“Next time Jerin stops by, I’m going to ask if they need help,” I said, glancing out the window to take in the mountains beyond. “It’ll help me review their security and see what else I can learn on the outside.”
Novak didn’t reply but dropped to his feet after another round of pull-ups. His expression remained inscrutable, which was typical for him. But I sensed his distrust. While he’d provided me with the information he knew from Raven, he didn’t want to believe I intended to help anyone.
Actions always spoke louder than words.
If I wanted his faith in me, I’d have to earn it.
I felt the same about him. But so far, he’d done a reasonable job proving I could trust him. Despite his obvious attraction to Layla, he hadn’t acted upon it. He’d even given her space. But I knew he’d jump on her the moment she asked him to. I also wouldn’t put it past him to seduce her.
A week ago, that would have infuriated me.
Today, all I could do was sigh.
Another piece of my integrity lost.
Layla chose that moment to open the door, almost as though she heard my armor crumbling into dust. Her fuchsia hair was piled high on her head in a messy, wet bun, the strands curling at the ends. She had on her same outfit, which I suspected she’d just spent the last few hours cleaning and drying because some of the threads looked a little darker than the others, suggesting they were still damp.
But she appeared refreshed and beautiful.
No. Not beautiful.Stunning.
Her blue eyes glistened beneath the lights, her creamy complexion a stark contrast to her dark wings. She looked alive. Powerful. Regal.
I wanted to grab hold of that mess of curls and drag her to the bed, strip each of those freshly washed scraps of clothing off of her, and lose myself in her cherry scent.
Her shoes were by the wall, leaving her calves and dainty feet exposed. She almost appeared fragile as a result, but her athleticism showed in each step as she moved toward the bed without a word.
She was curved in all the right places, toned from years of physical activity, and perfect in every way imaginable.
I knew all of that already, but somehow, everything about her felt new. Almost as if I was seeing her beneath a new light.
Perhaps I was. Now that I’d accepted her innocence, her black plumes no longer detracted from her beauty; they added to it. And I found myself lost in her presence, unable to utter a word.
Because I still didn’t know what to say.
“Because none of them smelled like you.”
Her words had been a punch to my gut and a sensual stroke to my heart. She refused to meet my eyes now, instead sliding into the middle of the bed, beneath the sheets.
My original intention of Novak and me both sleeping on the floor had never come to fruition. Instead, we’d engaged in an unspoken agreement where we shared the bed with Layla and let her go beneath the sheets while the two of us only used the blanket on top.
It had created a few awkward moments of tangled feathers, but none of us had remarked on it, choosing to ignore the tension and distract ourselves with breakfast or words instead.
Now she looked so small in the center of the massive mattress, her legs tucking into her chest as she curled herself into a ball.
Judging by the sun, it was only late afternoon. Our dinner would arrive soon. I met Novak’s gaze, catching a glimmer of concern in his features before he put on his usual stoic façade.
We had one of those silent conversations where I spoke through my eyes and he somehow understood me.
I need a minute alone with her, I was saying. I still had no idea what I would tell her, but I couldn’t just ignore our situation. She’d revealed something important to me, and I owed it to her to do the same.
He studied me for a moment, then gave me a nod before disappearing into the bathroom. The water turned on a second later, suggesting he’d decided on a post-workout shower. Or perhaps he intended to do something else in there.
I wouldn’t blame him.
I’d done the same before bed last night.
Layla didn’t react to Novak’s departure, her thick eyelashes fanning her cheeks as her eyes remained closed.
