A Human’s Guide to Surviving Magical Mishaps by Kit Bryan
Rule 117- The messier the desk, the more creative the genius—or so they say!

I wake up disoriented and warm. My first instinct is to kick off my blankets, except as soon as I start to move, the weight on my feet digs his claws in and I realise I'm not even under a blanket. Nope, I have a fae cat sleeping on my legs and a fae sleeping on the rest of me. Somehow while we've been sleeping, Ashton has moved around and now he's pretty much wrapped himself around me and plastered himself to my side. No wonder I'm feeling hot. How long have we been asleep? I feel a little groggy but there is still light outside. It could have been an hour or four and I wouldn't know the difference right now. Still, as much as I enjoy being cuddled up to Ashton, I feel a little crushed. He's kind of heavy and he's at least sixty percent draped over me. I can't really see a way to disentangle myself without waking him AND dislodging Bast, which, if fae cats operate on the same rules as human felines, is basically illegal. I tolerate it for another minute or two before deciding I can't stand it.

"Ashton." I say gently to wake him. I doubt it will take much, he has super good hearing after all and he's not exactly far away. Sure enough, he stirs a little.

"Hmm Kat?" he mumbles. I'm not even sure if what he's saying is a question or not. I don't think he's awake enough to know either.

"Sorry to wake you, but you are sort of... Crushing me..." I trail off. Ashton opens his eyes properly and takes in our situation.

"Ah, I apologise. I didn't realise I'm so clingy." he jokes. I smile at him and try to pull away now that he's awake. Ashton isn't having any of it. Instead of letting me go, he rolls us over and adjusts us so that I'm leaning on top of him instead, my head landing on his chest with my arms between us. Bast jumps off the bed and I can't see him but I imagine that he is unimpressed.

"Ashton!" I huff out, a little out of breath from the sudden movement, and maybe also because I'm suddenly getting up close and personal with Ashton's chest. That's reason enough for a girl to be a bit breathless. Ashton smirks at me and locks his hands together behind my back holding me in place. Still, his grip is loose and I'm sure if I ACTUALLY protested he would let me go. As it is, I'm too busy trying not to drool or grope him excessively to even think about telling him to let go.

"What? I did tell you that I'm feeling clingy." Ashton flutters his eyes innocently and I laugh.

"Oh fine." I wriggle around so I can move my arm under my chin and see his face clearly. He really is gorgeous, but more than that he's funny, kind, loyal, generous and so many other things. I don't see how anyone could possibly NOT like him. Even my friends like him. Okay, so technically my dad doesn't like him much, but I don't think that has anything to do with his opinion of Ashton as a person so much as his opinion of guys he catches making out with me in the kitchen. Ashton shivers a little and groans.

"Kat." He is looking at me hotly causing me to flush red and freeze up. Wait, freeze up? Oh... I have apparently been unconsciously running my free hand lightly over Ashton's chest.

"Oh, sorry... I was not thinking, I-" I cut myself off, not even sure what I was going to say. 'I was feeling you up?' Yeah there's no point finishing that sentence.

"I didn't say you should stop." He gives me a mischievous grin and unlocks his hands from behind me, sliding them slowly up my spine, then down again. He grips my waist firmly and lifts me up, pulling me up his body and lying me on top of him properly so that we are eye to eye. I can't seem to do anything other than stare at him.

"... Hi?" I mumble awkwardly. Ashton's grin seems to be glued to his face and it doesn't falter.

"Hello beautiful." He answers. I swear his green eyes have me hypnotised or something, because I feel completely out of control. I lean in to kiss Ashton, my lips brushing his softly. I'm just about to kiss him properly when a loud knock on the door has me flinching back in shock. Ashton's arms are still gripping my waist, making it impossible for me to move.

"Ignore it." Ashton pleads, staring at my lips. I'm tempted to do just that, but whoever is at the door knocks again and I push away from him. Ashton groans as if letting go is physically painful, but he releases his hold.

"We have the worst luck." he complains. He isn't wrong. First my dad, then his cousins and now his mum. We've been here for quite a while without interruption, then as soon as I kiss him someone turns up? The universe is definitely conspiring against us. I shrug, straighten up my clothing a little and rush to answer the door.

Amelia greets me with a warm smile, she looks... Different. It takes me a second to place it, but I realise what's changed. She's not wearing black. She's wearing an emerald green outfit that matches her eyes. The black looked great on her, but green is definitely her colour.

"Amelia! Come in. Ashton and I were just... Resting." I finish dumbly. What was I even trying to say. Amelia takes in the scene. Ashton resting on the bed, messy hair and a pouting expression like a child who just got their favourite toy taken away, me with flushed cheeks and what I can only imagine is a guilty expression.

"I see..." Is all she answers with. Yeah I wouldn't believe me either. The good news is she doesn't seem to be all that bothered by her suspicions.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your... Time. But I know you're leaving tonight and I desperately wanted to speak to you before you go." Amelia gestures to the bed and I perch on the edge of it. She sits beside me, apparently ignoring her son who is watching curiously, but with a hint of surprise that I can't quite explain.

"What is it? Is this about the message I gave you?" I wonder. She nods.

"Yes. I found the box, exactly as you described. It took a while, my husband did not keep a tidy desk. But I found the gift." She touches her hand to her neck drawing my attention to her new necklace. It is stunning. It looks like it's made of some kind of soft, dark coloured wood that is carved, or maybe weaved into an interlocking pattern. It is polished to perfection and embedded right in the middle is a gorgeous emerald.

"Wow, that is what he left you? It is beautiful." I compliment it and she smiles happily with tears building in her eyes.

"Yes. I will treasure it always. I need to thank you for passing on Ambrose's message." She takes my hand and bows over it. I stare.

"Uh, it is really not... I mean..." I glance to Ashton for help, he just gives a slight nod of encouragement. What is THAT supposed to mean?

"What you have given me is priceless, it is a comfort that I will have for years to come and I owe you a debt for passing on the message. My husband might not be able to repay you, but I swear that one day I will. In the meantime, I brought you a gift." She says brightly.

"That really is not necessary. You do not have to... All I did was pass on a message." I have no idea what to do here. Amelia waves off my protest.

"Of course it is. I want to show my appreciation. So I have two gifts for you. First, I would like you to keep that charmed comb that I used on your hair. It is a symbol of trust between us and I hope you will appreciate it." She starts. I nod, I can accept that. I DO want the comb, and she's right that it is kind of symbolic for the two of us.

"Okay." I answer slowly and she nods.

"I have one more gift for you." Amelia grabs my hand tightly, startling me. What else could she possibly have for me?