His jacket slips off his shoulders and relief hits me like a train. I sag, eyes fluttering closed. The bed shifts as Valen slides in on my other side. Our eyes meet and his impassive expression flickers. A glimpse of the stress and exhaustion from a day full of fear takes my breath away. I reach for him, drawing him to my chest. Valen shifts, his ear pressing against my beating heart. I slide my fingers into his messed hair and wrap my leg around his.
It feels so good and not because it’s the first time in hours I’ve felt warm again, though that is a plus. My leg wraps around Valen’s hips and draws him in tight until there is no air between his body and mine. I shiver, pressing my lips against his hair. There are so many things to say to him, so many thanks, and so many questions, but I’m too tired. It can wait.
Lucas’ rumble reverberates against my back. “Is this what you imagined when you told us to flip a coin?”
I scoff and kick him as best I can. He huffs a laugh, tightening his hold on me, his leg shifting between mine until it tangles with Valen’s.
Valen’s sleepy growl tugs my lips into a smile. “This doesnotmake us friends.”
Lucas hums. “Sure.”
CHAPTER 23
The bed shifts and I blink awake. The sunlight streaming through the small window burns and I squeeze my eyes closed again. I turn, but the weight of Valen still nestled into my chest keeps me from going far. My heart flutters, the mingling scents of both men teasing my senses. My thighs shift along Valen’s and I’m acutely aware of how naked he is.
The hard length of him against my hip sends waves of memories crashing over me. All the things I’d done with him, all the things I could do with him, wake me up better than any coffee could.
A warm hand brushes my long hair back and I turn towards Lucas. My face falls. He’s standing fully clothed beside the bed, his leather jacket in his now unbandaged hands. Disappointment strains my voice. “Where are you going?”
Lucas smirks like he knows where my mind was, and I blush hotly. I spent the night twined with two impossibly sexy, naked men and didn’t get even one orgasm out of it. I try to keep most of the soul-crushing disappointment off my face.
His deep voice rumbles, “I’m going to scope out the path to the bookshop and see what we’re dealing with.”
“I’ll go with you.” But exhaustion keeps me glued in bed. I thump back down from my meager attempt to lift. “Or, maybe not.” A strange hollowness in my chest draws my hand to it. My heart thumps beneath my palm. I rub, brows furrowing.
Lucas scans me. “Tired?”
“Yeah. I think so.”
“Stay in bed and rest. I’ll be fine.”
I drop my hand to my stomach. “How are your rings?”
He flexes his fingers. “Better. Nora’s shit worked wonders. She’s brewing another salve that should help fix the rest of the damage.”
I slide my hand in his and bring it closer to my face. There’s raised scarring beside each black band with freshly healed pink skin. My lips thin, my thumb brushing over it.
His voice softens. “I’ll be okay.”
It’s agony to let him go when every instinct is screaming at me to hold him. It’s been too many close calls, too close together. But he’s right. Scouting ahead is a smart, strategic move that Jinx would approve of. And I’m beyond ready to get back home. Reluctantly, I nod and release him. “Be safe.”
He slides a fresh flat cap on. Where he found it, I’ll never know. His roguish smirk flutters my heart. “Sounds boring.”
I roll my eyes and he straightens to pull on his jacket. He nods towards the bedside table where a plate of fresh scones sits steaming. “Nora made them before she went down to open the shop. Eat and I’ll be back for lunch.”
And just like that, he’s gone, the bedroom door clicking shut behind him.
The silence brings on unwanted memories from the day before. A vision of Aunt Vi hanging above the throne turns my stomach. Grief sinks deep into me, pressure building behind my eyes until they squeeze shut, my body coiling tightly against the intrusive emotion. A ghost chills over my skin. With a slow,quavering breath, I cast the memory from my mind, burying it deep in my psyche.
Drawing the covers up over my shoulder, I wrap tightly around Valen to steal his warmth. His arm drapes over me to draw me closer. He’s so peaceful asleep, so soft. His hair is loose and draped over his eyes. Gently, I stroke the strands back, my fingers lingering on his cheekbones.
A realization blooms in me, like a budding rose unfurling in the summer heat. My heart clenches, my throat tightening, rasping my words into the morning silence. “It was you.”
His eyes slide open, their usual coldness absent.
My thumb skims over his cheek again, our faces barely inches apart. “The hidden message in Viola’s letter. You created it.”
Slowly, his face shifts like a mask melting away to reveal the sad exhaustion well-hidden underneath. He nods.
