Page 83 of The Hunt of Night

“But he will be mad,” I reiterate, and he sighs.

“Internally, he’ll be mad he couldn’t join us. Externally, he’ll be furious,” he admits, but I can’t seem to be upset over the anticipation of it. We did what was right, and I don’t care what anyone else says.

“Sounds fun,” I muse, and he smirks.

“It won’t be, but we can rest and take the day. We’re exhausted from protecting the kingdom. They can deal with it,” he insists, and I can’t deny the fact that I like the sound of that.

With a soft curl to my lips, I let my eyes fall closed as I enjoy this moment to relax.

“I’m back. Miss me?” Brody asks, stepping into the bathroom, and Kryll scoffs.

“Like a hole in the head.”

Brody doesn’t even acknowledge the remark as he drops to his knees beside the bathtub. “I think I have what I need here,” he explains to me, jingling a few vials and trinkets in front of him as he starts a soft chant.

“Sano. Consano. Sano. Consano. Sano. Consano. Sano. Consano. Sano. Consano.”

Warmth spreads across my arms as he brushes the surface with a few sprigs of sage dipped in a powder. As the heat recedes, I lift my arm, feeling no pain or resistance.

“Thank you.”

His smile hits me straight in the chest. “You’re welcome. Now, let’s get you in bed.”

At his words, Cassian appears at the doorway with an oversized t-shirt in his hand.

“That’s not my?—”

“Shut up and get in it, Alpha,” he retorts before I can continue to argue, and I don’t have it in me to push.

Brody and Kryll step out of the room as Cassian approaches with the t-shirt in one hand and a fluffy towel in the other. He stands patiently beside me as I dry myself off, my magic eager to take over, but feeling his eyes on me as I use the towel overcomes everything else.

All too quickly, I reach for the t-shirt, our fingers touching just enough to send a shiver down my spine, but my core protests. It’s been battered in the best possible way in the past twenty-four hours by two of my Kryptos. She needs a break, despite the rest of my body being eager for attention.

“Any news from Raiden?” I ask, trying to pull my head from the gutter, and he shakes his head.

“Not yet,” he says, tugging the hem of his t-shirt in place at my thighs before taking my hand and leading me into the bedroom. He doesn’t stop until I’m perched on the side of his bed, his sheets soft beneath me.

“And you expect me to sleep?” I retort, suppressing a yawn, and he shakes his head again.

“No, I expect you to rest.”

I shuffle until my back hits the headboard, and Brody appears to pull the sheets back.

“That means letting my guard down,” I mutter, uncertainty curling in my throat.

Brody leans in, cupping my cheek. The softness of his smile doesn’t match the ferocity in his gaze as he speaks. “Dagger, let’s be real. I think you’ve already done that.”

34

ADRIANNA

Muttering vibrates through the room, stirring me from the depths of darkness. My head instantly aches with the onslaught of an irritating migraine and my vision blurs for what feels like an eternity as I try to focus on my surroundings. Exhaustion clings to me, leaving me fuzzy until I hear the distinct sound of a grumpy vampire.

My focus sharpens, revealing Raiden and Cassian standing at the foot of the bed, where I lay with Kryll on one side and Brody on the other. They’re both passed out cold. Brody’s leg is thrown over mine while Kryll’s palm rests at my waist.

“Hey,” I murmur, garnering the attention of the two hotheads at the foot of the bed. Cassian’s jaw ticks as he glares deeper at Raiden, who turns to me with a brilliant smile spread across his face.

“I told you not to wake her,” Cassian snarls, but Raiden waves him off without a glance.

---