Chapter 36

I woke up feeling well rested, but at the same time with a faint pounding on my head. Still closing my eyes, I let out a contented sigh and rolled my head, trying to gather my hair because I knew from experience that it would be a mess in the mornings.

My head froze in the process of moving as I realized that some of my hair was stuck somewhere. Lying still as dead, I concentrated on my surrounding. Then I heard it. The sound of breathing. Someone was breathing on my bed. I listened more closely. No, breathing wasn't the right word. Someone was sniffing on my bed, or rather, on my hair.

With further more concentration, I registered an arm laying over my stomach. Then I felt the tiniest movement from my right, as if some creature was nuzzling my neck.

Slowly, cautiously, I opened my eyes and narrowed them at the arm that was still holding me. When the arm didn't move itself from my point of vision, I trailed my eyes up the arm and shifted sligh