Chapter 2

Tessa's POV

The next day is my birthday.

Not that anyone remembers. My parents have always had a favorite, and it was never me. My younger sister is prettier, sharper, the one they actually show up for. I've never really been on their radar.

I'm already planning to grab a small cake for myself after school. Then I walk into the classroom and find my chair gone.

"Looking for something?" Chase is kicked back in the last row, one foot propped up on my chair. "Isn't today your birthday? We figured a regular chair can't hold all that, so we're doing you a favor. Standing burns more calories anyway."

The room explodes with laughter. Every single one lands like a needle in my eardrum.

Right on cue, Sutton appears, holding a small gift box, that flawless smile already in place.

"Chase, seriously, cut it out." She shoots him a look, then holds the box out to me. "Happy birthday. I picked this out for you. Hope you like it."

I don't take it.

"Come on, open it." She nudges it closer.

I open the box. Inside is a bodycon slip dress. One size fits all. The kind of size that wouldn't fit one of my legs, let alone the rest of me.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry, I completely forgot to check the size." Sutton covers her mouth, doing her best to look sorry about it. "But hey, use it as motivation! Have you made a birthday wish yet? Maybe wish yourself into it someday?"

Before I can say anything, Kayla jumps in from the side. "Sutton, isn't that a little mean? Wish to lose weight? Not even God could make that happen. Honestly, she should just wish to wake up in someone else's body."

Chase lets out a low whistle. "Facts. In this lifetime? No shot. I'll eat my shoe the day she fits into that thing."

The room erupts again.

There's something behind Sutton's eyes, buried under all that sweetness. Hunger. She's watching me the way someone watches a slot machine they're sure is about to pay out.

She's waiting for me to wish myself thin, wish myself beautiful, so she can sit back and collect double on everything.

I look at how badly she wants it, and something cold settles in my chest.

Fine. You want a wish? I'll give you one.

I call the name in my head. Erelius.

The room snaps to a stop.

Chase's whistle hangs frozen in the air. Kayla's mouth is still open, locked mid-sneer. Sutton's smile is stuck in place, and with the performance stripped away, all that's left is the greed underneath, raw and obvious, like a bad painting.

Black smoke bleeds down from the ceiling. Erelius drops into view, hanging upside down from nothing, looking around the frozen room like he's browsing a museum exhibit.

"Look at all these faces." He reaches out and pokes Chase in the cheek. "Humans are something else. The way you people come up with new ways to tear each other apart, honestly more creative than anything we demons bother with."

He flips himself upright and drops onto my desk, chin resting in his hand. "So. First wish. What's it gonna be?"

I nod. "I wish that I get at least seven hours of deep sleep every night."

Erelius stares at me.

"Seven hours of… sleep." He opens his mouth, then stops. His eyes find my face, and something clicks.

The next second he completely loses it, laughing so hard the smoke around him churns and rolls. "Oh, that's good. That is genuinely good. Tessa Lockhart." He's still laughing. "Okay then. Wish granted."

He dissolves, and the world rushes back.

I look at Sutton. "My wish was to sleep better."

She stares at me, the smile finally gone. For once, she actually looks thrown off. "That's… that's seriously it? That's what you wished for?"

"What else would I wish for?"

Then it happens.

Sutton sways. Her eyelids drop like something's dragging them down.

"Sutton? Hey, what's wrong?" Kayla grabs her arm.

"I'm… so tired…" The words come out slurred, and then Sutton's knees give out completely. She folds into Kayla's arms and starts snoring, loud enough to fill the whole room.

Dead silence.

"Is she… seriously snoring right now?" Chase looks like he's seen a ghost.

I look down and let myself smile, just a little.

Fourteen hours of sleep, every single day, Sutton. You're welcome.

Fourteen hours of sleep, every single day. I really do wonder what's left of your life when that's non-negotiable.