After putting my bowl down, I nodded and slowly stood. “Thank you for the food. I appreciate it. I’ve been living off gas-station stuff for way too long.”
As “delicious” as stale donuts and fountain sodas were, I was thrilled to eat something real that provided more than a quick injection of sugar and caffeine.
“It was no bother, dear. I take pride in ensuring everyone under my roof is fed and taken care of. Now, Griff, get our guest to bed,” she instructed with a wave of her hands, shooing him away from his bowl, which he’d barely had time to finish. She hurried us out of the room,bustling around to clean the dirty dishes and tidy up the stove.
Pausing, I offered, “I can help?—”
“No, no. I won’t hear any of that,” Ma said firmly, glowering at me and pointing at the door. “Go get some rest. You’re no good to us until you sleep.”
Griffin linked his arm with mine, dragging me out of the room and into the large hallway, laughing quietly as he grabbed my bags with one hand. I could tell how common this was, Ma directing people about like the mother hen she was. So much of that was comforting, when I didn’t have much stability in my life.
It didn’t take long to navigate to Griffin’s bedroom. It was on the second floor, and I eyed the space around me curiously.
“So, why did you decide to take a room in the den instead of getting a place of your own?” I asked.
Usually, high-ranking members of the horde were allowed their own property. It was a status symbol. The Alpha or Alphas would typically stay in the den, but those in their inner circle had their own properties in most cases, gifts from the grateful leaders.
Griffin shrugged, the corners of his lips turning down. “Eh, I like being here. It's in the center of everything. I can keep an eye on things. The Alphas are always out and about. Even when they are here, they’re never really that present, so it makes sense for me to be around.”
When we came to a stop in front of a beautiful, wood-paneled door, he opened the way to his room with a flourish.
“Welcome to my den of iniquity!” he declared with a grand wave of his hand, and I rolled my eyes at him.
Except, when I looked around, there was hardly any evidence of said “iniquity.” His bedroom was pretty basic, but Griffin had always been a no-fuss kind of guy. The bed was covered in fleece blankets illustrated with dense woodland. The entire room was steeped in dark greens and warm wood tones, as if the bedroom was still trying to be part of the outside woodland. I guess that made sense, considering dragons preferredthe outdoors.
“I’ll take the floor,” Griff offered, dropping my bag that he refused to let me carry onto the bed.
“Scared of a cuddle, Griff?” I laughed, making a face at him. “We’ve shared many a bedroll while working together. I think I can survive sleeping next to your stinky butt. Speaking of stinky, can I get the shower first?”
He was the one to roll his eyes this time and gestured to a door. “Sure, right through there. I have my own bathroom as an enforcer.”
“The perks just keep on coming. I’ll only be a sec,” I said as I grabbed my toiletry bag and an old T-shirt and shorts to sleep in.
Thankfully, Griff kept his shower clean, unlike some of the guys I had met on my travels. Some shifters really did behave like animals, while others were distinctly more refined. Griff was a ladies' man, though, and I would bet my ass that he had entertained many a doe-eyed woman in this very shower.
Still, he had never tried anything with me. We didn’t see each other that way. We’d clicked almost immediately as friends, but it was nothing more. Plain and simple. And I appreciated him for respecting that without any issue.
In the shower, I scrubbed at my skin until it was no longer sticky and sweaty; washing off all the traveling ick felt incredible after so long. Scraping my fingernails over my scalp as I washed my hair was probably one of the best feelings in the world. At least right now.
Within five minutes, I was stepping out of the shower, clean and wearing fresh clothes as I padded into the bedroom. I felt ten pounds lighter too.
Griff was already lying on one side of the bed, wearing nothing but a baggy pair of shorts, a tablet in his hands. I crawled into the opposite side, grabbing my phone from the nightstand to check for any new messages.
After a moment of us both tapping away, Griff set down the tablet and turned his face toward the ceiling, staring at it without blinking. It wasenough to get me to put the phone away.
“Thank you for coming, Ro,” he grumbled with a sigh. “I’m sure the Alphas are thankful as well. They’re just… Two of them are around. Or, at least, in the state.”
“Doesn’t matter. I don’t need their appreciation. I just need to ensure Rory is better, and then I’ll be on my way. I was heading to Orleans when I got your call. So I’ll need to get back on the road again when we’re finished.”
“You chose me over swamp? Oh, Ro-Ro. I’m touched.” Griffin grinned at me, nudging me in the side with his elbow.
“Ugh. Shut up and let me sleep.” I laughed, nestling under the blankets until I was comfortable. “Lots to do in the morning, and if you stand between me and my rest, I’ll boot your ass onto the floor.”
Griff chuckled before rolling onto his side, purposefully jostling me. I shook my head, squeezing my eyes closed. For as chaotic as all this was, the days of travel were catching up to me, and I quickly drifted off to sleep.
Nix
Ihated politics. There were far better—and far more enjoyable—things I could be focusing on.
