Page 102 of The Hunt of Night

Brody: Okay. It’s been forever. When are you coming back?

Kryll: She’s sleeping.

Raiden: A picture or I don’t believe you.

Kryll: Don’t be a creep.

Raiden: Please, I can do creepy if needed.

Brody: It’s not needed. Honestly.

Cassian: I regret looking at this mess. I’m double muting your shit now.

Brody: Good luck with that.

A ghost of a smile touches the corner of my lips as I digest their version of chaos, even in text form, when my phone buzzes as a new message comes through.

Brody: Hey, Dagger. I see you in here. **Eyes emoji** **heart emoji** **eggplant emoji**

I roll my eyes, searching through the emojis before I hit send.

Adrianna: **middle finger emoji**

I tuck my cell phone in the top drawer of the nightstand before I hurry to the door. The quicker I get this over with, the quicker we’ll be heading home and the sooner I’ll be able to see them in person because the reality is…I miss them.

My nose scrunches at the thought, but it doesn’t make it any less true, which only serves to unsettle me even more.

Pushing the thoughts to the back of my mind, I focus on my surroundings and recall the directions I was given.Turn right at the end of the hall, take the second left, and the stairs will lead to the patio.

The halls are wide and tall, framed with stained glass windows looking out on one side, while pretty framed art lines the opposite wall. Even in my dress, I feel sorely under-dressed among the magnificence of it all.

I find the stairs a little too quickly for my liking, and as I descend, I find those gathered.

“And this must be Adrianna.” My gaze latches onto the woman with her hand raised in my direction and I gulp. Her eyes are black, just like Kryll’s, and her red hair is the same shade as his, cascading over her shoulders in a similar style to mine, but the main difference is the huge crown that sits on her head. Awhite gown bunches around her waist, the frilly sleeves making my gut clench in relief that I’m not wearing something of that size.

A tight smile touches my lips, but it eases as my gaze darts to Nora and my father, who are already seated at the table with her. When my eyes land on Kryll, a shy tilt to his lips warms my heart as he stands, dressed head to toe in a white suit.

Holy fuck.

I’m definitely in Heaven if he’s casually looking like that.

His black ink looks darker against his tanned skin, beckoning me closer.

“It is,” he breathes as I approach, answering his mother’s introduction of my arrival, and it forces me to be present instead of tucked away in my head.

“It’s lovely to meet you,” the queen murmurs, eyes assessing me as she remains seated.

Kryll pulls my chair out, across from my father and Nora, as I clear my throat. “You too.”

It’s not a lie, it’s nice to meet her, it’s just awkward as fuck.

“I hope my son has been a gracious host,” she states as I take my seat.

“Uh—”

Kryll chuckles, quickly interrupting my stumbling as he drapes an arm around the back of my chair. “She’s kidding, but of course I am,” he insists, and I attempt to take a deep breath. In the process, my gaze snags back to Nora and my father, who I find dressed casually. She’s literally wearing jeans and a tee with a black cardigan while I’m dressed like…this.

As the queen turns to a server, murmuring for them to bring drinks and food, my eyes narrow on my sister.

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