Read Online Shadowglass by Erica Hayes - Free Book Online Page A

jerk. Water off, find a towel, make an effort at drying myself, stagger naked back to my room with an aching head and stinging eyes.
    My room, torn lace curtains, silk flowers, and Kevin, my glass-eyed teddy bear, on the bedside table. My bed looked wonderful, the crumpled feather quilt inviting in its rainbow cover. I didn’t even bother to shut the window to keep the magpie noise out. I fell into the quilt facefirst, the pillow soft and sugar-scented, dripping green hair cool on my back. Diamonds clinked gently on my wrists, comforting. The not-mirror rolled out of my bag, singing a sweet metal lullaby, and I cradled it in my hand as I dozed off.
    My life. Take it or leave it. There’s more than this, but I’ll never see it. I’m just a silly fae girl. Not a person, with a job or a family or a life. A foolish, scared, useless fairy girl with aspirations beyond her means. Fancy that.
    I fell asleep dreaming, of thieving a hellburnt demon’s cave where the air stinks of pain and fire, my companion a deep blue shadow with warm copper claws. Dread thickens the air like hot fog, but I’m not scared. We creep hand in quivering hand over black blood-scorched earth, so stealthy past slumbering sharp-scaled hell-spawn, drifting over hidden trip wires and spike-riddled traps with a flutter of warm silver wings. The treasure chest is rusted, the lock trapped with poison. We steal the mirror in a shower of black sparks and flee. He wraps velvet blue arms around me, brushing his soft wings against mine, and the lips that burn my mouth taste of iron.

5

    F eather-light kisses dusted the small of my back, and I groaned in deliciousness, rubbing my cheek into the soft pillow. I’m naked in his bed, and he’ll kiss me all over with that sinful silver-blue mouth, kiss me until my wing tips curl and my nipples spring tight and my legs melt like hot caramel, and then he’ll climb onto my back and slide inside me, deep and slow, and he’ll crush my fingers on the sheet and lick between my wing joints while we make love.
    Gentle pleasure built and broke in my belly, and I shuddered and groaned in delight.
    Naughty fingers yanked knots into my hair. I snapped awake, warm honey sensation slipping away. Red sparks showered onto my pillow from a low giggle, and the smell of matches tickled my nose.
    Did I just come in my sleep? Damn it. I sighed, burying my face in iron-scented warmth, but too late. Hot midday sunlight cracked between my eyelids, and the dream broke. “Get lost, Blaze. I’m asleep.”
    “I’m bored. Wake up.” The mattress dipped, and curious claws scratched at my knuckles. “What’s this?”
    Warning clanged. My squidgy. Mine.
    I jerked up and tugged the sweaty sheet around me, pulling the squidgy away. “Mine. You can’t see it. Get your own.”
    He grinned, sleepy-eyed, scarlet hair sticky in the heat. Still dressed in skin-tight leather and pirate velvet, only he smelled of girly perfume, light and flowery. A fetching yellow bruise adorned his narrow chin, and he’d lost an earring.
    —He’s cute,— the squidgy observed helpfully.
    I squinted. “Where you been, naughty boy?”
    “Damned if I know. I woke up beside my clothes in an elevator, there’s chocolate in my hair, and my dick hurts. Musta had a good night.”
    He ruffled his sparking hair, and the squidgy giggled. —Ooh, he’s really cute.—
    I giggled, too. Squidgy’s a girl after all. “You’re such a whore, Blaze.”
    “Someone’s gotta do it. You stink. Where’ve you been?”
    Nowhere. Doesn’t matter. It’s boring. You wouldn’t be interested.
    The cowardly words floated on my lips, but the sleepy mirror clicked its tongue at me.— Why are you ashamed? Be proud. Tell the truth. You really care what people think?—
    Right. Yeah. Of course not. I fluffed my bedraggled hair, noble. “Why, with a demon lord, since you ask.”
    The squidgy laughed, and warm pleasure spread in my blood, unexpected. So that’s what truth feels