Page 162 of She Who Holds My Wrath

“Asshole.”

He doesn’t respond, but I feel the slight shake of the mattress. He’s laughing.

Dick.

I wake slowly, taking a minute to orient myself. I sometimes forget I’m living in a castle in Hell, and wake up confused more often than not. I can’t even remember falling asleep last night.

As the sleep clears from my eyes, and the world unblurs, my other senses return. That’s when I notice something heavier than my usual sheets draped over me.

Cassyr’s soft snores sound behind me, his breath tickling my neck. His legs are tangled with mine; his bare chest is pressed to my bare back with his arm drapes over my mid-section. Butterflies erupt in my stomach and I hold my breath, afraid that if I shift even just slightly, I’ll wake him.

I don’t want him to jump back and move. A part of me enjoys the way he feels wrapped around me. He’s easily half a foot taller than me, and built solid with muscle. I feel safe in his arms. I feel… content. I close my eyes and let myself enjoy the feel of it. Maybe it’s wrong, but he’s the one that wrapped himself around me, not the other way around.

He shifts slightly, a low groan leaving his lips as he cuddles closer. My eyes fly open. I can feel his dick, rock hard, pressing into my back. Oh. Fuck. He’s got morning wood, and it’s pressed directly against me.

I feel like maybe I should move away. I don’t want to be a weirdo who stays still so a sleeping man can press his dick into my back. That would be super odd. Right? I shift slightly forwards, clearing my throat. Cassyr suddenly go very stiff, and I know he’s just woken up and realised he’s cuddling into me like a giant teddy bear.

“I think you’re taking the healer role a little too seriously now, Cass.” I joke, trying to break the tension and awkwardness as I glance over my shoulder to him.

He scrambles backwards, nearly falling off the bed. “Fuck. Ezra, I’m so sorry. I—I didn’t⁠—”

I roll onto my back and laugh. “It’s fine. Honestly.”

He shakes his head, one of his hands positioned to hide his very obvious problem. “I’m gonna go shower. Take your tonic.” And then he’s gone, and the bed suddenly feels huge and cold.

Later that afternoon, Daisy joins us.

She curls up on the rug near the hearth, legs tucked beneath her, a blanket draped loosely around her shoulders. Despite it being summer and sweltering outside, I swear this castle is permanently cold. She looks tired in a way sleep won’t fix. Her eyes are sharp but her expression’s distant.

Cassyr sits on the edge of the bed whilst I lean back against the pillows, feeling more myself than I have since the attack. Neither of us brought up what happened this morning again. In fact, after he returned from his shower, fully dressed and composed, he slipped straight back into moody mother hen mode.

“This is the longest I’ve stayed still in years,” I say lightly. “I might actually die of boredom.”

Daisy snorts. “Don’t be dramatic. You’re not allowed to die; I’ve had just quite enough of that for one lifetime.”

Cassyr glances between us, but he avoids my eyes. “You should both be resting.”

She raises a brow. “Is that concern I hear?”

“Don’t get used to it,” he huffs.

Despite everything that’s currently happening, the moment feels almost… normal. Then there’s a knock. It’s a sharp, urgent sound that has Daisy instantly on edge.

A guard steps inside, stiff-backed and pale. “Your Majesty, forgive me for interrupting. You’re needed in the war room. Immediately.”

Daisy stands in an instant. “Why, Kirrian?”

“Virena has arrived,” he says. “She says she brings urgent news.”

Daisy drops the blanket to the floor, straightening her shoulders. “I’m coming.”

“Let me come. I’m bored,” I whine.

Cassyr’s head snaps towards me and I smile sheepishly at him.

Daisy looks between the three of us, then sighs. “Fuck it, why not. Come on.”

Chapter 51