The logic finally makes its way back to my mind. I want to keep doing this. I certainly don’t want him to stop touching me. But the curiosity is too much. He’s here. He’s back. But for how long?
“I cannot stay away from you for long, sunshine.” He murmurs the words against my neck while his lips seek out the spot where his marks just barely remain.
He doesn’t comment on the bite marks, though. He just nuzzles the soft skin.
“You have given me the greatest gift tonight,” he says. “I was willing to be content with a glimpse of you, but instead, I got a taste.” He pulls away enough to look me in the eye.
“You know, it’s creepy to spy on a girl while she’s sleeping.”
He chuckles. “I’m sorry. My culture is so different from yours, and my demon’s instincts are very difficult to control.”
I swallow. “Is it he who pulls you here at night?”
“Yes,” he says. “My demon’s need to protect you gets stronger at night when we know you are alone. There may also be some less wholesome desires in there as well, but I’m not sure how much you’re interested in hearing those confessions just yet.”
Oh, I’m very interested. Just still a bit wary.
“Maybe another time.” My body is still buzzing from the terrifying touch of talons on my skin and the heavy make out. My resolve might snap if he were to give me thoseconfessions.
He takes that as his cue to roll to the side so we’re lying beside each other.
“My world’s time runs different than yours, and the dimensional leaps make it hard to estimate. So far, I keep getting here at night, probably because it’s when my demon’s urges feel strongest—when you’re alone and vulnerable.”
“But how do you know it’s night here if time doesn’t line up the same?”
“Context clues from Laithe mostly. We know when he is sleeping, and he is our strongest assurance that you are protected. It soothes the demon slightly that you are staying in my bed, but not quite enough to ease the tension.”
I sit up suddenly. “So, it was you who left the note?”
Jarron’s expression falls. At first, I think it’s sadness because it wasn’t him, but then I read the guilt in his eyes.
“Yes, I’m sorry. My instinct takes control sometimes still. It’s not ideal, but I didn’t have full control over him that night.”
I blink. I guess that’s why the note was so cryptic and weird. I resettle into his chest. “Next time, tell him to sign the note or call me ‘bright one’ or something so I know it’s from him.”
Jarron chuckles. “I’ll try.”
“It scared me,” I tell him.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here. Why did you say it’s hard for you to shift?”
“It always takes a little bit of time to readjust to Earth when I come back, and because of the tension in our world, I am fueled by danger and anxiety. It’s harder to let go of that tension in order to shift.”
“Is it really dangerous? Back home? Laithe keeps saying nothing is really happening.”
“Yes, at times it is. I don’t leave the palace very often, but the few times I’ve met with the rebels, I am at risk. And we have increasingly found spies among our servants, so things are heating up slowly.”
I bite the inside of my lip. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Jarron pauses, looking me over. “No,” he says finally, but I get the feeling that’s only a partial answer. “Not directly. My biggest concern is that you remain safe and out of the reach of the council and Vincent Vandozer. If there are spies in my ranks, there could be in the school as well. Please, please be careful. Don’t leave the hall without Laithe ever. Do you understand?”
I ignore the pit in my stomach. “Yes, but how could there be spies at Shadow Hills? If someone new were to show up, they’d automatically be a suspect.”
“Mrs. Bhatt has cut off midyear transfers to eliminate that risk. But it does not have to be new students. Some of my enemies have the ability to shapeshift.”
“Wait.” I twist to look up at him.“They can shift to look like someone else?”
