Page 42 of Fallen Princess: Shadow Stalker

“Eden.”

The firm knock on my door jolts me awake, and I’m left with a lingering sense of unease, as if the remnants of my dream have seeped into my waking consciousness. The malevolent presence and the surreal landscapes have become haunting images etched into my memory, leaving me to grapple with the unsettling residue of a dream that has woven together the threads of fear and the inexplicable.

Gasping for breath, I sit up in bed, trying to shake off that disturbing dream still lingering in my mind. Drenched in sweat, I grab the hem of my T-shirt, abruptly pull it off my body, and toss it across this large bed. It’s the only item of clothing I had on my body.

As I attempt to gather my thoughts, there’s a gentle knock on the door. Startled, I gaze toward the door, my heart racing again. The knock comes again, a rhythmic and reassuring sound in the otherwise silent night.

“Eden, are you alright?”

That muffled voice belongs to Asher.

How long has he stood behind the door?

“I’m fine. Please go away,” I call out.

“I just want to see if you're okay.” I can hear the concern in his voice.

“Yep, I’m good.”

I reach out to the bedside table where I dropped my purse earlier and rummage through it until I find what I’m looking for. I open the prescription bottle and pop a pill into my mouth. Swallowing it dry, I let the bag drop to the floor.

Resting my head back on the pillow, I shut my eyes. In a few moments, I’ll be in a deep sleep with no recollections of my dreams.

Chapter 11

The scent of freshlybrewed coffee wafts through the air as I enter the kitchen after my morning run with Haze. I told him I’d put the kettle on while he went to make a phone call to his office in London.

The morning sunlight streams in, casting a warm glow in the room. Amidst the clinking of utensils and the hum of conversation, my eyes instantly seek out the woman who stops me in my tracks—Eden.

She’s standing by the counter, focused on pouring coffee into her mug as Asher and Callum sit opposite her, chatting away. Her movements look graceful, and the soft morning light highlights the contours of her dark, tanned face. Eden’s deep green eyes seem brighter in this light and sparkle with a kind of clever knowledge as she looks up at them and joins in their discussion. Her thick, dark brown hair falls in gentle waves down her back. I can’t help but notice how a loose strand frames her face, adding a touch of effortless beauty.

As my gaze travels downward, there’s no ignoring the subtle allure of her figure. If I’m being polite, I’d say there’s a natural elegance about her. But my knob twitching in my shorts will insist the curves of her body hugged tight in those black denim jeans and fitted black vest demand my attention.

Her laughter rings out as she engages in conversation with my two mates, a sound that resonates with my knob once more.

For a moment, I let myself revel in the physical attraction I have for her, admiring the way her lips curve when she smiles and the soft curve of her neck. But as quickly as those thoughts surface, I remindmyself of the importance of keeping my feelings and attraction to her completely platonic. Since she arrived here yesterday, I find myself caught in the ebb and flow of my internal struggle of the past and present.

The other fellas haven’t mentioned it, but I see how Callum and Asher look at her. I know these men well enough to realize they’re fighting that urge, too. Those subtle glances and stolen moments of lust are tempered by the reality of our current situation.

There’s no way I’m going there with her again. None of us will. There’s too much at stake, such as the future of this band. One, we still haven’t yet agreed on a name.

“Alright?” I say casually, walking over to the kettle and filling it with water. “Anyone up for a cuppa?” I ask, looking over to their cups and realizing they’re drinking coffee.

“Eden made breakfast this morning, but you and Haze were out running.”

“Sorry,” she says. “I thought you all had breakfast together. I could still whip up something if you’d like.”

I settle the kettle on the plate and switch it on.

“Ta, Eden. It’s fine. I’ll probably grab something on my way to the studio. But I think for the future, we should set a time when to come down for breakfast since we’re all living here and working on the same project.”

“I appreciate the gesture for me to stay here, but I’ll be at Brittney’s tonight and I’d like to find my own place here in LA. Rent something temporary while I’m here for the duration of the demo and promos.”

She still has doubts about this venture, and I get it. Our history isn’t all bright and rosy. It ended badly and she doesn’t trust us. But who’s to say she won’t get up and do another runner, leaving us in the dust.

“We tried to convince her otherwise, but Eden’s always been somewhat of a stubborn mule,” Callum says and winks at her as he flickers his eyes with amusement.

“Mule, huh?” She says, her lips curving up with a smirk. “ I’d tell you to go to hell, but I don’t want to see you there.”

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