It isn’t good for my heart, I know that much. My past. Krave himself has taught me to not get attached to someone who can never be yours.
But look how that turned out...
“We should stay the night tonight. And possibly tomorrow,” I announce.
Zaviar’s lips curl back into their natural habitat of disgusted annoyance.
There’s my angel.
“Ari, you said you’d figured it all out, though,” Krave whispers, his hesitant gaze slipping from me to my sister.
Corva gives a false smile and continues to watch us with rapt attention.
Krave doesn’t want to say too much in front of her. And neither do I.
“Let’s just stay. For tonight. It’s late, and we should rest anyway.”
Ryke passes a skeptical look to Damien, but Damien’s still watching his brother like his attention itself is keeping the angel safe.
No one responds to my new strange life choices.
I have four strong men surrounding me. Men who have taken magic straight to their heart. Men who have defied heaven and hell just to find their own path in these realms. Men who have changed my lifeforever.
And not one of these fuckers has the demon balls to question me.
I shove a long sigh from my lungs and finally grab Zaviar’s hand. His dark eyebrows lift in surprise as I pull him to his feet. And continue to hold his warm comforting hand as I lead him past my still watchful sister. I grab Ryke’s big hand at the last minute and create a sort of train, pulling along my silent men through the winding wooden house. Four sets of heavy boots pound in unison behind me as I guide them upstairs. It’s a repetitive sound that storms through my head and slowly whisks away all the tumbling thoughts there with the thrilling idea that I’m leading them... to theirbed.
Cold air sifts in, and it hits my face as I trail higher and higher. The steps give way, and then nothing but netting sways before me in the deep darkness of the night.
The moonlight scatters in through the enormous leaves above. It hints at the thin lines that cross all along the nest that these men used to love so much.
“I always thought this bouncy bed was just a kinky setup for you guys to lure women in here,” Krave says huskily, breaking the silence.
Ryke’s deep laughter follows, but none of us really say anything in response.
Until Damien speaks.
“No woman had ever slept here. Just Aries,” he says on a breath that’s just a bit too breathless.
A shiver slides over my skin, suddenly making me all too aware of how loud my heart’s beating.
Why did that sound so romantic? It’s just a bed, Aries.
And then I’m thinking of Catherine. She’d tell me if I was being ridiculous or not. She’d snap me out of my emotions faster than anyone.
But my advisor I always ridiculed in the past... isn’t there.
Why’s she silent? Why isn’t she there anymore? What did I do? Did I lose her?
I pushed too far. I slipped into the past of someone else’s life. I was in Hyval’s life the way Catherine was always in mine.
And I fucked something up by pushing too far.
I always fuck it up in the end.
Warm breath hits my ear as rough palms graze along my arms in a calming back-and-forth sweep, “What’s wrong, Aries?” Damien rasps, the heat of his words dancing across my flesh.
His smooth skin beneath my palms covers the chiseled lines of his muscles as I push my way up his chest and lean into his perfect body. My lips are just beneath his when he dips his head down low. His warmth surrounds me. He’ll protect me for the rest of our lives.
