was a terrible idea, I’ll just—”
“Wait!” He called, tilting his head slightly to try meeting her gaze, but her gaze avoided his, roaming everywhere except on his face. “You’re already here. Would you like me to take a look at your notes?”
“Do you feel up to it?” Her eyes finally landed on him, searching him the same way Wisteria’s had.
“For a price I could do anything.”
Perine laughed then, softly; as if surprised at how humorous he was. Which was concerning, because it was one of his very best features. She definitely should have realised that by now.
A relieved sort of amusement danced in her eyes as she asked, “What’s your price, then?”
Wisteria answered for him. “He needs a date for my birthday party. It’s the night of the waning phase of Lammas Moon.”
Perine stared at her. “W-what?”
Oleander threw an elbow behind him at Wisteria. “Hey! I was going to ask Amiran!”
“He doesn’t have a hellcat, you idiot. Priorities!” Wisteria hissed. Then she tensed behind him and leaned closer to his ear, whispering nervously, “Sorry, but are you still dating Amiran?”
“Well, no,” Oleander began.
Wisteria shoved his shoulder, cutting him off. “Then you can invite Peri! See? Everyone’s happy.”
Oleander sighed in resignation.
A fleeting, odd look passed over Perine’s face before she turned away, seemingly to hide it. She cleared her throat and primly asked, “You’re attracted to demons?”
Oleander sighed dramatically. “I’m attracted to anyone who bosses me around, apparently.”
She turned fully away from him, but he still caught the way her lips quirked up ever so slightly. Perine looked at her hellcat, and they stared at each other for a long, still moment. Finally, she said, “Alright, sure.” She didn’t sound sure at all. “I guess I can do that.”
Hopping off the bed, Wisteria strode over to Perine.“The theme is gold.” Her tone once again cuttingly haughty. “I’ll expect some fucking creativity.”
Perine nodded tentatively. Then, eyes widening, she watched as Wisteria bowed slightly to her hellcat, offering out a rather large chunk of soft, pungent cheese. Where had she been keeping that? In a single, slow swipe, Zila’s lengthy tongue devoured it. Wisteria turned, gave Oleander a roguish wink, and slid out of the room.
“Always a pleasure,” Perine muttered.
She slid off Oleander’s boots—technically her boots now—then padded over to his bed, flopping down beside him. It felt too intimate, her lying there next to him, only she seemed unaware of it.
She sighed, shifting against the mattress to get comfortable. The bed moved with her, and his mind latched onto the fact that she was lying here, so close to him that he could feel the heat of her. Her hair sprawled over the blankets he slept under, her eyes closed now as if she were tenderly dozing off next to him in his bed.
Finally, she whispered, “You’re really feeling better then?”
Oleander didn’t want to tell her, or truly anyone, what had happened to him. He gave a curt nod and she smiled.
“I was worried about you,” she said. “I hope it’s alright that I’m here."
He stared at her in wonder. Few beings visited to check on him. They usually wanted a favour from his family, and he’d always been the easiest way in. That had never bothered him before. But now?
Oleander wondered if he’d always just accepted the crumbs others offered him—if he had any real value beyond the connections he’d been born into.
Finally, he choked out, “Before Winter Solstice, we’d never had a civil conversation… and now you’re visiting me in my bedroom.”
She huffed a soft laugh. “We did spend the entire evening together with your siblings without murdering each other.”
