Page 10 of Created in Chaos

“Just tired of being tired,” I respond noncommittally while pretending to examine the room. It’s another gothic dream. The walls are gray stone, like that of a castle, but the windows are the real showstopper—five floor to ceiling pointed arches intersected with more stonework and lead glass panes dominate the room. The glass is distorted with small bubbles and waves, giving it an ancient feel. The bed mimics the window arches, but in lieu of glass, there are mirrors, blackened with age, reflecting back at me.

“Whose room is this?” I question. I can’t help but think about those mirrors. The image of Lucian looking into the reflective glass while he was with someone else leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

“No one’s.” Nox drops onto the bed casually. I let my eyes bounce over the rest of the medieval-looking furniture, including the tufted chaise lounge positioned at the end of the bed. It’s draped with silvery velvet blankets and smoke gray pillows.

“Why?” Lucian asks while rising to his full height after tucking my shoes under the bed. The power dynamic between us is always strung tight, but with him above me, looking down on me the way he is, it plucks at the tension, making it sing through my body with awareness.

“It’s softer than the other rooms,” I respond without outright asking if this is where he brings his hookups, but that feels wrong the moment I think it. There’s nothing soft about Lucian.

I glance over at Nox, who’s comfortably leaning against the massive headboard, and I wonder if maybe this isn’t his room for meeting his girlfriends. I don’t like that thought either, especially not the girlfriend part.

Being here with them isn’t smart. Lines made in permanent marker have already been crossed. At some point in the hospital—heck, maybe it was even before that—I became reliant on their attention and presence. I told myself it was okay because I was in a weakened state, but it was and still is an excuse.

“Are you sure there’s no other reason you’re asking, lamb? Like maybe you want it to be your room?” Lucian proves he can see through my lies, but there’s a little solace in the fact that he can’t read me completely. I give him a droll stare, neither confirming nor denying his claim, but trying to convey that his assumption is wrong all the same. “Well, it won’t be. As soon as your beautiful body is all healed up, you’ll be in our bed.”

I don’t know what catches me more off guard—the compliment, or the assumption that I would sleep with him. Actually, I know which is more surprising. I just don’t know if I can trust his flattery.

“You think very highly of yourself, pretty boy.”

He leers at me without shame. “So do you, but you can pretend you don’t. I’ll very much enjoy winning you over.”

“Ignore his need for attention, Nova, and relax. I’m sure this bed has to be more comfortable than that noisy blue mattress,” Nox cajoles, patting the bed next to him with his palm.

“I’ve slept on much worse. It’s you guys I feel bad for. That couch must have sucked.”

“It was better than the alternative.” He fluffs the pillows, and I crawl forward.

“Which was?” I question, slightly confused.

“Leaving you there alone.”

Nox’s comment makes me blush almost as much as Lucian’s crudeness, but the feeling of butterflies in my stomach is certainly more intense. “Thank you for staying with me,” I say softly, feeling vulnerable and grateful.

“Anytime.” He meets my eyes with his softer, cool blue gaze.

“Let’s just not make it a habit. I don’t ever want to see you in the hospital again,” Lucian grumbles before tossing a television remote on the bed near his brother’s hand. “I’m going to take an hour-long shower. I would invite you, lamb, but I’m not sure you could resist me, and I would be powerless to deny you.” He spreads his arms in a helpless gesture, and I actually burst out laughing and have to grab my ribs at the sharp pain.

Nox chuckles with me, burying his face in my neck. Goose bumps erupt all over my skin from his nearness, and the feeling of his warm breath steals the humor of the moment, dulling the pain in my side, which doesn’t go unnoticed by Lucian. I don’t utter a word when it’s his turn to laugh as he turns away, tugging his shirt over his head to toss onto the floor on his way to the shower. The huge skull on his back with gaping dark eyes seems to watch me just as keenly as he does.

NOX

“If you don’t let me up, Lucian, I swear to God I’m going to punch you in the junk.” Frankly, I’m surprised she let him baby her—her words, not mine—this long.

“Are we ready for foreplay, lamb?” The fool actually reaches down and grabs his dick to adjust it. Nova lets out a little growl, then shoulder checks him when she gets up from the chair.

“The only foreplay you’re getting is a bag of ice dropped down your pants to help with the swelling.”

“Awe, it’s not that big. I promise it will fit.” He continues to harass her, but she keeps walking away, flipping him off behind her back.

“I’ve jacked off so much, I think I’m desensitizing my dick,” he tells me conversationally once she’s out of the room. “I can’t seem to come unless I’m standing over her while she’s asleep or perving on the pictures I took of her.”

“Fucking hell, Lucian.” I laugh, even though it shouldn’t be funny. “You better aim that shit somewhere else, bro.” A disturbed smile distorts his features, and I’m not brave enough to ask why.

“The Umbras are demanding a meeting,” he grouses seconds later.

“And yesterday, and the day before that.” I shrug.

He looks over at the doorway to make sure Nova isn’t around to overhear him before saying, “This one came with an invitation we can’t ignore.” He produces a crimson envelope, sealed with the CC crest in black wax.

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