Rekindled Bonds

Chapter 15 (Pt 1)

(A/N: Another short chapter. I was quite inspired when I wrote this and then got very stuck when trying to continue it. I still have a lot going on in my life and it will be stressful for the next few months. I am going to try to at least post something every 4 weeks at the latest. I gave up on keeping a schedule and I will just post as I finish writing chapters- or half chapters. Thank you all for your patience and continued support, it means a lot to me. Also, let me know if you would be interested in a discord server where I would post chapter updates and you all could discuss and theorize. With that, please enjoy this short chapter that I am quite proud of.)

"You're joking, right?" Ash scanned the faces of the two men. Sebastian shook his head. "You're telling me that I fainted? I actually lost consciousness and fainted?"

Sebastian looked to Ominis before turning back to Ash.

"To be fair, you were quite exhausted. There's really no need to be embarrassed about it," Sebastian shrugged.

Ash flopped back onto the pillows and covered her face with her hands.

"Embarrassed? I'm not embarrassed. I'm mortified."

Ominis sighed and approached the bed. He sat on the edge and smoothed her hair away from her face.

"Darling, it's nothing to worry about. We wore you out, it's fine."

"Don't phrase it like that, please," groaned Ash.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow.

"Are you really trying to act modest with us now? Everything you did last night was anything but modes-"

Ash cut him off. "Sallow, I swear to Merlin if you don't shut up I'm going to hex you."

"Could you even lift an arm to hex me?"

Ash chucked a pillow at Sebastian, smacking him right in the face.

"Alright fine, I'll be quiet," Sebastian grumbled.

"Somehow, I doubt that," retorted Ash.

____________

A firm hand wrapped around her neck, nails digging into her thighs, dark bruises trailing up her stomach and neck. These are not the kind of things she should be thinking about while trying to teach a room of rambunctious fifth-years how to defend themselves. She glanced over to the glass cabinetry at the side of the room, examining her appearance briefly. The last thing she needed was for her glamour charm to wear off and consequently overhear teenagers gossiping about her love bites in the corridors.

Ash sighed in relief as the students funneled out of the classroom, eager to go off and do whatever it was normal fifth-years did after classes. Not that she would know.

She gingerly climbed the stairs to her office, pressing a hand to her aching back. She stepped around the mess of papers and trinkets that Ominis had carelessly cast onto the floor during her lunch hour as she plopped down into her chair, happy to finally be off her feet. She wasn't sure if it was due to her busy schedule and Ominis's abundance of free time, or if it was because of the ménage à trois with Sebastian a few weeks ago, but Ominis has been insatiable.

She glanced down at the still-wet ink splattered across the floor next to the shattered glass of the ink pot. She would clean it up eventually. Probably. Maybe tomorrow.

She pressed the heels of her palms into her eyes as she propped her tired feet on the desk and leaned back in her chair. There wasn't much use in rearranging her desk when everything would likely end up on the floor again the next day. She had to hand it to him, Ominis had a flair for the dramatic. Ash heard a soft knock on the door and looked up. Speak of the devil.