15. Adrianna

15

ADRIANNA

Y ou would think after Raiden thoroughly fucked me in the back of the carriage that I would be drunk on pleasure and ready to sleep. You would think after re-entering our home and delving through the remnants of what happened in the secret passageway, I’d be deliriously tired. You would think that. You would expect that.

Yet here I am, staring up at the ceiling as time passes by. Sleep eludes me, even as my men sleep beside me.

Nothing feels lonelier than being awake for the twilight hour. It’s haunting, it’s eery, it’s painful.

Despite my body being completely worn out, my mind is alive. Circling and circling with thoughts of Clementine, the attacks, and where the hell is the best place to start with it all? My thighs still ache, my muscles all but jelly, but my brain can’t take the hint that I need to rest.

I hear the ruffling of sheets as someone turns over to my left. I remain still, not wanting to disturb anyone, but the groggy sigh that echoes in my ears a moment later makes it clear someone else is awake.

Shifting my gaze to the left, it’s too dark to see much other than the outline of his eyes, which seem narrowed into slits, like his dragon is at the surface, enabling him to see in the dark.

He’s right beside me, Raiden tucked soundly on the other side of him, as Cassian and Brody fill the remainder of the bed on my right side. I swear a tired smile drapes over his lips, but I can’t be sure. He lifts his hand, stroking his thumb down my cheek as he whispers. “How long have you been awake?”

I sigh, my eyes heavy to no avail. “It feels like forever,” I admit, and he presses a kiss to my temple.

“Maybe you need to disconnect from the room and try again in a little while,” he offers, and my eyebrows gather in confusion.

Disconnect from the room? What does that even mean?

Before I can ask, he slips from the bed sheets and edges down the bed, taking my hand as he goes. He moves silently, guiding me through the dark room. He doesn’t say a word until we’re out in the hallway, standing toe to toe as he tries to flatten my messy hair.

“You’ve been awake for too long in there. You need to disconnect, venture around the castle for a while, and try again,” he explains, blindly lacing our fingers together as I nod in agreement.

At this stage, I’ll try just about anything.

Tugging me along, he guides me through the hall, down the stairs, and toward the kitchen. I’m effortlessly placed at the dining table before he turns for the cupboards, clanging mugs and whatever else is hiding in there. I can’t see what he’s doing from this angle with his wide frame in the way. And it doesn’t help that he’s shirtless.

A shirtless wide frame, taut muscles, and endless dark ink stretching across his skin.

It’s a distraction. A fucking hot one.

All too soon, he’s turning to face me, two mugs in hand and the sweet scent of chamomile growing stronger as he nears. “Do you want to sit in here, find somewhere cozier, or venture outside for a little fresh air?” he asks, tired eyes fixed on mine as he waits patiently for my answer.

Clearing my throat, I take a moment to appreciate his bare chest on display before I find my response. “Would you be okay going outside?”

“Outside is perfect,” he replies instantly, nodding for me to follow him as he continues to hold the mugs. “But don’t bother putting on shoes. Your bare feet in the grass will work wonders,” he adds, sauntering toward the back door as I frown at him.

“It will?”

He shifts the mugs into one hand so he can open the door and a soft, tired smile curls his lips as he nods. “It will. It’s grounding, and at the moment, you’ve exploded into a whole new role, leaving you no choice but to deal with the new responsibilities that come with it, and you need something to tether you again.”

I blink at him, his words resonating in my soul the moment he speaks them, and I nod, following him out into the night air in my pajamas and bare feet. Thankfully the pajamas left out for me last night were silk pants and a soft button-up shirt so the crisp air isn’t so frigid as we head out into the garden.

He finds a spot, dead center in the grass, and I take a second hovering on the edge before I press my foot into the dewy blades. His eyes find mine, the moon shimmering in the distance as he nods for me to join him.

I take a deep breath, I don’t know why, but it feels necessary as I hover my foot over the grass. My mind is making a bigger deal out of it than necessary, so I lower my foot, feeling the blades of grass under my toes as I slowly cut the distance between us.

The sensation is strange, but when I come to a stop beside him, my toes curl and I take a deep breath, one that vibrates through my body and feels… soothing. Kryll takes a seat, placing the mugs carefully in the grass, and I drop down beside him. His arm is around me in a flash, grounding me along with the blades beneath us, and I take another deep breath.

Silence engulfs us as we sit, drink, and soak in the moonlight. My mind still whirls with thoughts, but the speed has slowed and the stress and anxiousness has somewhat lifted.

The chamomile warms my bones, the cup discarded with every drop sipped before I tuck myself in against Kryll’s side.

“What’s keeping you up, Princess?” he asks, and I consider pretending the breeze carried his words away so I don’t have to answer, but keeping everything locked inside isn’t making anything better.

“I want the most powerful and effective plan of action to magically formulate and implement itself. I want the threat to the kingdom gone so we can actually focus on growing and strengthening it instead of attempting to protect it. I want to thrive, but this almost feels like surviving, and as much as I’ve pulled my head out of the sand and dusted my tangled emotions off, I still can’t figure out where to start. I should know the answer already. I’m the queen. It’s my responsibility. If I don’t know what to do, then how are the people supposed to rely on me?” Every word sprouts from my lips helplessly. He doesn’t push, he doesn’t interrupt, he simply listens. Only when he’s certain I’m done does he run a soothing hand down my back before he speaks.

“Can I tell you a story?”

I frown, not expecting that response, but I nod regardless. He takes a moment, his tongue sweeping over his bottom lip as he thinks while staring up at the moon.

“I’m not supposed to be here, Beau either, but it’s what we chose and what my mother finally agreed to,” he offers, my mind running in a thousand directions as I wait for him to explain further. “My father died in this kingdom, insistent upon protecting it, despite my mother’s wishes. He wouldn’t listen. It seems my brother and I got that from him too.” His lip curls, memories taking over his thoughts as his eyes glaze over. “After that, my mother wanted to keep Beau and me locked away in the Dragon Kingdom, safe from harm and under her protection, but it’s like our dragons wanted more. Needed more.”

He looks down, his arm gone from around my shoulders and his fingers intertwined in his lap. I place my hand on top, silently offering my support.

“When we got news of the academy, we both knew we needed to be involved somehow. It was never about expanding the Dragon Kingdom to the Floodborn Kingdom, but allowing the Floodborn Kingdom to thrive like we have for so long. With that in mind, we started to sneak out of the kingdom, watch the people, understand what was going on, and that’s when I met Brody. Well, technically, I met Arlo first, our fathers having been familiar with one another, but the day I met Brody led to the day I met Cassian, which led to the day I somehow became friends with a cranky vampire.” We both snicker in amusement, a lightness taking over his story as he squeezes my hand. “Which is great, my friends are my brothers, but all of that happened to lead me here to you.”

“How did you get your mom to allow you to leave the kingdom?” I ask, acutely aware of the stealth and strength that woman has.

He shrugs, the smile still on his lips. “She could see our cause, our beliefs. She had known of our sneaking out from the first time we did it.”

“Of course she did,” I muse. “But I’m trying to figure out the key part of your story,” I admit, glancing at him with a mixture of wonder and confusion.

“I came here to follow in my father’s footsteps. I came here to make a difference, but none of that is possible without you. It took me an embarrassing amount of time to realize that, but the moment I truly acknowledged the pull you have on me, everything shifted, everything made sense. I don’t have the answers to free our kingdom from Clementine’s threats, but I’m here with you every step of the way to help any way I can to make it possible.”

My heart warms at his support and ability to see strength in everything, and I sigh, leaning my head against his shoulder until our moment of solitude is interrupted by a deathly cackle.

“Well, well, and here I was thinking I had a positive impact on everyone. Now you’re truly painting me as the villain. You should consider where you’re pointing those fingers when you’re not so wholesome yourselves.”

My body stills as I gape at the figure standing a few yards away, hands on her hips as she sneers in our direction.

Fuck.

“Clementine.”