Page 134 of Volik

I blink again.

The lights are off. There are no windows. But I can see all the slight ridges in the stone. I can make out the veins of lighter stone in what I thought was solid tan rock.

I can see so much.

In the dark.

Maybe this is another type of magic. Like the lock on the door.

Exhaustion settles heavily in my chest.

Will sex with Volik always be like this?

I can’t see his face, but it seems like he’s asleep. And it makes me feel a little better that he’s tired too. That it’s not just me.

I yawn, my mouth opening wide.

As I shove the breath from my lungs, I close my mouth.

Something sharp pokes my lower lip, and a small sound of shock leaves my chest.

Volik makes a sleepy grunt, and his arm tightens around me, but he doesn’t wake.

Slowly. Cautiously. I reach up and gently touch my lower lip. Pressing against the two spots of pain.

My heart starts to race.

Volik makes another sound in his sleep.

Sleep. Because he’s tired.

Because something happened last night.

Something big.

Something that drained him of energy.

My fingers tremble as I move them up.

As I open my mouth wider.

My jaw doesn’t ache anymore. Not like it did last night.

And…

My breath catches.

Holy shit.

My heart jumps as my touch meets something hard.

I press my fingertips firmly against the enamel.

And…

I drag my fingers down the front of my teeth.

I can feel the pressure.