“Ooh. That’s awkward.” I gave her a look, and she giggled slightly before sobering. “You have to tell him, Lexie. He’ll hate it if he’s the last to know.”
I knew she was right. But I didn’t want to hurt him. And everything was still so new. I sat heavily and rubbed my temples.
“What is it?” Her voice was soft with concern.
“I just feel like I have too many balls in the air and I can’t juggle all of them.”
Between Griff and Finn, digging through Violet’s memories, the Veil getting worse, my people being killed, it was too much. I felt Freya’s cooling touch as she chased away the headache.
There was a brief knock on the door before it opened. I was unsurprised by the ocean scent that preceded him.
“Are you okay?” The worry in his voice drifted through the bond.
I made a muffled sound and flapped my hand in his general direction.
“Princess?”
“I’m fine. I’m just kind of done with the world at the moment.”
I could feel his emotion turn tender.
“I knew he wouldn’t be able to stay away long,” Freya said smugly.
I looked at her from the corner of my eye and saw her smirk. I felt, rather than saw, the look Griff tossed at her.
“What, Griff? It’s not like I didn’t know you were in love with her.”
A chair scraped across the stone floor. Then his broad hands came to my shoulders, massaging the various knots away. I leaned into it. His strong hands felt so good. Flipping my braid over my shoulder, he dug his thumbs into my spine, and I started to feel myself relax.
“Wait—” Freya looked suspiciously between us. “Why haven’t you told her you love her?”
Damn soul channel.
“Not that it’s any of your business, Tagalong?—”
Freya bristled. “She’s my friend! I’m making sure she’s getting what she deserves.”
“Don’t worry, she is.” The tone of his voice made me look up over my shoulder, and he gave me that private smile that always made my stomach turn over. One of his hands spread across my collarbone for leverage as he worked down my spine.
“So? Why haven’t you told her? I know you two love each other. And clearly, you can’t keep your hands off of her.” Freya was relentless.
I muffled a moan as he found a particularly sore spot. With the slight tightening of his hand, I knew he had either heard the moan or felt the emotion of it through the bond.
Freya propped her elbows on the table and rested her chin on herfolded hands. “Well, go ahead. We’re waiting.” She gave me a conspiratorial wink.
“Tagalong, I’m not giving Lexa a declaration of my undying love for your enjoyment. When I do”—he looked at me, one corner of his mouth tilted up—“you can trust you won’t be anywhere nearby. Now, may I have a moment with my princess? Alone.”
She sighed dreamily. “Yes, Griff. You may have a moment alone withyourprincess. I’ll meet you both back in the library.” She stood, then tossed back over her shoulder, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”
“That doesn’t narrow it down,” he called back as the door closed behind her.
I grinned, ready to pick up where our mental conversation had left off as he sat next to me, but one look at his face made my smile die. “What’s wrong?”
“I just got word. There’s another hole.”
“When do we leave?”
“Weare not going anywhere.Iam leaving immediately.” His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.
