Page 99 of Magic's Dawn

“You’re speaking my language.” I grab a cozy blanket from the back of the couch and drape it over us, banishing the lingering chill from the walk back up.

“Tonight was amazing.” Delilah leans her head back on the soft cushions behind her. “I haven’t felt this alive in years.”

I curl my legs up. “This was my first party. Now I understand the hype in the books I’ve read.”

Ros returns from the kitchen with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate.

“Here you go.” Ambros settles on the armrest of the couch. “For my two favorite ladies.”

“Corny,” I tell him while Delilah giggles.

He hands us each a mug, and I wrap my hands around the warmth, taking in the scent of chocolate and the familiar hint of cinnamon that Ros added.

Delilah takes a careful sip, her eyes closing in appreciation. “This is heavenly. Thank you.”

“It’s made the way you taught me.” He glances toward the dark windows. “Why don’t you stay the night, so you don’t have to go home to a cold house? You can sleep in my room, and I’ll sleep with Rowe.”

Delilah turns to me. “If I’m not a bother?”

“Of course not.” I take a long sip of hot chocolate, enjoying the sweet burn on the way down. “Ros can take Tris’s side of the bed.”

Ros nods solemnly. “It’s only fair since he’s still down at the beach partying. Besides, when was the last time he slept in his own room? At this rate, you’ll need a bigger bed.”

“Any bigger than what I already have, and the entire room will be nothing but mattress,” I point out.

Ambros grins. “Sounds cozy.”

Delilah sighs into her hot chocolate. “You two are so adorable together. When is the wedding?”

I fake yawn and stand, depositing my empty mug on the coffee table. “Well, look at the time. I better head to bed now. Have a good night, Delilah.”

As I head for the stairs, Ros calls after me, “You leaving won’t stop us from planning a wedding! Right, Delilah?”

Delilah laughs. “Absolutely!”

“I hear nothing!” I yell back.

Their laughter follows me up to the second floor. I brush my teeth before changing into one of Haut’s T-shirts and set my wand on the nightstand next to my water glass before slipping between the cold sheets.

Through the window, I watch the fire’s light dance against the glass, and the distant sound of music reaches me, combining with the soft murmur of Ros and Delilah talking downstairs.

All this talk of weddings fills me with happiness, but also with worry. I don’t want to marry just one of my mates, I want to bind us all together. But how can we do that?

Despite my claim, energy still buzzes through me, too much to sleep despite the late hour. I roll onto my side and stare at the bottle of sleeping pills that sit on the nightstand.

If I want to function at all tomorrow, I need to get some rest, and I did sleep a lot better after taking the pills.

With a sigh, I sit up and shake out one pill before hesitating. Tris had said I should try taking half of one, but I don’t want to go back downstairs to find a knife. And is being a little groggy that big of a deal?

Tossing it into my mouth, I swallow it with a sip of water before setting the bottle aside.

I lay back down, snuggle into the soft down pillows, and pull the blanket up to my chin. Someone had replaced the quilt with a down comforter, its weight both light and warm on top of me.

I stare up at the ceiling, watching the dance of light across the plaster as sleep slowly claims me. I blink slowly, the time between when my eyes open and when they close lengthening as the shadows shift with the dimming bonfire.

Then a noise startles me awake, and my eyes snap open to find a dark figure leaning over my bed. My first thought is that Ros came to join me, but the shape is all wrong, and his voice still mingles with Delilah’s downstairs.

Fear grips me as Bryant’s face comes into focus.

---