Tempting Darkness

The next morning, I woke up to somebody nudging me. With a groan, I rolled to find Lycus stiff as a board next to me and looking at the ceiling. Fingers jabbing in my ribs had me turning to look at Kalen, who was also perfectly still. I yawned and rubbed my eyes, only for him to nudge me again.

"What?" I groaned, rolling on my side. Lycus whimpered behind me, and Kalen lifted his hand, jabbing it in Lycus's direction. I peered over my shoulder to see Ryze leaning down off the headboard. Ryze's head turned from side to side as he scrutinized Lycus's face. His long snake-like tongue slivered out of his beak and up the side of Lycus's face, who paled considerably as it ran across the shadow of stubble on his cheek. I giggled at how terrified he looked. He didn't even blink like he was too scared to. The corner of his lip opened.

"Get it, get it away," he grumbled, and Ryze cawed loudly in his face. Lycus's eyes slammed shut before he peeked one open to Ryze's beak, nearly touching his nose as he leaned down.

"Ryze, leave him be. You are scaring him," I yawned, and Ryze puffed out his feathers and shuddered. I sat up only for him to jump off the headboard onto my shoulder. His talons dug painfully into my shoulder. "We really need to cut your nails," I hissed at him.

"There is no we about it. I ain't holding that thing down while you go at him with scissors," Lycus hissed, now able to move without being stared down by Ryze. I rolled my eyes at their fear while Ryze snapped his beak at him, making him flinch and jump off the bed and away from him.

Kalen rolled away from me, not even willing to sit up with him sitting on my shoulder. A soft thud reached my ears as he hit the carpeted floor.

"And you're supposed to be the big scary Wraiths. Scared of my baby phoenix," I chuckled before blowing kisses at Ryze, who immediately dropped his head, pressing his beak to my lips so I could kiss it.

"I have seen them pluck the eyes out of a demon, and I mean pluck them out! With their tongue! Like a scoop of ice cream. You are bloody nuts even to touch it." Lycus shivered just as the bathroom door opened up, and Tobias stepped out. Ryze flew off my shoulder and over to him, making Kalen duck and drop to the floor, a shriek leaving him as he covered his head with his hands. Tobias grunted as his talons dug into his shoulder, and Ryze banged his beak on top of Tobias's head.

"In a minute, let me get dressed," Tobias groaned, moving around the room and finding his clothes, with Ryze perched on his shoulder. Ryze had gotten so big his tail nearly reached the floor even while perched on Tobias, who was easily six feet tall. Looking around the room, I noticed Darius wasn't there, only for him to step out of the bathroom a few seconds later with a towel wrapped around his waist.

"Good, you're awake," he said, walking out only for Ryze to nip him when he walked past. My heart leaped into my throat, but Darius waved his hand at him, shooing him.

"Control it, Aleera. I don't like them, and that is the second time this morning it has taken a chunk out of me," Darius hissed, wiping his shoulder where Ryze got him.

"He picks up on her. He knows you scare her. What do you expect?" Tobias said before opening the window that I noticed was now fixed.

"You fixed it already?" I asked.

"Magic!" Kalen said, wiggling his fingers, and I frowned before sighing and moving to the end of the bed, only for Ryze to fly over to me. This time, Lycus dropped to the floor as Ryze swooped past. Darius growled, stepping over him. "Get a grip of yourself. It's a bloody bird," Darius snapped at him.

"Eyeballs, they eat eyeballs," Lycus growled at him.

"Nope, they eat mice mainly," Tobias said, turning around with one in his hands holding the cage. I didn't even notice that he had brought it here. He tossed the mouse, and Ryze struck and chomped it like a cobra.

"I think I am going to be sick," Kalen murmured, turning a little green. Ryze licked his beak clean before flying toward the open window, and I shrieked, knowing there were probably demons downstairs out and about.

Usually, he goes out late in the afternoon. Rushing to the window, I peered out to see a few jogging the perimeter, but he flew up onto the roof. I sighed, a breath of relief leaving me.

"Can we swap classes this morning?" Darius asked Lycus while looking over at him. Lycus's shoulders sagged, but he nodded.

"Why, where are you going?" Tobias asked him.

"In town... Aleera," Darius said, turning his finger in the air, wanting me to turn around. My brows furrowed when I saw him grip his towel, and I turned my back on him.

Lycus smirked at me, folding his arms across his chest. "What class has Aleera got this morning?" he asked.

"Mine," Tobias said.

"Swap?" Lycus asked, and Tobias growled at him.

"Why, what class has Darius got this morning?" I asked while taking some clothes Kalen had managed to retrieve for me. Tugging the shirt off over my head, I tossed it on the bed before pulling the tank top on over my sports bra, only to find them all staring at me. Lycus cleared his throat as I pulled the shorts on.

"Um, what were we talking about?" Lycus asked, and I huffed.

"What class are you taking over from Darius?" I asked, shaking my head.