Page 71 of Guardian of the Drowned Empire

I pulled him closer, my arm curved around his waist, my hand on his stomach. “I’ve got you.” I hugged him against me, and slowly his shaking subsided, and his breathing became even.

He squeezed my hand. A small acknowledgement, a thank you that I knew he was too tired and too emotional to voice. I squeezed back.

“You can rest now. Let go for the night,” I said. “I’m right here, watching over you. I’ll keep the cold away.”

Moments passed in silence as his breaths slowed and the tension in his shoulders released.

I closed my eyes, ready to sleep at last.

I woke with a start, the room black. A chill ran through me as Rhyan shifted beneath the covers. I tightened my grip on him, reaching under his body until he was wrapped in both my arms.

“Shhhh, Rhyan. It’s just a dream.” I stroked his forehead, smoothing his hair back, my fingers tracing the delicate shape of his ear until his breathing slowed again. I pulled my arm out from under him, pressed myself tighter against him, and closed my eyes.

“You’re…fire,” he whispered.

“What?” I froze.

But Rhyan didn’t respond or stir again. He was sleeping deeply in my arms.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Thesunstreamedinthrough the window, casting a golden-reddish glow behind my eyelids. I didn’t want to be awake yet. It was too early. I was too tired. And I was so wonderfully warm and cozy. I hugged the pillow in my arms tighter, trying to burrow my face into it, to hide from the day, to sleep just a little longer. Except it was definitely not a pillow I was holding, nor a pillow under my head. It was something far larger, sturdier, and warmer.

My eyes flew open. I was laying across Rhyan’s chest. His arms were wrapped around me, and his hands were on my back, holding me close.

The events of last night flashed through my mind. I’d been holding Rhyan as we’d drifted off, and somehow, in the middle of the night, we’d shifted until I was the one in his arms, and it was my head resting on his chest.

I shuddered, closing my eyes, not wanting to wake up, not wanting the spell to be broken.

But Rhyan’s chest rose beneath my head, and a small moan escaped him as he stretched his legs, his arms tightening around me. “Morning, partner.”

I opened my eyes, embarrassed to be on top of him. Quickly, I rolled out of his arms and onto my side as far away from him as the bed would allow. Which wasn’t much. He turned toward me, one hand beneath his pillow, the other resting on the sheets between us. Our eyes met.

“Morning.” I tried not to stare at his naked chest, at the gryphon wings tattooed across his chest. I tried not to think about how my head had just been there.

He smiled. “So are you like this every morning before coffee?”

I wrinkled my nose. “Like what?”

“Pretending to sleep even though you’re awake?”

“I thought you were still asleep,” I said. “I didn’t want to disturb you.”

His eyes bore into mine. “Did you sleep okay? Were you comfortable?”

My cheeks flushed. That had been the most comfortable I’d felt sleeping in months. Years. “I slept perfect.”

“Good,” he said, sounding relieved.

“How did you sleep?” I asked.

“No more nightmares.” He swallowed. “Lyr. I’m so sorry for everything last night. I was,” he stared up at the ceiling, “I was a gryphon-shit asshole. And I—”

“It’s okay,” I said. “I meant what I said. I forgive you. It’s no different than me trying to push you away all those months ago when you were trying to help. And you forgave me. We’re all right, me and you.”

He let out a mirthless laugh. “You called me a forsworn and said you didn’t need my fucking help with a bandage after clinic. Not quite the same as me backing you into a wall and—I was out of line. I shouldn’t have touched you.”

“What if I wanted you to touch me?” I held his gaze as the emerald green of his eyes darkened beneath his lashes. “Because I did. And I think you knew that.”

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