Page 84 of The Hunt of Night

The blood is gone and the wound at his neck is no longer visible, which settles something inside of me.

“Troublemaker.”

I sigh, intent to listen to him use my nickname again and again.

“You look…good,” I mutter, still taking stock of him from head to toe, making sure there’s nothing out of place.

“I know,” he retorts with a wink, making me narrow my eyes.

“Uh, so you’re back to yourself then,” I state, making him rock back on his heels with a wicked smirk. As annoying as it is, it only serves to calm the worry that was wreaking havoc on my body.

I try to shake off his effect on me and continue unfazed, but I fail, and his gaze darkens, forcing my thighs to clench as I hold his heated stare.

“Miss me so soon?” he asks, nodding at Kryll and Brody at my sides, and I shrug.

“Jealous?” I breathe, struggling to hold back a grin as his gaze continues to deepen, his pupils dilating before my very eyes.

“Very,” he rasps, making a show of adjusting his dick behind his pants, and Cassian scoffs at his little performance.

“Well,shewas jealous ofmeearlier, so beat that,” Brody grumbles, wrapping his leg further around me as he nuzzles his face into the crook of my neck. Kryll’s fingers flex at my waist, confirming he’s awake too, but none of that seems to matter to the vampire.

“Well, I was deep inside her earlier, so?—”

“That’s enough,” Cassian interjects, his face reddening with agitation, and I take the awkwardness in the air as my cue to slip out for a minute.

“I don’t think so,” Raiden retorts, more than happy to keep pushing like he usually does.

I instantly miss the heat from Brody and Kryll as I slip from between them, earning a groan of complaint from them both as I go. I mutter about using the bathroom as I avoid Raiden’s outstretched hand and Cassian’s stare, quickly shutting the door behind me.

Taking a deep breath, I wipe a hand down my face. I think this is the first time I’ve woken up surrounded by them all. It’s definitely the first time I’ve woken up sandwiched between two of them, and the distraction it’s offering isn’t exactly working in my favor.

I make quick work of relieving my bladder and washing my hands before I finally dare to take a look at myself in the mirror. My blonde hair is sticking up in every direction, my eyes are puffier than a damn puffer fish, and my skin looks pale. I’m quite sure I could camouflage as a bottle of milk or a corpse right now, neither of which sound appealing. Not when there are four men on the other side of the door. Four men who I can no longer deny my need for.

Sighing, I shake my arms out, trying to lose the irritation creeping up my spine, but it’s unavoidable. I’m in here, thinking about dick—multiple dicks, to be specific, when I should be considering the kingdom. Now isn’t the time for me to be selfish.

With my mind jumbled over my current situation, I focus on myself first. Without a desirable audience, I use my magic to tame my hair into a crown braid around my head before splashing water on my face, hoping it will wash my puffy eyes away, but it’s not as easy as my hair.

“Troublemaker, I brought you some clothes. They’re on the shelves,” Raiden hollers from the other side of the door with a little rap of his knuckles.

“Thanks,” I murmur, frowning as I find exactly what he’s talking about. “Did you go to my room without me?” I ask.

“Would it make you mad if I did?” he asks, a hint of uncertainty in his tone.

“Yes.”

“Even if it was to get you some clothes to save you from doing the walk of shame?”

“I had clothes,” I retort, recalling what I was wearing last night, and he scoffs.

“I’m quite sure Cassian burned them. There was no coming back from that much blood,” he explains, making my lips purse as I quickly dress.

“You have to stop going in my room, Raiden,” I state, swinging the door open to find him right in front of me. There’s not even a hint of apology on his face, which reminds me I may need to consider tossing those goddamn roses away. For good this time.

“I’m sorry.”

“No you’re not.”

He shrugs, wetting his lips to hide the grin on his face, and it annoys the hell out of me. I’m too tired for this.