Page 44 of Eluvonia
“Dammit,” he mutters, rubbing his temple. “The fat male was right.”
Declan looks toward the window, his expression contemplative. “We can see if it passes,” he says, his voice steady.
Kaida groans and sinks back into his seat, his arms crossed tightly.
We finish our meal in silence, the thunderstorm outside intensifying. The rain pelts the wooden roof of the inn, mixing with the cheerful, boisterous sounds of the tavern.
After some time, the storm still shows no sign of letting up. Kaida sighs, shaking his head. “Looks like we’re staying the night.”
Declan nods. “I’ll go get us some rooms.”
He rises, the scrape of his chair against the floor echoing softly. I continue eating my crusty bread, watching him approach the plump male at the podium.
Their exchange is heated and animated, Declan’s expressions flickering between exasperation and sharp control. Finally, he gives a slight nod and turns back toward us.
I sit straighter, a sudden unease prickling at my spine. Declan walks back with a sigh, running his hands through his hair.
“So, I got us a room,” he announces.
Kaida raises an eyebrow. “You mean rooms, plural, correct?”
Declan sighs again, his shoulders slumping slightly. “No, he only had one room left.”
Kaida stares at him for a long moment, before he runs his hand across his face, frustration evident. “Fine,” he mutters, standing.
I toss the last piece of bread in my mouth and follow them up a flight of wooden stairs. The hall stretches long and dimly lit, ending in a small wooden door. Declan unlocks it with the key he obtained and steps inside.
The room is simple—one double bed with a red blanket, a small red carpet in front of it, and an adjoining bathroom.
“That bed can barely fit me alone,” Kaida remarks, his tonedry.
Declan smirks, raising a hand. “Yeah, I’m not sleeping with you, so I’ll take the floor. That carpet looks soft enough.”
I look between them with a smirk. “Better share that carpet, Dec, because I’m not sharing another bed with him.”
Kaida gives me a smug look, his lips twitching. “Oh, you will, even if I have to chain you to the bed.” His words send a blush creeping up my cheeks.
“In your dreams, maybe,” I retort, heading toward the bed.
“I knowIdream of you tying up Kaida,” Declan interjects, his voice playful and teasing.
I burst out laughing, and plop onto the bed, as Kaida takes his boot off and hurls it at Declan. The boot sails through the air, narrowly missing Declan’s head before he ducks and dives at Kaida. They crash to the floor in a tangle of limbs, laughing and grappling on the floor, playful but intense, their laughter mixing with the storm raging outside.
From my spot on the bed, I watch them with a grin, the tension in the room easing as they tease and push each other.
Chapter 16
AERIS
Isit staring at the wooden ceiling as water hums in the background. Declan is already sprawled out on the carpet, rolled up like some overgrown dog, his soft snores breaking the silence. I glance at him, a small smile tugging at my lips despite myself.
“He’s so carefree,” I murmur under my breath. “Wish I could be like that.”
The thought lingers, a faint ache blooming in my chest as I lay down on the bed. But the weight of exhaustion soon pulls me under, and my eyelids grow heavy. The sound of the shower fades into the background, swallowed by the darkness of sleep.
When I wake, the first thing I notice is the sunlight streaming through the window, spilling warmth across the room. Blinking, I squint against the brightness, confused by the unfamiliar softness beneath me. It takes a moment for the events of the previous day to flood back.
I stretch, expecting to feel cramped and pinned by Kaida’s ridiculous bulk. But to my surprise, the bed next to me is empty. The sheets are unruffled, untouched. I sit up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and glance toward the floor at the foot of the bed where Declan had claimed his spot.
