Page 43 of My Demon Neighbor
"Yes, sir," I agreed as relief swept through me. Thank fuck. I could protect Codie properly now. Except...
"Are we done?" he asked, and I caught a hint of the eagerness he was so desperately trying to hide.
Wincing and not very confident about my chances, I said, "I need one more thing."
"What?" he asked, tone tired as he leaned against the desk, crossing his arms over his chest and putting his sleeve tattoos on full display. I bet Codie would like them.
"I would like you to give me an order to enter the Dreamland and protect my mate when he needs me to."
Artemus blinked, looking honestly surprised by my request. I knew he knew about Dreamland because he himself had been trapped in it for a while when he was in a coma. While not many could travel to the realm that popped in and out of existence through people's dreams—it was more like a billiontiny pocket realms than an actual realm—I knew Artemus and his mates could because they had the King of Otherworld's magic, and I could too if I was told to do so by my summoner. I couldn't go there on my own, but with his order, I could.
"They're that bad?" he asked, eyes softening, and I nodded.
Exhaling loudly, he nodded. "Pythor, if your mate is trapped in a nightmare or bad dream, you have my orders to travel to the Dreamland to enter his dream and protect him in any way you can."
"Thank you, Artemus. Truly."
He nodded, and I took my leave since he clearly had places to be. I made a pit stop at the center to check in, and take a few more days of leave. Since I was just a volunteer, it wasn't like they could force me to come back, but letting them know in advance made it easier for them to find an alternate teacher or class to fill my spots.
That done, I made my way back home so I could walk across the street to Codie's place.
Codie
When Pythor came back from the community center, he looked a little more relaxed, and I was glad. He'd been so angry ever since I'd told him about that night, and while I liked that it was on my behalf, I didn't want him to damage his mental health because of me.
"I want to try going out again today," I declared a few minutes into our lunch, and Pythor glanced up at me in surprise.
"You do?"
I nodded. While there were some things I wasn't sure I'd ever get back—like my enjoyment of sex—I was tired of letting that night hold me back. I felt like with Pythor by my side, I coulddo this. I could step out of this gated community. I could walk down that street and see where it led. Maybe I'd only make it a few steps, but they'd still be steps I'd been too afraid to take before.
"Okay, then. We can head out after lunch."
Hella gave a woof, her tail wagging as she raced over to the doorway, and I laughed.
"Soon, Hella. Let us eat first, hmm?"
When I glanced back at Pythor, I found him watching me with a smile on his face.
"What?"
"You're cute," he said with a one-shoulder shrug, and I blushed, then rolled my eyes.
"Shut up."
Pythor laughed, then took another bite of his sandwich, and this time, I stared at him. He was so... warm, so comforting. Now that I'd accepted that I liked him, I couldn't understand how I'd ignored my feelings for so long.
"Are there crumbs in my beard?" he asked, rubbing his fingers over them, and I shook my head, then grinned.
"Nah, you're just cute."
Pythor gave me a surprised look, then laughed, his eyes bright with joy, and I smiled, wishing every moment we spent together could be just as easygoing and happy as this one.
After finishing lunch, Pythor cleaned up with a snap of his fingers, and waited while I went in to change my clothes. Most of it would be hidden under my coat, but I still wasn't going out dressed in sweatpants.
As I swapped my worn out t-shirt for one I could wear outside, my fingers brushed against the scar on my abdomen, and I eyed it with pursed lips before covering it with the t-shirt. While I'd gotten it the same night, the scar didn't remind meof the attack. Well, it did, but mostly, it reminded me of the fact that I'd survived. I'd dragged myself out of that hellhole with that wound in my abdomen and still saved myself.
Pulling on some jeans, I spent a few minutes making my hair look like Ihadn'tjust woken up, then slid my coat back on before making my way back to Pythor.
