grunt as I began moving the recliner on the left, my recliner, to the foot of their bed. I had remembered to shut the door immediately after bringing my comforter into the room. The area was pitch-black. I could not see anything. I was navigating by touch and memory.
I stalled in my efforts when I heard the toilet flush in their bathroom. I had not even glanced at the bed when I had entered the room, just focusing on the logistics of shutting their door quickly. I held my breath and glanced to the left. The door squeaked quietly as it opened. Silver, shining eyes peered directly at me, not moving, as Malik froze. My lips thinned as I stared into his gaze through the darkness. Pulling my nerve together took more effort than I would have imagined, but I eventually asked, "May I sleep in here again?"
In a slow and steady pace, those glowing eyes started to edge closer. "You're not afraid of me?"
Honestly, I was not sure anymore. Even after tonight. "No, I'm not."
Nonetheless, never show fear.
He hummed softly. "So you were listening."
"I always do," I stated respectfully.
He grunted, eyeing me another moment, and then in a tender action, he placed one of his hands on my left shoulder and nudged me over a step. "I'll get the chair for you." He lifted the recliner with effortless strength and placed it at the foot of their bed. "Sleep safe." He walked to his side of the bed, and the shine of his eyes dipped as he got in. "That's what Mian say. Not 'good night'."
I had actually wondered about that. "Thank you for explaining." Clearing my throat, I picked up my comforter and gently relaxed onto the recliner, careful when I released the footstool this time. It rose with minimal noise. I smiled softly to myself and then covered up with my fluffy blanket. Lying on my side, I viewed the silver eyes that were watching me from the top of the bed. "Sleep safe."
Golden, glowing eyes suddenly flared only inches from my face. I clamped my mouth shut on the scared squeal that almost sounded, my entire body jerking at the sudden closeness of Leo. My heart thumped a mile a minute inside my chest and my hands were now trembling. The damn Mian had been lying in wait with his head at the foot of the bed. He was so close in the darkness that I could see his white teeth flash as he grinned with impish delight. "The same to you, Braita."
I grumbled a curse, puffing out a large breath. "That wasn't nice."
His resulting chuckle was pure mischief. "I never said I was nice." He winked. "Go to sleep."
I glared, but after my heartbeat calmed, I found myself reaching out. Near where his head lay, my right hand found his on the bed. At the contact, his gaze locked on mine, but with a smooth and slow motion, he began intertwining our fingers together. It was the first skin-to-skin connection I had ever initiated in my entire life.
It did not feel illegal. The action did not feel wrong at all.
I realized I felt completely safe.
With him. And Malik. In this implausible world.
My life was changing so much, it would make a lesser woman lose her sanity.
On a shaky exhale, I closed my eyes at the recognition I now understood.
I fell asleep as a comforting peace of belonging flooded my entire being.
My hand never left Leo's the entire night.
This, with them, could really be my home .
Sitting outside in the back courtyard, I watched the blessed sun as it began its descent. While the Mian may be of the night, I had found my own soul needed the day. Since arriving on Triaz two weeks ago, I had begun waking far before Leo and Malik just so I could be outside and feel the sun's heat on my face. My ten guards always accompanied me on my trek. They wore blackened goggles that matched their dark attire to protect their eyes, even though they still stood in the shade of an overhang.
My thoughts always continued to wonder to Jax while I sat out here. I had no clue how he was being treated by the Mian of the east. I had asked Leo and Malik if I could write
I stalled in my efforts when I heard the toilet flush in their bathroom. I had not even glanced at the bed when I had entered the room, just focusing on the logistics of shutting their door quickly. I held my breath and glanced to the left. The door squeaked quietly as it opened. Silver, shining eyes peered directly at me, not moving, as Malik froze. My lips thinned as I stared into his gaze through the darkness. Pulling my nerve together took more effort than I would have imagined, but I eventually asked, "May I sleep in here again?"
In a slow and steady pace, those glowing eyes started to edge closer. "You're not afraid of me?"
Honestly, I was not sure anymore. Even after tonight. "No, I'm not."
Nonetheless, never show fear.
He hummed softly. "So you were listening."
"I always do," I stated respectfully.
He grunted, eyeing me another moment, and then in a tender action, he placed one of his hands on my left shoulder and nudged me over a step. "I'll get the chair for you." He lifted the recliner with effortless strength and placed it at the foot of their bed. "Sleep safe." He walked to his side of the bed, and the shine of his eyes dipped as he got in. "That's what Mian say. Not 'good night'."
I had actually wondered about that. "Thank you for explaining." Clearing my throat, I picked up my comforter and gently relaxed onto the recliner, careful when I released the footstool this time. It rose with minimal noise. I smiled softly to myself and then covered up with my fluffy blanket. Lying on my side, I viewed the silver eyes that were watching me from the top of the bed. "Sleep safe."
Golden, glowing eyes suddenly flared only inches from my face. I clamped my mouth shut on the scared squeal that almost sounded, my entire body jerking at the sudden closeness of Leo. My heart thumped a mile a minute inside my chest and my hands were now trembling. The damn Mian had been lying in wait with his head at the foot of the bed. He was so close in the darkness that I could see his white teeth flash as he grinned with impish delight. "The same to you, Braita."
I grumbled a curse, puffing out a large breath. "That wasn't nice."
His resulting chuckle was pure mischief. "I never said I was nice." He winked. "Go to sleep."
I glared, but after my heartbeat calmed, I found myself reaching out. Near where his head lay, my right hand found his on the bed. At the contact, his gaze locked on mine, but with a smooth and slow motion, he began intertwining our fingers together. It was the first skin-to-skin connection I had ever initiated in my entire life.
It did not feel illegal. The action did not feel wrong at all.
I realized I felt completely safe.
With him. And Malik. In this implausible world.
My life was changing so much, it would make a lesser woman lose her sanity.
On a shaky exhale, I closed my eyes at the recognition I now understood.
I fell asleep as a comforting peace of belonging flooded my entire being.
My hand never left Leo's the entire night.
This, with them, could really be my home .
Sitting outside in the back courtyard, I watched the blessed sun as it began its descent. While the Mian may be of the night, I had found my own soul needed the day. Since arriving on Triaz two weeks ago, I had begun waking far before Leo and Malik just so I could be outside and feel the sun's heat on my face. My ten guards always accompanied me on my trek. They wore blackened goggles that matched their dark attire to protect their eyes, even though they still stood in the shade of an overhang.
My thoughts always continued to wonder to Jax while I sat out here. I had no clue how he was being treated by the Mian of the east. I had asked Leo and Malik if I could write
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