"Tell me how you want to come," Finn commands. "With my tongue, my fingers, or my cock?"
"Nope!" Nyx yells, bursting through the curtains with his hands held high in surrender. Finn gasps and Eris attempts to cover her bare chest. "Sorry. So sorry." Nyx keeps his eyes glued to the floor. "Eris must have forgotten we were back there. We'll be on our way."
Finn is wide-eyed, his hair disheveled. "We?"
"Hi," I slip out of my hiding spot with an awkward smile. "Don't mind us. We're leaving. So happy for you both, by the way."
Nyx swipes the box ofTreatsleft on the counter beside Eris. "We'll also be taking these. I think we've earned them. No eye-contact for the next twenty-four hours."
Nyx and I slip out the door. We don't make it three feet from the shop before a chill zips down my body and I realize I left my jacket.
"Oh, shit, my coat." I turn to go back inside but Nyx grabs my arm and shakes his head, draping his enormous coat over my shoulders. It hangs by my ankles making me appear childlike.
"Your coat is lost, Kitarni. It lives there now."
"Aren't you cold?" I ask, teeth chattering as a blast of cold air hits my face.
He shakes his head, his eyes distant as if having traumatic flashbacks. "Ancient Basilius blood, remember?"
"Ancient Basilius blood," I mimic, hating how he inherited the ease in the cold temperatures and I didn't. "How can you eat after what just happened? I feel awful we interrupted them."
His eyes widen. "They should feel awful for us! My eyes, Kitarni. My eyes… My ears. I might never have sex again after tonight."
"You of all people shouldn't be a prude about this," I grumble, tugging the flaps of his coat tighter.
"I'm no prude, but I draw a line at kin." He clutches his stomach, his face growing paler by the minute. "It's bad enough I accidentally heard you and Atlas through the wall – "
"I beg you to not finish that sentence!"
"Butthatback there," he tosses a thumb over his shoulder, "was too close for comfort. We should have left the second Finn walked in," he laments, regret taking deep root in his soul.
I roll my eyes, although second-hand embarrassment is creeping across my skin. "We had no idea Finn would randomly confess his love for Eris."
"No, we did not."
We walk in silence for a few seconds before a smile stretches across my face. I elbow him in the ribs. "He finally told her."
"Good for Finn." Nyx finally softens, a smile matching my own appearing. "Looks like everyone is coupling up except me."
"Never know. You might meet a really nice – "
"Yeah, yeah," he waves me off. "I've heard all that before." He fishes the last pastry out of theTreatsbox. "Want to split this with me?"
"Sure," I smile, taking a chunk and sinking my teeth into it.
Love can be confusing. I have a heart full of joy for Eris and Finn finally making their intentions known. But in the same breath, my heart breaks for Nyx being alone. I know his fears. I understand his reasoning. Yet part of me wishes he would give love a chance, even if it's fleeting. That's probably selfish of me,but I adore Nyx far too much to watch him harden himself more than he has already.
Then a sobering thought crosses my mind. What if Nyx likes being on his own? Some of us aren't meant to find a partner. He seems sure of himself and enjoys his own company. But I see how he looks at me and Atlas. How he looked at Eris and Finn, despite the initial shock of the situation. He wants what we have. Even if he won't readily admit it out loud.
I swallow the last of the raspberry treat and snake my arm around his, resting my head against his bicep. In a comfortable silence we make our way back home.
Twenty - Eight
Shaye
Atlas wasn't invited to dinner. None of the Harland brothers were, including Nyx, my Tronovian appointed bodyguard. Tonight's dinner is private and open to three delegates from each kingdom to join.
Thrane, Sylvane and I are representing Elowen. Naturally, Soren and Ronan are the Tronovian figureheads. But I don't know anyone else in the grand hall.
