Chapter 26

Now I know I shouldn’t be walking around the castle by myself… at night… when I’ve finally returned. But food. I’m so hungry! I tiptoe down the hallway, the guards giving me arched brows as I pass.

I didn’t want to bother any of the guys, considering the dark circles under their eyes. I’m sure this is the first time they have slept since Dax was stabbed, and I was taken.

My foot hits a creaky board, and I hiss, “ Fuck .” I wait for a few moments to pass before quietly continuing my walk.

I stiffen when a guard asks louder than I wish, “ What are you doing, miss?”

I press my finger to my lips and shush him. “ Shh ! I’m trying to be quiet here.”

He rolls his eyes, asking again, “ What are you doing?”

My eyes narrow. “ I’m getting food. Now be quiet, so I can be stealthy.”

“ You should be guarded, miss,” he insists.

Growling , I point up and down the hallway. “ There are guards all the way to the kitchen. I am guarded. Now , if you would kindly shut the fuck up, so I can sneak that would be grand.”

I turn to continue my stealthy mission when I hear the squeak of a door opening. Damnit . My shoulders slump when I hear my name. “ Eira ?”

Turning around, I find Rev with his head poking out the doorway. He looks up and down the hall, his sleepy eyes meeting mine. He arches a brow. “ What are you doing?”

I shoot the noisy guard a death glare before softening my gaze for Rev . “ I was trying to walk quietly, so I didn’t wake you.”

He hums, rubbing his face sleepily, as he steps out of his room. “ Then , I’ll escort you.”

I shake my head. “ No , It’s okay. Go back to bed.”

He gives me a soft smile but continues my way. “ I will not be able to sleep now, knowing you are out and about without one of us by your side.”

I send the guard another glare when Rev steps up to my side. He offers me his arm, and I gladly take it. “ I’m sorry I woke you. I’m hungry and wanted a snack.”

“ You could have woken one of us to take you. We do not mind.”

Laying my head against his bicep, we slowly walk to the kitchen side by side. “ I know, but you all looked exhausted. I wanted to make sure you slept.”

He softly replies, “ That was very kind of you, Sunshine .” He ushers me onto a chair. “ What would you like to eat?”

“ Anything ,” I say happily. I am not about to be picky. I'm famished. After weeks of not being properly fed by the king, I will eat anything Rev puts in front of me.

He arches a brow before turning to grab a few things from the storage area. I notice he grabs some of the leftover stew we had for dinner as well as a few rolls. He places it all in front of me, and I don’t hesitate to dig in.

My mouth is full when he reaches behind him, then presents me with an apple dessert. I grin as I finish off my stew and rolls, followed by immediately digging into the dessert. I point my fork at him as I finish my bite. “ How is my shadow doing?”

He arches a brow. “ Your shadow?”

I grin and pop another bite into my mouth. “ Mhm .”

He smiles as he leans onto his elbows. “ Not sure I can be your shadow when I no longer spend much time in the shadows, Sunshine .”

“ Why is that?” I ask through another bite.

He shrugs. “ Well , I have my Sunshine now.”

My grin widens. “ Is that so?”

Rev leans over the counter to press a kiss to my forehead. When he pulls away, his dark brown eyes meet mine. “ You are the glow that draws me out of the shadows. You are my light, my Sunshine .”

“ Do you wish you were in the shadows?” I whisper.

His eyes roam over my face before he murmurs, “ Not anymore.”

T he morning light streams through the cracks of the curtains, sending beams of sunlight throughout my room. With a yawn, I stretch, groaning when it makes every ache in my body known. The healers did an amazing job, but they are only able to use so much magic. Most of their magic went to saving Dax .

Either way, I am grateful for the healing that they were able to do, even if it left more scars behind. Dax was furious when he discovered that not all of my injuries had healed. I told him that magic could only do so much, and I didn’t mind healing the old-fashioned way.

I sit up with a groan and huff out a heavy sigh. I rub my eyes to clear the sleep from them but let out a loud screech when they finally focus.

Mir is holding up both hands, and his face turns red. “ Sorry ! I didn’t mean to frighten you!”

Plopping back down on the bed, I hold a hand over my rapidly beating heart. “ You frightened me half to death, Branimir !”

He rushes over in a panic. “ I’m sorry! So sorry, Eira !”

“ Good heavens, what did you think would happen when I found a man hiding in the corner of my room just staring at me? That would frighten anyone!”

He groans and covers his face, but that doesn’t hide his bright red ears. “ Forgive me, Darling !”

I swat him as I huff out, “ Announce yourself next time, or better yet don’t hide in the corner like some weirdo!”

“ I’m sorry,” he whines in embarrassment.

“ Now , if you are done creeping on me from the corner like a weird stalker…” I grumble as I shift on the bed to make room and pat the spot next to me. “ Lie down. I’m assuming you wanted to spend time with me?”

He nods, his hands still covering his face. I pat the bed again and whine, “ Lie down with me.”

He huffs, uncovering his face. Which is still bright red when he shifts onto the bed to lie next to me. He holds himself deathly still, and I groan, “ I will not break, Mir . You can move closer.”

“ I do not wish to hurt you,” he whispers.

“ I find it hard to believe you would hurt me. Now , hold my hand before I get offended.”

He moves a bit closer before slipping his hand into mine. Our fingers tangle together, and his hold is gentle. Too soft for him. I tighten my grip on his hand. “ Mir , I won’t break. Your bite hurts more than your hand holding.”

He snorts a laugh before groaning. “ Please , do not mention biting you. It just makes me want to fuck you.”

I laugh. “ Then fuck me.”

He sighs. “ Not yet, Darling . You need to heal a bit more.”

“ I do hope you are still hungry when that time comes,” I joke.

His grip in mine tightens, and his tone turns serious. “ I’ll always need you. My hunger for you will never die.”

I hum as I snuggle closer to him. I’m finding that my men may not know how to say ‘ I love you’ with words, but their actions speak for themselves. It’s just not in the ‘normal’ way. But we aren’t normal people. And even though I know I care deeply for them, I’m still too scared to say it myself.

A s I wake, I spread out my arms but feel only a chill. Slowly opening my eyes, I see Mir is no longer beside me. With a groan, I get out of bed and glance out the window to see that the sun has made it over the horizon. The guys will all be at training, which means I will get a few hours of alone time.

I look around the room and ponder what to do with the few hours I have alone. I’m sure once the guys finish training that they will seek me out. I don’t feel like walking to the library, but I do have some books stashed in the corner.

Maybe I should make a reading nook, or better yet a reading burrow, somewhere I can store my Dragoness ’ hoard. I grin when I think of Alair’s nickname for me. A burrow for his little fox. Biting my lip, I debate how to go about making myself a burrow.

I jump into action as the idea solidifies in my mind. I'll need lots of blankets. Opening the door to my room, I look down the hallway and find a few guards, but not a single one of my guys is in sight. Grinning , I run down the hall to Rev’s bedroom.

I rush in and snatch a few of his blankets from his bed before taking off again. As I race back to my room, some of the guards give me looks with raised brows. I offer them a smirk as I toss the blankets onto my bed and head back out for more. Next up, Mir’s bedroom.

I repeat this with each of the guys’ rooms, and I now have a big pile on my bed. The guards grow curious the longer they watch me and have moved closer to my door to peer inside. One of them offers me an arched brow as I walk to the door to close it. “ What are you planning with all of those blankets, miss?”

I grin as I answer, “ I’m making myself a reading burrow. Have a nice day!” I shut the door with a huff of laughter. After looking at the blankets, I start to make myself a hidey hole. I lay blankets over the headboard and connect them to the footboard, then slide under the flaps on the side of the bed and burrow beneath the rest of my stolen blankets.

I can't help but grin at my pile of books by the headboard. Picking one at random, I begin to read as I relax under the blankets' warmth, while the comforting smell of my men wraps around me. Being surrounded by their scents adds an extra layer of safety and calm.

I’m halfway through my book when there’s a knock at my door. “ Come in,” I yell from my position.

I hear the door slowly open, and a familiar voice rings out. “ Eira ? I know you’ve been cooped up in this room, I was wondering...”

Alair’s voice trails off, and I can’t help but smirk as I hear the question in his voice. “ What have you done in here, Little Fox ?”

I chuckle as I shuffle out of my burrowed spot on the bed and peek outside my makeshift hidey hole. I can see him looking over all of the blankets before his eyes meet mine. They are filled with amusement as I reply, “ I made myself a reading burrow.”

He snorts a laugh as he asks, “ Do you mind if I join you?”

I nod as I slide back into my previous spot. It takes him a moment, but then he slides in next to me. I’m lying on my side, my book now forgotten, as he lies down on his side, propping himself up on one elbow while facing me.

“ How was training?” I ask, noticing a few new scrapes on his face.

He shrugs. “ Same as usual.” He points toward my hoard of books. “ What were you reading?”

With a smirk, I reply, “ It seems I picked up a random book on the flora and fauna of the kingdom. I wasn’t expecting it to be as interesting as it is.”

He hums as he continues to stare at me. I can’t help but reach up and gently caress his cheek before brushing his short ebon hair off his forehead. A few strands look to have curled from sweat.

His eyes flutter closed, and his breath hitches at my touch. “ Did you read anything about foxes?” he whispers.

I continue to brush my fingers through his short locks as I reply, “ I didn’t get to the part about foxes. I don’t know a lot about them, so I’m looking forward to learning about them.”

His light hazel eyes pop open to reveal so much emotion hidden in their depths; I can’t stop the soft gasp that escapes me. His voice is hushed as if this is a secret between the two of us. “ Did you know that foxes mate for life?”

I shake my head no, however, the sentiment brings a smile to my face. There aren’t many animals that create that type of bond. He wraps his fingers around my wrist and lifts my hand to cup his cheek.

“ Foxes mate for life, Eira . You’re MY Little Fox . Forever mine. I’ve captured the fox, but the fox has captured my heart,” he admits quietly within our burrow of blankets.

I lean forward, pressing my lips to his in a gentle kiss before pulling away.

My thumb caresses his cheek as I say, “ Then I will guard your heart, Alair . I promise I’ll keep it safe, always.”

***

I ’ve managed to sneak all the way to the library without the guards ratting me out or one of the guys finding me. A few days have passed since I returned, and I’m feeling much better. But the guys still think I need to rest, so I’ve been stuck in my bedroom for days.

I’m going stir crazy! Hence why I waited till the guys left for training to sneak through the castle. I push open the library door and slip inside, closing the door softly behind me.

With a grin, I rush over to my pile of books, excited to dive into a fantasy world. I found a book about dragons, and it has sucked me in. Snuggling into the sofa, I pull my fluffy blanket over me. Opening the book to where I left off, I begin reading about dragons and magic.

My book suddenly goes flying across the room, and I screech when I hear my name behind me. I was so distracted with the book; I didn’t hear anyone come in. “ Merciful Goddess !” I yell as I look over my shoulder to find a wide-eyed Bene .

He’s still standing in the doorway of the library, frozen mid-step. “ Forgive me, Eira . I didn’t realize that would frighten you.”

My head falls back, and I look up at the ceiling. “ I have found you men to be far more silent than necessary.”

His face hovers over mine as his warm eyes stare down at me, filled with concern. “ I will make noise next time. Are you well?”

I sigh as I nod. “ I am, Bene .” I lift my head to look for the casualty of my fright. I hope I didn’t harm the book.

Bene holds the book with a soft smile as he comes around the sofa. “ Your book, Little Dragoness .”

I grin as I take it from him. Looking it over, the edges are a bit dinged from landing on the floor, but otherwise it looks fine enough. Holding it to my chest, I look up at Bene with a smile. “ How did training go?”

He shrugs. “ As well as training usually goes.”

I hum as I pat the spot beside me. “ Join me?”

He smiles and sits next to me. I shift around, so I can lie on the sofa with my head in his lap. “ Getting comfortable?” he teases.

“ Mhm . I want to continue reading, and you are the best pillow.”

He chuckles and begins playing with my hair. I let out a content sigh as I open my book again. His voice is soft when he asks, “ What are you reading?”

“ A book about dragons and magic. It has become my favorite to read.”

He hums as he says, “ I find it hard to believe you have a favorite with a hoard as large as yours.”

I shift my gaze from my book to his eyes. With an arched brow, I ask, “ Do you not have a favorite book?”

He smirks. “ I have a favorite book.”

My eyes widen with excitement at gaining this knowledge. “ What is it?”

His eyes roam over my face for a moment before meeting mine. “ You .”

My brows knit in confusion. “ Me ?”

He slides a hand from my hair to caress my cheek. “ You are the novel readers desperately search for. A once in a lifetime kind of work. I never wish to stop reading you. Forever caressing your pages. My precious book.”

My eyes widen at his confession before they soften. “ I believe that will be a very long book, Bene . Do you really want to read the same story for so long?”

He smiles as he answers, “ Each chapter is just as precious as the last. The story is built with each word written. I can’t wait to turn the page to see what happens next.”

“ Is that right?”

He lowers to brush his lips across mine in a soft caress, then whispers, “ It’s a story I hope never ends.”

“ All stories must eventually come to an end,” I whisper back.

He pulls away, and I see emotions I never thought I’d see in a villain's eyes. True fucking heartbreak. “ Then I hope my story ends before yours.”

My eyes burn. “ Benedict …”

“ Holding your closed book is unthinkable.” He brushes his lips against mine and says softly, “ Your book is the only one in my hoard.”

The fear I felt about telling the others my feelings disappears in this moment. I can’t fight my heart anymore. Book forgotten, I slip my fingers into his platinum locks. I press my lips to his, the kiss soft and languid. I pull away just enough for my lips to caress his as I tell him, “ I love you. So let’s end our stories together.”

I should tell the others . I pace my room as I debate telling the others how I feel. We will be going into battle in a few days, and I don’t want to go into it without them knowing how I feel. But would telling them cause them to change their minds and refuse my request to join them on the battlefield? Especially after what happened the last time.

My confession to Bene slipped between my lips before I could stop the words. I hadn’t meant to tell him. But the wide-eyed look he gave me makes it hard to regret telling him. The way he ravished me on that sofa. Mhm . I feel heat pool between my legs just thinking about it.

Shaking myself out of the memory, I slap my face. Focus ! Stop thinking about his dick and focus on the problem at hand. What is the problem again? The guys… Love ! That’s it. I was debating telling the others how I feel.

A knock at my door causes me to pause my pacing. Turning to the door, I say, “ Yes ?”

The door creaks open, and Dax pokes his head through. He looks pensive, which makes me worry. “ Dax ?”

With a huff, he slips into my room, closing the door behind him and leaning back against it. He’s looking at the ground when he says, “ I have bad news.”

“ I figured as much from your expression,” I reply as I make my way over to him. I reach for his fisted hand and hold it in mine. “ Dax ? What’s wrong?”

He allows me to take his hand into mine but refuses to look me in the eye. “ It seems my father has decided that he is tired of waiting for me to make the next move.”

I move so that he cannot escape my gaze as I state, “ You still have not told me what is wrong.”

His eyes bore into mine as he grunts. “ He has assigned men to the border between Arcelia and Wylan . He is moving to attack.”

My hands tighten around his before I nod. “ Alright .” I release his hands, turning to change into my battle leathers.

Before I get far, he grabs my arm. “ Alright ?”

I turn enough to meet his gaze. “ Yes . Alright . Let’s get ready to march out.”

His grip on my arm tightens, and he growls out, “ Eira , we are not ready. You are not ready. You haven’t healed enough.”

I turn fully to wrap my arms around him. He freezes at the sudden hug, but then slowly starts to relax. I squeeze him tighter as I say, “ We are ready. Your men have been training every day. I have healed enough, Dax .”

He wraps me tightly in his arms as grumbles, “ You are not healed enough for my liking.”

“ The enemy will not wait for me to be at one hundred percent to attack. I am well enough to fight. I promise.”

He pulls away, looking down at me with narrowed eyes. “ You will not stray far from one of us.”

It’s a command not a request. I nod and smile. “ I will not stray far.”

His arms move from our embrace, so he can cup my face. His voice turning desperate as he begs, “ Do not fly away, Little Raven .”

“ I will not fly away. I lo—” Before I can finish, he presses a finger to my lips. I arch a brow in question.

“ Do not say it,” he pleads. “ Do not say it until this is over.”

“ Dax ,” I mumble behind his finger.

“ An incentive, Little Raven .” He moves his finger away to press a soft kiss against my lips. “ A promise to come back to me.”