Page 138 of Gift from the Tree

Looking at Corentin and Caspian, they’re both still looking out at the back lawn, sitting in comfortable silence. “I’m going to head up. Get some sleep. We have an early morning ahead of us.”

I drag my feet up the stairs as I make my way to my room. The happiness I felt remembering that moment with my mother is becoming clouded with the memory of last night’s nightmare. The image of her dying being replaced with Willow dying causes bile to rise in my throat. I’m disgusted with myself for what I did to her.

Changing into my sweats and a T-shirt, I sit on the edge of my bed. I can’t convince myself to lie down. It pains me to even be in here right now. I just keep replaying and replaying Willow’s limp body underneath me, her pale face, and her lips were starting to turn blue. The way she was able to choke out healing vials, while I freaked the fuck out. I’m always calm, collected when thrown into situations, but I wasn’t then, and I’m not right now.

To me, I did seriously hurt her, and I deserved the beating Draken gave me this morning. I’ve refused to take a healing vial and have suffered through the few broken ribs he gave me. And despite her reassuring me that she’s fine, I watched her like a hawk all day. Her bruises were barely visible at this point, but no matter, every time I looked at her neck, I could see the outline of my hands wrapped around her slender throat.

Standing to pace back and forth, I try and fail countless times to convince myself to lie down. I can’t get her out of my head, and I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep until I see her and make sure she’s okay. Fuck, if her emotions are ten times stronger than this, I don’t know how the fuck she functions daily.

I need her.

I’m down the hall in front of her room faster than my mind truly made the decision, then I freeze, turning my back to her door. Fuck, I have no clue what to do from this point. Do I knock and wake her up or just walk in quietly and sneak into her bed? No, fuck no, she punched me in the face the last time I snuck in her room. No telling how she’ll react if I actually get in the bed.

“Dude, you may be the mind reader, but I swear to Elementra I can hear you thinking, you’re doing it so loud.” Popping my head up from where I’m leaning it against the other wall, I turn to see Draken’s opened her door, standing there in just sweatpants.

“Fuck, my bad, man. I didn’t know you were in there with her. I’ll head back to my room.” I turn to walk away, but he steps in front of me.

“You can come in. She knew you were coming,” he tells me with a big-ass smile.

“What? I wasn’t even loud.”

He just smiles again and taps his chest like that answers my question.

“I don’t know what the fuck that means, Draken.”

“She felt you coming. I told her I’d open the door for you,” he says, stepping around me and heading back into her room, leaving the door open behind him.

I blow out my breath, rubbing the back of my neck. I can’t believe she can already feel us like this. For her to know I was on the verge of panicking and that I was heading toward her is something she shouldn’t feel until we’re fully bonded and even then, it should take time to grow to that point.

I close the door gently behind me and walk farther into her room so I can see her. My breath stalls as I take her in, lying there nestled under her covers, eyes looking heavy as she tries to stay awake.

“I just wanted to check on you.” I try to keep my tone light so I don’t worry her anymore.

“I’m feeling a bit nervous about tomorrow. Will you lie with me?” she asks so sweetly, pulling the other side of her covers back, inviting me in. Draken’s smile lets me know she’s trying not to draw attention to my emotions and blame it on her own so I don’t feel like the world’s biggest pussy right now.

“You don’t have to do that, Will. I was just having a moment. I’m okay now that I can see you’re fine.” I place my hands in my pockets so I can ball my fists, grounding myself from jumping at her invitation.

“This morning was rough for all of us. I think I’d sleep better knowing you were getting a good night’s sleep too. Please.” She pats the spot beside her, her words a little slurred as she forces herself to stay awake for me.

I cast my eyes over to Draken, finding him glaring daggers at me.

Don’t fuck this up and reject her. It’ll make her feel like you’re only here to fix your own emotions.

He broadcasts those thoughts loud enough for me to hear him clear as day, the warning in his tone deadly. That’s not what I’m trying to do at all. Yes, I’m feeling extra possessive and protective right now, but even without feeling that, I’d want to be here with her.

Giving him a curt nod, I kick my shoes off and crawl in beside her, pulling her onto my chest immediately. Draken throws his communicator somewhere on the bed and presses his body to the back of hers.

She lets out a soft, contented sigh, muttering, “Better. Much better.” Which has me and Draken laughing lightly. That’s the same thing she said the first night she was here and politely told all of us to shut up. Crazy how time changes things.

The instant relief I feel having her body on mine has my own eyes drifting closed. Draken’s breathing deepens and I feel Willow’s soft exhale on my neck. Soon, I’m drifting off into the best sleep I’ve ever had.

“We can make you a coffee to-go. We’re going to be late since the three of you decided to sleep in until the very last minute,” Caspian lectures Willow, me, and Draken as we finish scarfing down our breakfast.

In my haste last night to get to her room, I didn’t think to bring my timekeeper, so surprisingly I didn’t wake up to work out, which is unheard of, and Draken didn’t have his set until an hour before we were meant to leave. Leaving the three of us rushing to get ready.

I slept the entire night, not tossing and turning or even moving an inch the whole night. I woke up to Willow still nestled on my chest, but fucking Draken was holding me as well. The two of them laughed when I told him to get the fuck off me and jumped out of bed.

“You know you’re not the one starting the day off getting a needle stuck in him, right?” Willow shoots Caspian a glare from where she’s seated.

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