A little over an hour later we’re settled into a hotel room and changing into swimsuits in our room.
“I can’t believe you’d waste the money on a hotel when we live a few miles away.” Cambria shakes her head in disbelief as she finishes slipping into her swimsuit. As much as I would adore seeing her in a bikini, the one piece suits her better.
It’s just as absolutely ridiculous as the woman wearing it.
“Is that a sea monster?”
She gasps in shock. “It’s chibi Cthulhu, you monster. Were you raised in a barn?”
The background is solid black with a little green Cthulhu on her stomach and tentacles wrapping all over the swimsuit.
“Tentacle porn. It looks like you’re advocating tentacle porn here.”
We start walking through the halls towards the pool. The place isn’t strict by any means and doesn’t have restricted hours of use since there’s never a lifeguard on duty anyway. It’s part of the paperwork when signing for a room, that you can’t sue them if you drown. Like you aren’t already dead and it’s a moot point, but whatever.
“Of course I am,” she agrees without missing a beat. “Don’t knock it ‘till you try it. It’s a pretty good motto to live by, Atlas, you should give it a whirl. You might not think you’re into something until giving it a go and even if you aren’t, someone else might be and that’s okay.”
Dorian walks backwards so he can be involved in the conversation. “Woah, woah, woah. Until you try it? Do you have secret monster boyfriends you’re stepping out on us with, beautiful?” he teases.
Cambria grins and shrugs. “The heart wants what the heart wants. Who am I to resist the little suckers? I am but a humble fae, innocent to the nefarious schemes of men and monsters.”
Lucien actually snorts. In public. I’m not the only one stunned, the three of us stopping in our tracks to stare at the back of the man in question like he was replaced with a pod person. He looks over his shoulder and rolls his eyes before continuing on and opening the glass door to the pool.
“I’m not crazy, right? That just happened?” I whisper before we open the door to follow him in.
Dorian is full on grinning. “Better pretend it didn’t if you ever hope to hear it again. Damn, Cambria, you’re a dirty little miracle worker.”
She preens under his attention, opening the door with a flourish. “I shall promptly add it to my resume along with my many other useless titles.”
Scooping her up, I throw her over my shoulder as she yelps. “It’s no waterfall, but this will do.” I toss her in first then jump in after.
She emerges sputtering and laughing before flipping me off. Dorian follows our lead and after a brief pause, Luce climbs in as well. We spend hours just horsing around and having a good time, the place to ourselves in the middle of the night.
I think it’s the most free any of us have been, even Lucien joining in. The walls are solid, the only way to see in or out of the room being the glass door to the hall. It’d be obvious enough to see if anyone was spying, so we’re able to breathe easier than we could out on the crowded streets.
“I don’t want to go back tomorrow,” Cambria sighs, leaning back into Lucien’s arms.
“Maybe if we find new ways for you to suck the adoration out of people over here, we can find a way to extend your three day limit. Honestly, you look like you’re holding up pretty well for it being your normal last day.”
Cambria purses her lips as she thinks about it. “You know, you might be onto something. I don’t feel nearly as run down as I usually do.”
Lucien’s eyes light up at the prospect and I imagine he won’t be getting any sleep tonight. It’s our first real break since any of this started, something we can explore to start removing her from her toxic life. If we can find a way to permanently remove her need to return there, we can just keep her safe over here with us.
He shares a look with Dorian and I know I’m right, the two of them seemingly able to read each other’s minds after so many years together. It should make me feel like the odd man out, but it doesn’t. I’m just happy that Lucien killed my pitiful excuse of a father and saved me from that life. If there’s anyone that can figure out a way to save Cambria from hers, it’d be him. I’m just happy to be free, to be a part of things, and I want that for Cambria too.
Dorian climbs out first, toweling off his face and passing one to Cambria as she follows suit. “Still, you should probably get some sleep. No point in pushing things until we’re sure.”
We head upstairs to our room, Cambria climbing into the king sized bed first after shedding her wet clothes and me right behind. Luce and Dorian make up some pitiful excuse like I figured they would, but that just means I get to sleepandnot end up with a knee in my back.
Sleeping in puppy piles may sound good on paper, but in actuality, it’s a lot of limbs jabbing every which way as people roll over in their sleep. It’s why when we stay here we have our own rooms, though Cambria usually ends up climbing in with one of us. Our house fae side is smaller, but they make beds bigger to accommodate the lifestyle, so at least that’s one point in their favor.
“Hey, Atlas?” Cambria mumbles, already half asleep.
I stroke a hand over her hair, loving the feel of her lying on my chest despite how much room we have. “Yeah?”
“Thanks. You know, for being you, too. You guys talk about me a lot, but I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you.” She yawns.
“And who am I, little fae?” I run my hands over the top of her head, her hair still slightly damp.
