53. Chapter 53

Chapter fifty-three

C losing the door softly behind him, Nik fought against every instinct screaming to crawl back into Havens bed and hold her close. Tonight had been something out of a dream, both a good one and a nightmare. He couldn't believe she'd agreed to marry him. Not only had she agreed but actually bound herself to his father with a deal.

He didn't actually blame her of course, Nik knew what his father was like. He also knew his father wouldn't hesitate to kill everyone he'd threatened given half the chance. Even though she had agreed, you could never be too sure when it came to his father. Nik needed to make sure none of what he was planning fell back onto Haven .

They would arrange a wedding, Nik would be sure everything was just right. From the dress to the flowers and everything in between, it would be perfect. Too bad he'd never make it through the ceremony.

Nik went straight to Delroys room, it was early but he knew his friend would get up as soon as he heard what Nik had to say. Trying the doorknob, it was locked as Nik had suspected it would be. Knocking would be too loud and draw too much attention seeing as Delroys room was smack dab in the middle of a busy hall filled with other guards' rooms.

Taking out the small kit Nik carried everywhere, he pulled out his favorite lockpick and set to work. A longer amount of time than Nik would have liked passed before he heard the distinct click telling him he'd succeeded.

Pushing open the door, Nik immediately felt bad about interrupting the scene before him.

Delroy was laid out on a full bed shoved into a corner of the small room with Roman snuggled next to him. Both were obviously naked and fast asleep. Delroys arm held Roman tight against him, the two of them tucked safely together as Nik had been with Haven only moments ago.

As much as his best friend liked to deny it, Nik knew he felt something for Roman. They'd been hooking up off and on for almost as long as they'd known one another. Every time Roman was in town or Delroy was over in Norwood the pair could be found together.

Of course, both Delroy and Roman claimed they were nothing more than a good fuck to each other. Nik knew otherwise. He saw the soft smile on Delroys face every time Roman was brought up, he may try to deny it but Delroy cared deeply for Roman and vice versa.

Nik almost turned around and left, to let the two of them have their space especially since Roman was leaving soon. The urgency of what happened kept him rooted to the spot.

"Delroy" Nik hissed. He stepped slightly closer and called his best friend again. Nik knew not to get within a few feet of the bed if he wanted to keep his head. Delroy stabbed first and asked questions later, something Nik knew from personal experience.

"Delroy" Nik hissed again. This time he picked up a shirt off the floor and tossed it at him. Delroy groaned in his sleep, rolling onto his side and drawing Romans arm around him. Nik chuckled, he'd never pegged his friend as the little spoon.

Risking his arm, Nik leaned as close as he felt he could to tap Delroys legs. Jostling him slightly, Nik repeated his name, this time a little louder.

A knife came flying at his head. Nik quickly jumped to the side, he hadn't even seen his friend throw it.

"Fuck Nik. It's too early for whatever it is you broke in here for"

Delroy sat up, dropping his head into his hands and rubbing at his eyes. Roman made a noise of discontent, rolling over so his back was to Delroy.

Pink rose to Delroys face when he realized his not boyfriend was still in the bed with him. It was cute.

"Geez you reek of sex" Delroy groaned, searching the bed for his boxers. Roman started to perk up at the mention of sex, rolling back over and trying to snuggle into Delroy.

"I could say the same about you" Nik quipped .

Delroy rolled his eyes, "Yeah but I'm not the one fucking the soon to be queen. Someone who, again, is supposed to be off limits to you" Delroy found his boxers. Sliding them on, he stood and moved around the small room to collect the rest of his clothes.

Delroys room wasn't very big, as were none of the guards. It had a full bed pressed against the back wall in the right corner. A dresser sat to the left of the bed along with some hooks on the wall to hang his uniform. One small window sat in the middle of the wall the head of his bed was pressed against, not providing much early morning light. Thankfully Delroy pulled out a match and lit a silencing candle, providing both light and privacy.

The light woke Roman up, he sat up groaning and rubbing the sleep from his eyes just as Delroy had done. Nik was somewhat jealous of his friend, he wished more than anything to be waking up with Haven in a few short hours.

"What's going on?" Roman asked, keeping the sheet perched across his lap.

"You weren't supposed to spend the night is what's going on" Delroy snapped, there wasn't any heat in his voice though. It was almost like that was what he felt he had to say instead of what he actually wanted to say. Why he felt that way, Nik had no clue and Delroy had never offered up the information either.

"Also, Nik spent the night boinking your friend" Delroy added.

"Seriously man?" Roman questioned

Nik just shrugged, he couldn't bring himself to regret what happened. No matter how things ended, his heart would always belong to her.

"You can smell her all over him" Delroy rubbed at his nose, as if the scent of Delroy and Roman fucking wasn' t all over this room. Most of the time Nik loved his advanced fae abilities. Occasionally though, he wished he could turn them off. Nik would have to run back to his room and find a scent disguising crystal before he ran into someone. If that happened then it wouldn't take long before the whole castle knew his and Havens business. He only hoped Haven did the same.

"I thought we agreed you would stay away from her." Roman said

"Apparently the pull of her pussy is just that strong" Delroy remarked bitterly

"Don't talk about her like that!" Both Roman and Nik snapped

"Sorry, sorry." Delroy held up his hands, "I didn't mean to be a dick. This whole thing just stresses me out."

Nik understood exactly what his friend meant and he felt bad that he was about to pile onto everything else they'd been dealing with.

"My father got Haven to agree to marry me"

Both their heads snapped towards Niks.

"What!?"

"How!?"

"He forced her to make a deal with him. Haven has to meet me two nights from now with the intention to marry" Nik told them, he also filled them in on his fathers threats.

"Shit" Roman swore, a thunderous expression on his face. Glancing at Delroy, Nik found that he wore a similar one.

Silence surrounded the room for so many minutes that the sun had almost officially risen in the sky. It bled into the room all around them, exposing the severe and heartbroken looks on the three males' faces.

"Do you have a plan?" Roman asked Nik

"No," Nik lied, "I think it might be time to start planning a wedding"

Nik could see the suspicion on Delroys face, it was plain as day. Nik hoped his friend wouldn't push him on this, push him to admit the truth. If Nik broke and told his friend the plan he had been holding in his back pocket for a situation like this, Nik knew Delroy would do everything in his power to keep Nik from completing it. Delroy may not understand why Nik had to go through with it, Nik had kept that secret as close to his heart as possible since he'd learned the truth, but he hoped that in time, his friend would forgive him. Nik may never be around to witness that forgiveness but he had hope Delroy would find it nonetheless.

The three of them spoke only a few more words before Nik exited Delroys room, not entirely sure why he'd gone there in the first place. As Nik wandered down the hall towards his room, he let his mind play over the events of the last night, allowing the memories of her to lull him into a calm Nik wasn't sure he'd ever be able to reach again. Once Nik reached his room, he let the memory of having Haven in his arms drift from his mind, filing it away for future use. After all, Nik knew he wasn't going to get a chance to ever hold her like that again, not if he had anything to do with it.