33. Adrianna

33

ADRIANNA

S taring at the empty spot where Raiden had stood moments ago, I brace myself against the stone wall behind me as I try to wrap my head around what the fuck just happened.

We went from fighting the frenzied to fucking to…leaving?

"Are you sure he's going to be okay?" I murmur, concern swarming my gut as I wipe a hand down my bloodied face.

A part of my brain reminds me that I'm not supposed to care, but there's no denying it anymore. Not after that. Not that I can even explain what that was.

I'm so screwed.

"He's a big boy. He can handle himself," Brody answers, crouching down beside me. A soft smile touches the corner of his mouth as fatigue swirls in his eyes.

"I know that. He just…"

"He just fucked you so good, you don't want the high to end yet?" he says with a smirk.

"Fuck off," I grumble, unable to hide the smile from my face as I shove at his shoulder. The second I do, I wince, my nose scrunching with the sudden pain that shoots down my arm.

"Are you hurt?" He leans forward, forgetting the humor as seriousness washes over him.

"I'm fine," I mumble just before he presses against the top of my arm and my face makes the same expression again.

"That look says otherwise," he points out with a knowing stare, and I sigh.

"Is our fae princess acting all stubborn and…princessy?" Kryll asks, and my gaze narrows on him as he stands with his hands tucked in his pocket. Blood stains his cloak, but for the most part, he's clean. Not as clean as Brody, who doesn't have a single drop on him.

"That's rude," I say with a pout, and Brody snickers.

"That's cute," he retorts, booping my nose with a grin before offering me his hand. "Let's get you home so we can take a look at your arm."

My stomach turns as I take his hand with my other arm and stand. "That's going to mean nausea, isn't it?" The thought of moving anywhere above the speed of a snail is completely off-putting right now.

"No, I've got you, Dagger," he breathes, stroking a loose tendril of hair back off my face. Thank goodness for his badass mage abilities. I like him even more now.

He pulls me in close, ready to move us, when I plant a hand on his chest. "Wait, what about Flora and Arlo?" I balk, remembering their involvement, but I've been so caught up in myself that I don't even know where they are, and that doesn't sit well with me.

"They're both good. They returned to the academy with Tora and the spectating assholes," Cassian grunts, making his presence known as his gaze rakes over me from head to toe.

I roll my eyes at the mention of the students who quite happily did nothing before my mind drifts back to seeing Flora in action.

"She was unreal," I mutter, and Brody squeezes my good arm in comfort.

"She was awesome."

"She was," I confirm, beaming at the strength Flora showed. A lowly fucking fae doing far more than anyone else.

"So was he," Kryll adds, referring to Arlo, and I nod as Cassian rolls his eyes.

"Sure," he grumbles, not appreciating the praise going anywhere else.

"But—"

"Not as awesome as you, Princess," Kryll states, interrupting my retort and distracting me altogether.

"Stop," I grumble, waving him off, and he grins.

Before anyone can say another word, the ground shifts beneath our feet and Cassian steps in, touching my neck and Brody's arm as Kryll reaches for the wolf. When the world stills around us again, I quickly recognize the room we're in.

"Cassian's?" I ask as everyone takes a step back, and the man himself shrugs.

"It's the biggest we've got access to since Raiden's not here," he offers, and the mention of my vampire has my gut clenching with worry and fear all over again.

"He was bleeding bad," I murmur, my hand lifting to my neck instinctively.

"But it stopped, so don't worry. What you need to worry about is how he's going to replenish himself," Cassian says, an almost snicker at his lips, and I frown.

"What?"

"You know," Brody interrupts, snapping his teeth together before pretending to suck from his wrist and rub his belly in delight.

I gulp, recalling the ferocious pain that burned through my body when Vallie did the exact same thing to me, and it sends a shiver down my spine.

"I worry for his victim," I admit, shaking my head when Cassian gives me a surprised look.

"I thought you would be a willing target."

My head rears back. "After Vallie's attack? No fucking way."

Brody leans in, cupping my cheek and arching my face to stare into his eyes. "I mean, she let her pointy tips poison you. That's what I was healing. Raiden wouldn't do that. Besides, I've been told it's quite an experience," he offers, wagging his eyebrows and leaving my brain like mush.

"That sounds like someone has experienced it to know," I blurt, raising my eyebrows at him, but he just shrugs. Fucking shrugs.

"Jealous?" he asks, booping my nose again, and I sigh.

"Very."

"Of it being done, or?—"

"Of someone doing it to you," I snap, my irritation hard to hide as the green-eyed monster takes hold of me.

"Noted," he replies with a smirk, and Kryll smacks him across the back of the head.

"Don't get smug," he grumbles, making Brody smile wider.

"I would never."

He's full of shit, and we all know it.

"The bath is run for you," Cassian states, and I turn to him with wide eyes.

"Bath?"

"You don't have a bath?" Kryll asks, frowning at me, and I realize the only time he's been in my room was the moment he entered the window and rolled straight out of the door because of the ward Brody put in place.

"We have a communal shower area. I'm surprised Cassian hasn't told you about it. He has so much experience in there," I muse, appreciating the shift in conversation to lighter topics. Especially when Cassian rolls his eyes at me.

"Of course he does," Brody grumbles, a flicker of jealousy shining in his eyes as he places his hand on my back. "Let's get you in there so I can look at your arm, shall we?"

"It's fine," I insist as we head into the marbled bathroom, and I'm left gaping in wonder again. It's just as stunning as the last time I was in here, and a far cry from the bathroom stalls in the fae building.

"Of course it is," Brody states, and I pout.

"I'm not lying."

"Of course you're not."

Turning my attention from the cream marble surfaces that touch every inch of the bathroom to the mage beside me, I stand tall. "I'm not. Look."

I move my arm, lifting it beside me, but I don't manage more than a few inches before I lower it again with a wince.

"You're a terrible liar, Dagger," he says with a chuckle, and I roll my eyes at him.

"Whatever," I grumble under my breath, the topic long forgotten as he helps me out of my blood-stained clothes.

Each layer of material hits the floor with a slap, and I cringe as I catch sight of my red-smeared hair that no longer looks all blonde and golden after tonight's events.

Brody wastes no time guiding me to the huge bath as soon as I'm undressed, and I groan with delight as the hot water coats my skin. As soon as I'm seated, he hollers for Kryll, who appears a moment later.

"Watch her while I run to get what I need," he orders, and I shake my head.

"I don't need?—"

"Shh," he murmurs, planting a kiss on my temple. "I won't be long, Dagger," he adds before rushing from the room.

I sink lower in the water, letting the bubbles float around me as I try to let the strain and tension ease from my limbs. A calmness settles over me, one I never thought I'd feel again after the adrenaline coursed through my veins earlier, and I sigh with contentment.

"You were fearless out there," Kryll states, leaning back against the ornate vanity, the black ink along his neck flashing in his reflection in the mirror behind him.

I shrug, faltering at the compliment. "I was just acting on instinct."

"Well, those are some unbelievable instincts," he insists, making me smile as I hum in acknowledgment.

"How mad is your brother going to be tomorrow?"

"You mean today?" he states, pointing at the window, and I startle at the first glimpse of the sun shining through the frosted glass.

"We have to face lessons today," I say with a gasp, weariness making my body ache at the prospect.

"Oh, fuck no. His anger will hold a day," Kryll replies with a shake of his head, and my body relaxes at his outburst.

"But he will be mad," I reiterate, and he sighs.

"Internally, he'll be mad he couldn't join us. Externally, he'll be furious," he admits, but I can't seem to be upset over the anticipation of it. We did what was right, and I don't care what anyone else says.

"Sounds fun," I muse, and he smirks.

"It won't be, but we can rest and take the day. We're exhausted from protecting the kingdom. They can deal with it," he insists, and I can't deny the fact that I like the sound of that.

With a soft curl to my lips, I let my eyes fall closed as I enjoy this moment to relax.

"I'm back. Miss me?" Brody asks, stepping into the bathroom, and Kryll scoffs.

"Like a hole in the head."

Brody doesn't even acknowledge the remark as he drops to his knees beside the bathtub. "I think I have what I need here," he explains to me, jingling a few vials and trinkets in front of him as he starts a soft chant.

"Sano. Consano. Sano. Consano. Sano. Consano. Sano. Consano. Sano. Consano."

Warmth spreads across my arms as he brushes the surface with a few sprigs of sage dipped in a powder. As the heat recedes, I lift my arm, feeling no pain or resistance.

"Thank you."

His smile hits me straight in the chest. "You're welcome. Now, let's get you in bed."

At his words, Cassian appears at the doorway with an oversized t-shirt in his hand.

"That's not my?—"

"Shut up and get in it, Alpha," he retorts before I can continue to argue, and I don't have it in me to push.

Brody and Kryll step out of the room as Cassian approaches with the t-shirt in one hand and a fluffy towel in the other. He stands patiently beside me as I dry myself off, my magic eager to take over, but feeling his eyes on me as I use the towel overcomes everything else.

All too quickly, I reach for the t-shirt, our fingers touching just enough to send a shiver down my spine, but my core protests. It's been battered in the best possible way in the past twenty-four hours by two of my Kryptos. She needs a break, despite the rest of my body being eager for attention.

"Any news from Raiden?" I ask, trying to pull my head from the gutter, and he shakes his head.

"Not yet," he says, tugging the hem of his t-shirt in place at my thighs before taking my hand and leading me into the bedroom. He doesn't stop until I'm perched on the side of his bed, his sheets soft beneath me.

"And you expect me to sleep?" I retort, suppressing a yawn, and he shakes his head again.

"No, I expect you to rest."

I shuffle until my back hits the headboard, and Brody appears to pull the sheets back.

"That means letting my guard down," I mutter, uncertainty curling in my throat.

Brody leans in, cupping my cheek. The softness of his smile doesn't match the ferocity in his gaze as he speaks. "Dagger, let's be real. I think you've already done that."