19. Adrianna

19

ADRIANNA

I cling to the edge of sleep, desperate for it to envelop me in its dark and warm embrace. But the extra warm embrace that actually lingers around my waist quickly transports me to the present, denying the plea of my dreams.

Shifting, I quickly realize there's an entire body pressed against mine, and last night swiftly comes back to mind. The hand engulfing my hip clenches, their fingertips digging into the sheet that falls over my flesh, and I shiver.

Groggily, I peer over my shoulder into the deep and heated eyes of Raiden. His smolder is back in full force as he strokes his thumb over my cheek.

"Good morning," he murmurs, his voice thick and rich, like whiskey without a single drop of ice. Not that I would know, but I remember reading that in a book once, and this moment seems fitting of that exact term.

"Good morning." I lean into his touch, acutely aware that he needs a reminder that all is not forgiven, but that can wait for the time being. My eyelids threaten to close, but the sun that drifts from my bedroom window makes me pause.

Glancing at the time, I startle, throwing him off me as I push to sit up.

"What the fuck! Why didn't my alarm go off?" I splutter, swinging my legs over the side of the bed, and Raiden's hand clamps down on my shoulder.

"You looked cute sleeping. I didn't want to disturb you," he offers, making my spine stiffen as my eyes widen.

"We're going to be late."

"We're good. I picked up food."

I gape at him, a part of me wanting to shake some sense into him, but the smell of chocolatey goodness fills my senses as he lifts a chocolate croissant in my direction.

"Thank you," I manage, taking the pastry from his grasp, ignoring the grin that spreads across his face as I sink my teeth into the deliciousness. I groan, basking in the sweet start to my morning.

"No problem," he rasps, trying to discreetly adjust himself beneath his pants. It's only then that I notice he's fully dressed. It would make sense with the breakfast in my hands, but my brain is slow to start this morning.

He reaches behind him, and a moment later there's a hot mug of coffee being wafted in front of me. Holy fuck, yeah. I take it, gulping down the slightly too-hot gift from the coffee gods before I murmur my thanks.

"You've been busy," I state, cocking a brow at him, and he grins.

"I had someone to be busy for." He says it so casually, like there's barely any weight to those words, but I feel them. Every ounce.

A knock echoes from my bedroom door, making me frown as I glare at it.

"Ignore them," Raiden grumbles with a sigh, and I pause.

"Them?"

"They're not happy that I'm in here, and they're out there," he offers, like it makes total sense, but my eyebrows gather even more.

"Who?"

"Who do you think?" he says with a scoff, and I'm up on my feet in the next breath.

I make sure to swallow down the remainder of my croissant before I pry the door open to reveal three very irritated men.

Kryll, Brody, and Cassian.

They each quickly try to shield their emotions, masking their harsh expressions with a soft grin, but it's too late. I saw. It's almost creepy to see Cassian smile like that; it's so unnatural it makes me cringe. A frown rests on his face at all times. I can't adjust to this. At least Brody and Kryll have experience with their lips twitching upward.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, opting to ignore their poor acting.

"Making sure you're okay," Kryll explains, swiping an inked hand through his red hair, and I grin.

"I'm fine."

A snicker comes from behind me. One look back, and it's clear Raiden is loving this. "Yeah, but he flies past your window every morning and had a real shock when he saw me lying beside you," he offers, making my jaw fall slack as I almost drop my coffee in surprise.

"You do what?" I squeak, turning back to the shifter in question, who blinks at me in shock before glaring at the vampire over my shoulder.

"Ignore him," he growls, baring his teeth, but I think I'm entitled to more information with regard to this.

Before I can push for more, someone's cell phone goes off, and luckily for Kryll, it's his.

"Fuck," he grunts, glaring down at the device as he takes a step back, giving Cassian the opportunity to edge forward and take his place.

"Hello? Yeah…Yeah…Okay…Yeah, thanks, asshole." He ends the call, sighing as he tucks his cell phone away.

"What's going on?" Brody asks, a sense of uncertainty drifting from him like he can tell something's going on.

"That was my brother. A heads up that there's going to be another practice trial today."

Damn. Already? I haven't recovered from the last one, and I'm barely making do after yesterday, but the kingdom waits for no one, and that includes me.

"Are you going to be up for it after yesterday?" Raiden asks, immediately behind me, his fingers gliding down my spine with a sense of comfort as he looks down at me with worried eyes.

"Of course."

"If you're not?—"

"I am," I interject, refusing to bow down or look weak in front of anyone. Including them.

"Can I check?" Brody asks, eyebrows rising in hope before I shake my head.

"You already did when you healed me yesterday, remember?" I give him a pointed look and his gaze drops to the floor in defeat.

Raiden clamps his hand on my shoulder, giving me a little shake as he clears his throat, spreading a wide smile across his face.

"It's fine. She's fine. It's all fine because we're sticking together this time."