Sticks and Stones

Chapter Twenty-Seven

On the morning after Caspian's return to a non-dark magic infused existence, Sofia sat in the dining room of Claudio's Veneficus gaff, entertaining herself with a bowl of cereal.

Cas had slept in for a while, complaining about body aches.

Nothing to do with me.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, he took in her attire with raised eyebrows.

"I thought you brought your own clothes."

"I did bring my own," She said, sitting in one of Caspian's. "But yours are more comfortable. My comfort should be your top priority since I saved your ass yesterday."

They smell like him.

He came closer, standing behind her to see what she was reading. She'd found some books laying around on one of Claudio's shelves. They weren't particularly interesting but it was something to do.

"And I've saved yours a million times over," He sassed.

"Except when you save me it's from death which is quick and ends in one sitting. When I saved you, it was from the clutches of an evil witch who'd have made you her sex slave for all eternity."

He ran his fingers through her hair, combing out the lugs. "I'll take that over your attitude."

"Very funny."

She nearly moaned when his hands eased over her scalp. She felt like a little cat being petted.

He gave the shirt she wore another huff. "I knew the bag you packed was too small to be true."

His hands fell to her shoulders, massaging them softly.

"Caspian."

"Hmm?"

She nibbled on her lip, revealing, "I'm glad you're not cursed anymore."

He swallowed thickly, perhaps shocked that she'd wish him well. Maybe he still believed she was waiting to screw them over. Maybe he still thought them doomed.

"Why? Was it painful watching me lips with another woman?"

"Lips. It was like you were trying to eat her." She shuddered at the memory, glad it was over. "And she looked into it—so you know, gross. I mean, even if it wasn't rapey, it was repulsive."

Caspian shrugged, slipping into the chair beside her. "Goes to show women can be rapists too."

"You're just lucky you were blessed that I came along to save you. Bet you're glad you let me tag along now."

He smiled to himself, not for her benefit.

At times like this she had to wonder what was going through his head. What did he make of this? Where did they stand?

"You're never gonna let me live it down, are you?"

"Nope," She answered.

Cas groaned, rolling his head back on his shoulders. "Do you know what they did to me in that place?"

"How do you mean?"

"It's not so bad now but my body has been aching like no man's business."

She clamped up, body stiffening. "I'm not the right person to ask. Honestly, I really do think it's just the dark magic."

Or the fact that I chucked you down a long ass set of stairs.

Cas gave her a funny look. "You're weird."

"Mean."

"No, I mean you're being weird." He grabbed her spoon as he said this, stealing a spoonful of her cereal.