We leave the bedroom Easton has claimed as his and return to the main sitting room. Torben and Diaval are looking at the maps, and Khal is still sitting in the window box. I move to stand beside him and wait until he turns to look at me. "Does my mate mark pulse in my presence?" Reaching out, I rest my fingertips on where I bit him.
Khal tilts his head, looking at me curiously. "No, should it?" Furrowing his brows, he glances from me to Torben, who shakes his head.
"Why would you ask if it pulses?" Diaval tilts his head slightly, and I can see the bone plates moving under his skin.
"Because mine pulses in her presence. I have nothing in my memories about a mate mark pulsing. Do you?" Easton answers before I have the chance.
Diaval strokes his chin as he paces the room, deep in thought. He suddenly stops and stares at Easton and me, puzzled. "Nothing in my memory to suggest it's happened before. Perhaps Dezi orRevelin would have an answer. Summon your pixie and have her inquire of the others, Feray."
Nodding, I move away from the group and draw in a deep breath. "Ro, I need you." My eyes scan the room until the pixie manifests before me. She looks like she recently came off tour with a punk rock band from the eighties.
"Yes, oh fluffy one?" She flits around, then her hands fly up to her face. Her hand slowly raises and points to the feather blended into the hair on my widow's peak. "Do you know there's a feather stuck in your hair?" She whispers like it's the biggest secret in the world.
"Actually, that's why I called for you. Can you ask Prince Revelin and Dezi if they know why my phoenix mate's mark pulses when I'm near him?" I extend my hand and offer her a place to land.
Ro lands and proceeds to sit on my palm, kicking her feet, watching me. "So, Mr. Drama Llama Picky Pants finally admitted his feelings, huh?" She leans forward, putting her elbows on her knees and her hands under her chin, smiling up at me.
Khal mutters in the corner that it took me almost getting eaten by a Wendigo to do it. He slaps his hands over his mouth and whips his head in our direction. Ro's jaw drops, then she vanishes from sight.
"Wonderful. Fi is going to have the mother of all fits." My emotions spiral out of control until Torben grabs hold of me and crushes me to his chest.
"Breathe, little wolf. You are safe. Nothing is going to happen."
I feel the moment Easton and Khal lay a hand on me. My nerves almost instantly settle, and I can breathe again. Torben has me turned so I can see Diaval watching us intently. Slowly, my nerves settle, and the guys release me.
"We should probably get some sleep. I want to get up early and leave before most of the guests here awaken." Diaval turns and heads to the room he claimed as his.
Khal steps forward and presses his lips to my forehead, breathing in deeply. "Sleep, Precious. I'll keep watch over everyone." Reluctantly, he releases me, and Torben takes over.
"I'm right over there if you need me." He points to his door on the other side of the bathroom, on the same side as Easton's room. His large hand caresses my jaw, and he tilts my head back and kisses me softly before heading to bed.
I watch him leave, then look at Easton, who suddenly seems uncomfortable. Reaching out, I take his hand and lead him back to his room. Without asking, I dig through his clothing bag and pull out an undershirt, laying it out for me to sleep in. I strip out of the sundress and lay it over the chair before slipping into his shirt. "Are you going to sleep or stand there watching me sleep?" Tilting my head, I watch him remain frozen for a few moments.
Easton bites his bottom lip and looks sheepish. "I don't normally sleep in my human form. This will be a first for me."
"Oh? Should we purchase a perch for you? I mean, I don't want you uncomfortable." I look around the room—there's nothing here that would withstand his fire.
"If you're wondering, I'm not always on fire. So that helps with finding a place for me to sleep. If I can't sleep in my skin, I'll wait until you're sleeping before shifting and leaving the bed."He forces a smile and leaves only his boxers on when he climbs into bed with me. Easton curls his body around me, and I almost instantly fall asleep, wrapped up in his warm embrace.
Chapter 8
Khal
The sun risesover the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow that spills through the window of our cozy inn suite. I'm perched on the window seat, the world outside painted in hues of orange and pink—a breathtaking canvas to start the day. It's a serene moment, one of those rare pockets of tranquility in the chaos of life.
Amidst this peaceful awakening, the gentle snores of my roommates provide a steady, comforting rhythm. The sound is like a lullaby, and I can't help but smile at the thought that even in sleep, we share this small space and the memories that come with it.
A familiar clinking sound comes from the kitchen, announcing Diaval's presence—he's making coffee. His early morning mutterings are quite comical to listen to as he moves around the compact kitchen. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafts through the air, mingling with the scent of the new day.
I stretch my arms and legs, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin as I breathe in the morning's freshness from the slightly open window. A yawn escapes my lips, a natural response to theearly hour, but there's a sense of contentment that washes over me. As soon as we get into the SUV, I'll sleep and be ready to watch over everyone again.
Diaval, ever perceptive, glances in my direction, his hazel-green eyes meeting mine for a brief moment. There's a silent understanding between us, as if he knows I need a jolt of caffeine to stay awake long enough to get everyone on the road. With a nod of gratitude, I accept the steaming cup he offers. The warmth of the mug in my hands is a soothing contrast to the cool morning air. I know I shouldn't be drinking coffee this morning, but it smells too good to pass up.
Feray is the next to emerge. She's rubbing her eyes with the backs of her hands, yawning. "Do we have bacon?" Without hesitation, she climbs into the window seat with me and rests her head on my chest, curling up again.
"We unintentionally overslept this morning. Tregar will deliver breakfast posthaste, then we leave." Diaval's dragon has him on edge, and I'm not sure what's bothering him. He woke up several times over the course of the night, making sure I was still awake, then double-checking the locks before going back to bed.
If Feray hadn't decided I was her personal pillow, I would approach the grumpy dragon to see what's eating him. Just as someone knocks on the suite's door, Torben exits his room, staring toward the sound. Diaval answers and accepts the tray from whomever is on the other side. The tray has every possible breakfast food imaginable on it. Diaval moves to the counter and prepares a plate and a glass of orange juice before bringing it over to Feray.
