Page 53 of My Demon Neighbor
I was alone on the street, and I stopped walking, knowing I'd be grabbed in a few steps. I glanced back the way I'd come. Could I go back, stay with the cab driver? Would that be safer?
My feet moved of their own accord, dragging me forward despite all my attempts to stop.
Then he was there, wrapping a hand over my mouth and dragging me into the dark. The dream blurred. Then I was on my back, my shirt torn as one of them tugged at my pants and he hovered over me, a smug look on his face.
I struggled, jerking at my arms and legs, trying to kick at them. Anything to stop them. But I knew nothing would work.
Suddenly, one of them glanced back at something I couldn't see, and I frowned, because that hadn't happened. No one had stopped them.
"Codie," a warm, achingly familiar voice said as Pythor stepped closer in all his demon glory. He grabbed the man near my feet and threw him over his shoulder like he weighed nothing.
It took him less than a minute to get rid of the other three untilonlyhewas left.
He tried to grab me, probably planning to use me as a shield, but Pythor reached him first, his hand wrapping around his face as his sharp nails dug into the bastard's skin, drawing blood.
A sharp snap, then the man fell limp and Pythor threw him away as if he was trash, then helped me to my feet, his magic patching up my clothes like they'd never been damaged.
"You saved me," I murmured, no longer sure if this was a dream or reality.
"I did," he said softly, leaning down to kiss my forehead. "You can sleep now. I'll keep you safe."
Nodding, I leaned against his chest, and the dream dissolved around me.
I groaned as I woke up, stretching my arms above my head before slowly sitting up.
Hella greeted me by licking my face, and I laughed as I pushed her away.
"Ew, Hella. Stop it."
I'd slept pretty well last night, which was a surprise after the events of the day. I'd been so sure I'd have a nightmare, but instead I'd slept through the night.
"Huh," I mumbled, scenes from a dream drifted through my mind, and then all at once, I remembered the nightmare-turned-dream I'd had.
Pythor had saved me. Did my subconscious really trust him that much that it'd rewritten my past in my dreams?
Shaking my head, I stumbled to my feet, then went through my morning routine before heading to the kitchen to make some breakfast, Hella at my heels.
My phone buzzed as I stuck some bread in the toaster, and I checked it, smiling when I saw Pythor's name.
Pythor: May I come over for breakfast? I have fresh cookies.
Me: You're always welcome.
"Hey," Pythor greeted, and I glanced up with a smile.
"Hey, you! Scrambled eggs and toast okay?"
"Sounds good," he said as he placed the box of cookies on the counter and eyed me.
"What's up?" I asked as I got some eggs from the fridge, and he leaned against the counter as he continued watching me.
"Did you sleep okay?"
"Yeah, actually," I admitted, then smiled. "Well, I did have a nightmare, the start of one anyway. But then you showed up and saved me."
Pythor... didn't look surprised.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Why do you look like you already knew what happened?"
