Page 72 of Death and Donuts

I opened it and found the silky nightgown. While I didn’t mind the nightgown, I noticed Vena hadn’t provided underwear,and the length of the pajamas would probably just barely cover my backside.

Whatever. It wasn’t like I was doing anything but getting under the covers. Tossing the towel aside, I put on the nightgown and climbed into bed.

I woke up hot,sweaty, and cocooned tightly. It wasn’t the blankets restricting my movements but two arms that crisscrossed over my stomach. One was heavier than the other. I followed those arms to the men on either side of me.

Shepard was turned toward me. His exhales tickled my neck.

On the other side, Cross faced me as well. However, he wasn’t sleeping. When our gazes connected, he saw my disbelief and smiled at me.

“How did you get in here?” I whispered, not wanting to wake Shepard for Cross’ sake.

“Not even a pack of wolves could keep me from reaching you.” He pressed a kiss against my temple. “And being in bed with a sleeping wolf is icing on the cake.”

I couldn’t believe Cross. Part of me wanted to laugh. The other part was freaking out that Shepard would wake up.

“I can hear you,” Shepard mumbled, sounding more bored than angry. “You’re not as quiet as you think you are.”

“Quiet enough not to rouse your pack,” Cross said. “Speaking of arousing, your sleeping heart rate is quite high this morning. You like me in your bed, don’t you…”

Cross’ arm moved to pet Shepard’s hip through the blanket. Shepard’s eyes snapped open, and he shoved Cross’ hand away.

“Find your own bed.”

“I'm willing to share mine if you share yours.” Cross wiggled his eyebrows.

Shepard rolled his eyes before shoving him from the bed. “Go, or I’ll call the guards.”

Cross stood and leaned in to kiss my neck. “I hope the next time I’m in bed with you, you’ll skip the underwear again, Everly.”

“Run fast,” Shepard said then whistled sharply.

Cross chuckled and blurred out the patio doors.

“Is he going to be okay?”

“Yes. Everyone knows not to kill him.”

“Not to kill, but what about harm?”

“He’ll recover quickly.” At my concerned expression, Shepard smiled. “He’ll be fine. What are you hungry for this morning?”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

When we arrivedin the main dining hall, the Hunters, Vena, and Anchor were still there. So were Gunther and another man, but they sat at another table farther away. Otherwise, the room was empty.

Based on the Hunters’ empty breakfast plates and Vena’s tortured expression, I knew they’d been there a while, and she needed a break from her boyfriend's interrogation.

“Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Hunter. How’s Miles?” I asked as I joined them.

“As well as can be expected,” Mr. Hunter said. “He’s eating and drinking but angry about his forced captivity. He keeps asking about my parents’ research and the book they’d found before their disappearance.”

The same book Vena and I had found hidden at their house.

“He’s nicer to us than the other people here,” Mrs. Hunter added.

“As soon as the vampire controlling him is dead, he’ll be back to normal,” Vena said. We all knew that was a lie, though. He would never be the same again once he realized what Adriel made him do.

Shepard sat beside me and passed me a plate with eggs, bacon, and toast. I dug in.

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