Page 72 of Dark & Dreadful Brutes

He looked exhausted, and proved that he was when he didn’t argue with me.

We walked back to the castle quickly. I tried to memorize the route as we wove through streets until we finally reached the massive structure. Then, I tried to remember the path through the castle as we headed to Ravv’s room.

I still wasn’t tired when he locked the door behind us and climbed into bed, dragging me into his arms the moment he was settled. I was still feeling a bit dark after all those damn memories had filtered their way to the front of my mind.

“At least today’s over,” he said into my hair.

“It’s the middle of the day.”

“It’s yesterday for me.” His lips brushed my head once, and then again. “I’m glad you’re here.”

As insane as it probably made me, I was glad I was there too.

He fell asleep quickly, leaving me staring at the ceiling. More memories of my mother slowly filled my mind until tears leaked from my eyes. The salty water didn’t wake Ravv up, thankfully, as I cried for the woman I’d loved so damn much.

Veil, life had been easier when I could pretend the past never happened.

I needed a way to separate myself from all of the memories that had started returning after we faced the Beast… but I was starting to think that was an impossibility. My memories demanded to be heard, and no one could listen but me.

Eventually, I managed to quiet my mind long enough for a nap, and sleep’s embrace was exactly the blissful escape I needed.

“Move over,” Gleam said into my mind, as she nudged me with her nose.

I lifted my head, meeting her gaze with bleary eyes.

She nudged me again, and I scooted back against Ravv.

His hand landed on my hip and squeezed roughly. I thought I heard him mumble something, but couldn’t tell what he’d said as I pressed my backside to his erection and used it to guide him backward.

His hand on my hip tightened again, and he pulled me closer until his erection was nestled between my ass cheeks.

My body flushed with heat.

“Gleam is here,” I said into his mind. “Move over.”

He didn’t budge.

“Move over, Ravv,” I repeated, pushing against him.

He finally slid across the mattress, dragging me with him, then muttered something that sounded suspiciously like, “reek,” and promptly fell back asleep.

One furry body plopped down right up against me—and then another followed on the other side of it, shaking the bed.

I lifted my head and found myself eye-to-eye with Coarse.

He stared at me.

I stared back.

A few minutes passed before he closed his eyes. His head was resting on Gleam’s back, and she was already snoring again.

No longer tired, I found myself staring up at the ceiling. My heart beat quickly, my mind returning to the past.

My mother’s smile flashed through my thoughts.

My father’s hug.

My sister’s laugh.

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