I hitched a sharp breath. Something about the simplicity of the way he said that word had my insides fluttering. “I was drained after the vision yesterday and I just wanted to be at home.”
Byron stood and walked towards me. I scooted further up the bed until my back hit the headboard and I stuck my hand out in front of me, my magic ready to attack if he tried anything funny. I’d have done something already if I weren’t so damn tired.
He finally settled on the edge of the bed and turned on the lamp next to us. He was dressed head to toe in black. Black combat trousers, black boots, a black turtleneck and all topped off with a black peacoat. The lamp highlighted the braces strapped around his chest and I could see the edges of his guns peeking out beneath his coat. “You look like you’re on your way to murder someone.”
“Not tonight,” he replied. “This is just my go to nighttime activities apparel.”
“It’s intense.”
“Yes.” Byron stared at me, his eyes cataloguing my features like I was an insect under a microscope. “Are you alright?”
I sniffed and wiped at a tear that rolled down my cheek. Pretty sure I was as far from alright as I could be, but I didn’t want to tell Byron that. It’s not like he’d understand how I felt, anyway.
“I don’t know.” It sounded like a cop out even to my own ears. “Why are you here?”
“I came to check on you.”
I scoffed and sniffed again. I also ignored the fact that I liked his answer. “And you couldn’t text or call like a normal person? You had to break into my heavily warded house to do that?”
“I don’t have your number.”
“Pretty sure that wouldn’t stop you. Not having the key to my house hasn’t deterred you.”
He smiled that unsettling smile of his again and scooted closer. “No, it didn’t. Are you going to tell me about your nightmare?”
I grimaced and flinched back, the terror creeping under my skin again. “No. And I think you should leave.”
His smile dropped, and it was a little unnerving how fast his expressions changed. “I don’t want to leave.”
“Get out of my house, Byron.” I raised my hand and called my magic back to the surface. “I don’t want you here.”
He leant closer, crowding into my personal space despite the threat of my magic. “Are you sure?”
His words brushed my lips, and I had to fight the urge to lean into him. “Yes.”
Byron smiled wide and wolfish. “I think you’re lying to me.”
Fuck. He smelled so good and he was right fucking there. So close that I could almost taste him. His breath was minty and his cologne was threatening to lure me closer.
Wait. Why was I even contemplating closing the distance? He’d broken into my house and invaded my personal space.
He was making it hard to breathe. Every breath was laced with him. I had to get him away. Had to think. Had to breathe.
I slammed my hand into his chest, expecting my magic to throw him backwards but he didn’t budge. “What the hell?”
What kind of kooky shit was this?
Maybe I was just tired. Yeah, that had to be the reason my magic wasn’t working around Byron. It couldn’t be anything else… could it?
Fuck, I was going to have to see Dara. What was I even going to say?
I groaned. I’d have to tell her about the visions and the nightmares. Not to mention the whole Byron being a vessel for my magic thing. What an absolute mess.
Byron traced his forefinger over the crease between my brows. “What is it?”
I slapped his hand away and scowled at him. “Will you just leave?”
“No can do, baby.”