Page 12 of Maleen

With me spoiling their ruse, she places her training blade on the rack before heading towards the male. A male I suddenly want to punch in the face.

A shiver goes through me and it dawns on me that I think of the female like a sister, and now I truly want to pulverize Rozen’s face. “Not my business,” I mutter, “Not my fucking business.”

I FIND MYSELF drawn to the library again. It seems to be a nightly routine, and I’m not sure if it’s because part of me wants to run into the little warrior whose hold on my heart might as well be crafted of iron: it’s agony and bliss all at the same time. My skin practically crawls with the anticipation and fear of her touch again, of her lips on mine. She’s like an addiction, and I know it’s only going to end in pain. Just like everything else.

The door to the small Vathian library snicks shut behind me and the calming scent of books and burning wood from the fireplace washes over me, relaxing my frayed nerves just a fraction.

Not even a moment later I hear murmured voices that sound like my brothers’, and my heart rate increases with this hope I can’t stop from consuming me: I pray she’s there with them. Yet as I round the corner I’m met with disappointment. She must still be sleeping. But if they’re here, who is with her? Is she alone? What if another assassin gets past the guards?

“Are you going to stand there panicking or come join us?” Jesper teases, looking in my direction even though I know I’m still hidden in the darkness. “Your mental thoughts are practically screaming at me. Rav is safe—Nero has her, and the dragons are keeping a close watch around the castle. She will be okay for a bit.”

I grunt and move towards them into the firelight, taking a seat in the chair next to them. “Good,” I grumble, hiding the groan as my muscles relax for the first time today.

Jesper leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees, and his scarlet hair falls forward. “You could always go join her. I’m positive she wouldn’t mind.”

“No. It’s not happening.”

Aemon picks up a glass of amber liquid and swirls it before taking a dainty sip. “And why is that? The Fates aren’t wrong, and we all know how you feel about her.”

“Does this have to do with daddy dearest?” Jesper adds.

I snarl. “Drop it. We have more pressing things to discuss.” But the picture is already ingrained in my mind: my body curled around her much smaller form, protecting her from anything. Her ass pressed against my cock. It twitches in my pants, and I have half a mind to bash their heads together.

“Oh? Has something happened?” Aemon asks, concern leaking into his voice as he sets his drink down on the circular wooden table next to his chair.

“You need an elite squad here, whenever we go. The warriors here now have not seen bloodshed, and I worry for the safety of our future Queen,” I state. This is not something I’ll let go of.

He nods, smirking. “I know. I’ve sent out pixies to the warriors Rav has blood-sworn to her. Who better to protect her than the fae who have joined her Royal Guard.”

I blink… that was easier than I thought it was going to be. “Good.”

He nods, glancing at Jesper, and somehow I sense a conspiracy of some sort brewing. “We need you to watch Ravina tonight. We need to meet with the blacksmith and do some errands in town, and if she wakes, she won’t want to be alone.”

I fucking knew it.

“Why don’t one of you stay and I’ll go with the other?”

Jesper shakes his head. “We won’t need brute strength for this. We don’t need to scare them away. You don’t need to get into bed with her—just sit in the chair, take a nap. She’s not going to bite, you know.”

“Unless you ask,” Aemon adds, his lavender eyes twinkling with mischief before he downs the rest of his drink. “We will be back in the morning.”

Panic starts to claw at my chest. “You won’t even notice I’m there, if I go with you,” I state, nearly begging, but I know it’s a lost cause. They’re determined, and I won’t leave her unprotected. Scheming bastards.

Jesper raises a brow. “No one’s going to notice the seven foot tall, hulking male of muscle? Sure, yeah, not happening. Give my Little Beastie a kiss for me!” he says as Aemon’s shadows wrap around them and they vanish from the library.

Cursing them, I storm towards Ravina’s sleeping quarters. The castle is quiet, with the exception of a few staff scurrying about, prepping for tomorrow’s duties. When I arrive at her door, I raise my knuckles to knock, pausing a breaths-width from the light wood. I don’t want to wake her, so I suck in a deep chest-full of air, holding it as I gingerly test the knob, silently cursing those two for knowing my weak spot. They know I wouldn’t be able to stop myself with my overwhelming urge to protect her. I can only hope I’m also strong enough to protect her from myself.

The hinges creak and I slip into the darkened room. Feathers rustle and my eyes dart to Nero on his perch, eyeing me. My hand slides into my pocket and I pull out a handful of trail mix before slowly approaching.

Without taking my gaze off of him, the side of my hand grazes the wood of her end table, placing the treat down for him. “I’m just here to keep her safe. I’ll just be sitting in that chair,” I whisper to her familiar as he watches me with an unhinged and slightly murderous glint in his beady little eyes.

Ravina groans, rolling over in the bed, and I freeze, hoping I didn’t wake her. Nero freezes too, waiting. After a moment, when she doesn’t stir anymore, Nero hops off his perch and begins to devour his offering.

I let out a soft sigh and move toward the chair next to her bed, lowering myself into it for the rest of the night. It creaks slightly and I momentarily worry it will collapse under my weight, but when it doesn’t, I finally let my body relax into the cushioned furniture.

Once my eyes fully adjust to the darkness of the room—with only the moon and stars as a light—I can’t take my eyes off her or the way her wavy reddish-brown hair is splayed across the pillows, her lips slightly parted and her arms thrown with abandon across the bed. Like a sea star. The thought of someone so little taking up so much space has a smile tugging at my lips.

I watch her until the moon is high in the sky: every little shuddering breath, and twitch of her brow. Every toss and turn she makes and the sheets get more tangled around her. It’s addicting. It’s why I always guarded from outside the room. Knowing that Aemon and Jesper were always with her gave me that peace of mind, but looking at her right now, I can’t find it in myself to curse them.