Demonic Vampires (Supernatural Shifter Academy #3) - G. Bailey Page 0,24

hesitant glance back up, her posture relaxing when she sees that I’m decent. “I realised you guys didn’t have any clean clothes. I wanted to get yours so I could wash them and maybe see if Mollie has some spares for you until then.”

“Oh.” Silas blinks. “That’s… very thoughtful of you. Thank you.”

“I sure as shit could use something else,” Shade complains. “I smell like a swamp.”

I move to my bag, which is still damp, and pull out a sopping wet bundle of shirts, pants, and underthings. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see the guys going to do the same. Silas looks like he’s been caught doing something he isn’t supposed to, while Shade doesn’t seem put off by the audience in the slightest; I’m starting to think the wolf shifter is just generally unflappable… Except when it comes to me getting injured, I realise after a moment, my stomach sending up a rush of warm sparks.

“Here you go,” I say, passing my clothes to Edith.

“Are you sure you don’t want help?” Silas asks cautiously, giving me an uncertain glance. “First you ward the place and now you’re doing our washing for us.”

Edith’s eyes linger on the dragon shifter for just a moment longer than normal, like she’s drinking in the sight of him. “I... wouldn’t say no,” she admits at last.

“I can help,” I interject. Edith looks at me with a surprised expression as I add, hoping to lighten the mood, “It’s the least I can do, considering you’ve had to see me naked.”

Edith hesitates, looking unsure, but then laughs her tinkling laugh again. “Fair enough, Millie. The laundry room is just on the other side of the foyer. I’ll meet you there in five minutes?”

“Sounds good,” I say, giving her a curt nod. Seemingly satisfied, the witch shifter backs out of the room, the bundle of clothes tucked under her arm.

Groaning, I run a hand through my hair, turning back to the guys self-consciously. “Sorry about that,” I tell them, feeling the need to apologise even though it wasn’t my fault. “Does it count as cockblocking if it happens after the fact?”

Shade cackles at that, and even Silas can’t hide his snort, although I have to give him credit for trying. “Should’ve locked the door, I guess,” the dragon shifter mutters.

“Why?” Shade protests. “I like having an audience.”

“Of course you fucking do,” Silas retorts, rolling his eyes before turning to me. “Don’t apologise, Boots. She didn’t knock first.”

“Did you see the way she looked at you, though?” Shade asks, raising an eyebrow at Silas. I can feel my hackles go up before I can even stop myself, ashamed at my reaction but unable to stop it. “Probably picturing you without clothes on.”

“Give me a break,” grumbles Silas, but it’s all too good-natured, like neither of them are feeling the same unease that I am, and it’s frustrating because I know I’m being irrational.

Still, I can’t stop myself from asking, “What do you guys think of her?”

“Who, Edith?” asks Shade, raising his eyebrows. “She seems fine to me.”

“I don’t really know her well enough to say,” Silas says. “Why?”

“No reason,” I reply, a little too quickly. “She’s just… not what I was expecting. That’s all.”

Damn my lousy poker face. Shade eyes me for a moment before breaking into that shit-eating grin of his. “Wait a minute, Boots. Are you… jealous?”

“What?” I exclaim, shaking my head. “No! Of course not! I just… I mean, it’s not like…”

“Holy shit, you are,” the wolf shifter teases. “As I live and breathe! Millie Brix is getting territorial! What is this world coming to?”

“I am not,” I protest, my cheeks flaming. “We just don’t know her, that’s all!”

“Sure, sure,” Shade says indulgently, smirking. “Whatever you say.”

I stare at him for a moment and then shake my head. “You’re being ridiculous. I’m about to go help her with the laundry.”

“Uh huh. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that she was just undressing Silas with her eyes.”

I give him a playful shove, overhearing Silas’ good-natured laughter at my response, and the tension in my stomach eases up a little. “I owe her one,” I rationalise. “If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have been able to teleport us out of Boston.”

“Fair enough,” Silas remarks. “Let us know if you need anything.”

“Oh, you’ve already given me everything I need,” I reply coyly, giving the guys an exaggerated wink that has them chuckling again. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m