Page 36 of The Court of Truth

“You’ve had a long day that has drained you both mentally and physically. I want to help you recharge. A bath together sounds like the perfect remedy. Although, it’s totally selfish because I just want to take care of you for a minute, if you’ll let me. What do you say?”

She stares deep into my eyes, her eyelids opened wide as she speaks. “I love you, Brody. Today, tomorrow, forever.”

My chest swells, making my nostrils flare with emotion as I kiss her forehead before resting mine against hers, looking deep into her eyes. She steals my every breath and I’ll never tire of it.

“I love you, Dagger. Today, tomorrow, forever.”

20

ADRIANNA

Rustling beside me threatens to pull me from my slumber, but I cling to it like my life depends on it because I’m pretty sure it does. Dreams of flowery meadows and laughter fade with every breath I take, despite how hard I try to grasp onto them. It’s so close I can almost smell the lavender that dances in the wind. Yet the harder I fight, the more alert I become until I feel a hand on my shoulder and hear my name on a whispered breath.

“Adrianna, I need you to wake up now.”

Frowning, I try to pry my eyes open, but it proves more challenging than I expect. It takes a few attempts, but when I finally lock eyes with the man calling my name, I wish I was back asleep instead of looking at the worry that’s wormed its way into his eyes.

“Raiden?” I rasp, reaching a hand out to him. He gives me a tight smile, clutching my hand and brushing a soft kiss to my knuckles before he speaks. His usual composed look is nonexistent. His hair is disheveled, his eyes tired, and his nostrils flared.

“I’m sorry, it’s urgent,” he explains. The concern etched into his voice forces me to sit, shuffling back so I can lean against the headboard and gather my senses. Brody is awake, standing in the doorway that leads into the bathroom, and the sun peeks through the stained glass on either side of the bed.

“What time is it?” I ask, brushing my hair back off my face, and Brody scoffs.

“Too early.”

“That’s not helping,” Raiden grumbles, glaring at his friend before he looks back at me. “A little after five in the morning.”

“What’s going on?” I don’t want to ask, but there’s no avoiding it, so I may as well get it over with.

“There’s been an attack,” he blurts, shaking his head in dismay.

My eyes widen as I gape at him, adrenaline immediately thundering through my veins as I curse under my breath.

“No working in the bedroom,” Brody grumbles, swiping a hand down his face, and my stomach instantly churns, recalling our conversation last night. Guilt seeps through me as I move to get out of bed, but to my surprise he’s by my side in a flash, his hand on my stomach, holding me in place. “One exception. Just one.”

I offer him a tight, tired smile as I try to rid the exhaustion that still lingers, but it does little to shift the heaviness that weighs on me. Turning my attention back to Raiden, I wait for more, but before he can explain further, I notice something about him that makes me pause.

“Raiden, have you slept?”

He sighs, shaking his head gently. “I’ll sleep later.”

“Why haven’t you slept?” I push, worry threading through my bones as I stare at one of my men on the brink of passing out.

“Because I’m protecting you,” he offers with a tired smile. “Or I’m trying to, at least,” he adds, looking away from me.

I grip his hand tighter until his eyes find mine again. “You’re protecting more than me, Raiden,” I state, and it’s the truth. “But you shouldn’t be running yourself ragged to do it. Especially since we’ve only just begun,” I insist, but he shakes his head, already refusing to hear me like the stubborn vampire he is.

“I’m protecting them for you, Adrianna, but there’s no way I could have been prepared for this attack,” he admits, pressing the fingers of his free hand into his temple.

“What’s happened?” I ask, aware that the conversation about his dedication is far from over, but I can circle back to that later. For now, I need to listen and understand what has him torn up like this.

“Clementine.”

One word and my blood runs cold.

“What did she do?”

He clears his throat and takes a deep breath before he finds the words to speak. “She attacked Summer Oak; the entire town is in ruins. She left nothing unscathed. It’s a disaster. The casualties are still being counted and the fires are still not quite out.” Fuck. “And to top it all off, half the soldiers deserted.”

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