Rafe's stare was not amused. Luckily I wasn't trying to be funny. That had been his legit plan.
"How does he think he has any chance of success now?" Jordan asked, the reasonable one.
I shrugged. "No fucking idea. Maybe at this stage, he just plans on rebuilding. Maybe, hiding out, he hasn't heard about the vote yet." The vote that would really change everything.
Rafe left me abruptly, striding over to turn the shower on. Since that was the best fucking idea he'd ever had, I quickly removed my underwear. "I'll pack your clothes," Jordan said as I turned toward the shower. "Be back soon."
I grabbed his forearm. "Be careful. Uriel could be lurking around."
He lifted his palm reader. "Don't worry. I'll hit the alarm if I run into trouble."
Unease flickered through my chest, but Uriel was likely off planning his next attack. He'd recover first, surely. Unless he'd completely changed from the man I knew.
"There and back," Rafe barked from where he was testing the water. "You have ten minutes."
Jordan dropped a kiss on my cheek before shaking his head at Rafe. "You're not the boss of me, fucker. I'll be back in fifteen."
Then he took off before Rafe could murder his best friend.
Striding over, the steam of the shower caressed my skin, and I was dying to wash off the fight. I needed to feel normal, and hopefully the hot water would ease my aches.
"I'll get you some painkillers," Rafe said as I was about to step in. Just as he turned away, I reached out and wrapped my arms around him. Falling against him, I squeezed my eyes shut as I held on. There was a beat of hesitation, and then he wrapped me up in the tightest, firmest, best fucking hug I'd felt in a long time.
Rafe's hug game was strong.
His hold pressed against my bruises, but I welcomed the pain. It made me feel alive, and considering that I'd almost been killed a few times recently, being alive was something I would never take for granted.
"You scared the fuck out of me," Rafe huskily grumbled near my ear. "I'm not strong enough to handle the stress."
"I'm sorry," I whispered back, meaning it. Loving someone was stressful, so I totally understood what he was feeling now. The thought of either of my princes being in danger made me want to do something really bad.
He kissed me fast, his lips pressing to mine as our tongues met in a tangle of need.
"We don't have time for me to love you like I want," Rafe said against my mouth. "So get in the fucking shower, and if you touch yourself, I'll burn the academy to the ground."
I snorted out some laughter as I pulled away. "Little extreme, don't you think?"
Rafe shrugged. "Whatever it takes to murder that fucker so I can spend my time being the one who touches you."
Fuck. My legs trembled a little, and there was a new ache in my body, one right between my thighs.
"Violet," Rafe warned, and I swallowed my moan.
"I promise."
His eyes were dark as they stared me down, then with one more hard kiss, he turned and left the room, no doubt to pack his own clothing since we were leaving tonight.
Stepping under the hot spray, I swallowed down my moan. Bringing him back into the room might end in an orgasm. But it would also mean we'd miss the flight, and I wanted to get away from this place. Away from Uriel.
Seeing him tonight made me want to scrub my skin raw to remove the taint of his touch. I reached for the body wash, lathered it up, and washed every section of my body until my skin was rosy pink and any bruises, except my princes’, were hidden under the abuse of my own hands.
Fuck Uriel. Fuck him right to hell where he belonged.
At least I'd hurt him. I should have finished the job while I had the chance; the odds of ever again finding him injured and distracted like he'd been tonight were slim.
Chapter 31
Everyone was tense and silent as we boarded Rafe's jet, and given the late hour, it was no surprise when most of us spent the entire flight sleeping. I, for one, had a whole shitload of bruises to heal from, and the index finger of my left hand was in a damn splint, bandaged to the next one. So sexy.
