Page 59 of A Heart in Knots

Taking my own advice, I indulged in a deep breath, and so did Crux, then Rowan. Soon the three of us were in sync, breathing in one pattern, one pace, drifting in and out of comfortableunconsciousness. A purr escaped my throat as my awareness slipped away into a peaceful slumber.

Chapter 38

SKYE

Iwoketomovement.Rowan was pulling free from my embrace. My eyes fluttered open and I looked at his naked back, gilded by the sun. Maybe it was my imagination but his bruises already looked lighter. I lifted a hand and tenderly raked my nails down his spine. He gasped and looked over his shoulder at me.

“I tried not to wake you,” he told me apologetically.

“How are you feeling?” I asked.

“Better. It doesn’t hurt so much.”

“Come back to bed,” I whispered.

“It’s time for Tracker’s morning run,” he said. “I take him out every morning. I’ll be back in about an hour.”

“Are you okay to run?”

“I’ll be fine,” Rowan stood up, and looked down at me. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

I smiled. “Of course.”

“Uh. Can I use your shower?”

A giggle escaped me. “Be my guest.”

I lay back down as Rowan disappeared into the bathroom. I looked at Crux, still sleeping, movement under his eyelids. He looked at peace, an expression that always brought me joy. I brushed some rogue strands of blue hair from his forehead, then placed a kiss on his brow. Crux was dead to the world and lost in his dreamscape. A part of me marveled that I had the power to soothe the pain and agitation of two alphas with just my aura, just my presence. It made me feel connected to myself. Comfortable in my own skin. Dare I say empowered.

I slipped from Crux’s hold, though he put up a small unconscious fight. I managed to free myself and stretched my body, arms up, hands reaching for the sky above. I left my nest room and headed for the master bathroom for my morning shower. I scrubbed and exfoliated, and shampooed and moisturized with unscented products, washing away any aggressive hints of the alphas I had spent the night with. I took great care cleansing the crescent spaces under my breasts, and the whispery folds between my thighs and between my cheeks. I made sure every part of my body smelled only of me.

When I got out, I gently patted myself dry with a fluffy towel, before wrapping it around my body. I blow dried my hair and added a twist or a curl here and there to give subtle, beachy waves. My hair shone like satin as it fell down my back. Gathering my hair over my shoulder, I angled myself so I could see the three bite marks that ran down my neck, now permanent fixtures of my body. Halo’s prim dash, Crux’s deep teeth marks, and Severen’s jaws that surrounded the other two, keeping them safe and defended.

Facing forward again, I couldn’t help but notice the top of the heart surgery scar peeking out from my towel, alien and obtrusive, but at the same time, a reminder of a gift, of sacrifice.

I had to make a sacrifice, too.

Still in a towel, I spotted Rowan stepping out the front door with Tracker at his heels. Quickly, I tiptoed back into my nest room, where Crux was snoring softly, still lost in his dreams. His arms were wrapped around my pillow.

As quiet as I could, I opened my closet and pulled a silky men’s button up off a hanger. I gathered it in my hands and held it to my face, closing my eyes as I inhaled the faint trace of Severen’s scent. I dropped the towel into my hamper and slipped into the shirt. I paid attention to each button as I did them up, and ran my palms over the soft, flowy fabric. The shirt was big on me and came down just past my ass, hiding anything from prying eyes as long as I was careful. I undid the top buttons and let the collar slide off my left shoulder.

Steeling all my courage, and giving myself one final look in the mirror, I walked to Severen’s office. His door was open a crack and I peered inside. Severen was at his laptop, staring at a blank page and a blinking cursor.

“Have you slept at all?” I asked.

His rolling chair was a big, black suede desk chair with a quilted backrest. The kind of chair a rich CEO might have. It moved slowly when it turned, which it did now, just a little as Severen glanced at me.

“I don’t think so.”

The rasp in his voice confirmed that he hadn’t.

“I know he was here. All night. In your nest.”

“He was,” I agreed. “Crux, too.” On bare feet I padded over to him. “You also know through the bond that nothing happened.”

Gripping the arm of the office chair, I hauled it around so Severen faced me.

“Is that my shirt?”

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