Page 10 of Degradation

“Any dizziness, Kitten?” Brandle asked.

“Breathlessness and aching for more where I’m not yet ready to be touched again, but no dizziness.”

Daemon groaned and dropped his forehead to my sternum.

Darian laughed. “Someone’s going to need an ice bath.”

I lifted Daemon’s head and kissed him sweetly.

“Thank you for your help.”

“I will help you with anything, Lamb. Always. Especially if it involves sleeping next to you tonight.”

He helped me to my feet and straightened my tunic. With one last kiss that involved lifting me and wrapping my legs around his waist, he left me to recline against the gem chest again.

Boredom and the low lighting made it impossible to stay awake as they worked. A cave floor wasn’t the most comfortable place to rest, which was likely why I woke on Eadric’s chest a while later.

“How did you win this privilege?” I asked.

“Because they knew I would be able to move you without you noticing,” he said with a grin.

I laughed with him and rested my head on his shoulder as he smoothed a hand over my back. It was relaxing and nice, and I was close to falling asleep again when he spoke.

“If you think the spell lingers, would it be wiser to bed us before we leave for Turre?”

A snort escaped me. “Bedyou? I believe I’m the one being bedded.”

“A mutual bedding then.”

I relaxed into him and considered his suggestion.

“I neither want to delay our departure nor want to feel as if the time I spend with each of you is forced due to a spell. The dizziness I felt wasn’t severe and hasn’t led to any problems. It’s no more than I feel when I stand after reading for too long and forgetting to eat.”

“Hmm. I don’t want the time you spend with us to feel forced, either. Then, it seems we’ll need to start packing when we return. The gems you uncovered were enough to fill the remaining chests.”

I sat up to look at the chests, but they were gone—along with Edmund, Daemon, Darian, and Brandle.

“We didn’t want to wake you,” Garron said.

“You looked peaceful,” Liam added as Eadric stood and helped me to my feet.

“Are you still tired?” Garron asked.

“Not at all.” Any lingering tiredness had vanished with the anticipation of finally leaving.

Garron once again led the way with the lamp, and Eadric held my hand as Liam followed us.

When we emerged, the sun sat low on the horizon, and Brandle was filling a pail at the well.

“There’s a bath waiting for you inside,” he said.

I felt Eadric’s humor and Garron’s concern. I patted Garron’s chest.

“Don’t forget…I know how to remove the heat from water.” As I spoke, I heated the pails Brandle had ready for the trio. “Edmund knows to behave.”

As I strode away, I heard Liam ask, “How did she know Edmund was waiting for her?”

“She said she can feel us,” Brandle said.

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