***
Griffin startled awake, his eyes blinking a few times. It was still dark out, no light seeping through the stained glass in the room.
“Raven.” The moan was soft.
Griffin’s anger fueled, his jealousy taking control.
Are they fucking with me right here?
“Julian, wake up, you’re sleeping.” Raven’s soft voice filtered through. “Stop, it’s okay. Please, you have to let me go.” Her concern propelled Griffin into consciousness.
He rolled over to find that Raven was wrapped in Julian’s arms, but he was squeezing her half to death. She attempted to struggle out of his hold, but it was clear she didn’t have the leverage she needed to do so.
Griffin reached forward and swiftly grabbed hold of Julian’s arms.
I will break them if I have to.
“Please don’t hurt him,” she gasped. “This is my fault.”
Griffin narrowed his eyes, but didn’t argue. He was able to peel Julian far enough away for Raven to escape. He replaced her with a pillow and tugged her directly into his arms.
He watched in anger as Julian squeezed the pillow, deforming it until he was sure it would never be the same shape again.
That could have been Raven.
“How is this your fault?” Griffin stared down at her as he cradled her body to his. She wore a sleep gown that was silk against his skin while he was in nothing but his boxers. His cock hardened by the second as she accidentally rubbed against it. Electricity skirting across his skin at each place she touched him. “Hold. Still.” He bit out.
“It’s my fault because no one can walk into the Masquerade and remain sane. And for him to have done it, become a Game Warden, and then the Host? It is my fault he was there.”
“No,” Griffin bit at her ear. “It is not. He made those choices. He knew what he was getting himself into. He made a deal with Anadil and she had the upper hand. She always has the upper hand.”
“But how? How does she seem to know everything but five steps in advance?” Raven craned her neck up at him. Her glassy eyes met his, sending shots of heat into Griffin’s chest.
“Information. She dealt with it just as you did. She just had the luxury of more.” He attempted to remain level-headed, to keep his cool.
“But I—” Raven’s tongue lashed out to wet her lips.
It was his undoing. His self-control snapping in a single instance.
Griffin couldn’t take it any longer, his mouth captured hers. This time she reacted, but instead of pushing him away, she matched him. Stroke for stroke. Swipe for swipe. He tightened his hold until he could feel all of her curves. Her hardened nipples pebbling up and tracing against his skin.
I need to claim her.
The thought was a glass shattering on the ground.
He released her. He knew if he didn’t, he would push for more. But now wasn’t the time for that. They needed to rest, to prepare for tomorrow. For theparty.
“Get some sleep,” Griffin told her, tucking her head under his chin.
Raven growled at him. “Why are you doing this to me? Playing with my emotions?”
“It’s for your own sake.” He hummed, circling back to their conversation before. “Do you know why Anadil was called Nightingale?”
Raven shook her head against him.
“Grypheem’s emblem is a Griffin. And Luscinia? It’s a Nightingale.”
Chapter 16
