Page 6 of Bloom in Darkness

“I’m fine,” I say, keeping my voice low. “I stayed somewhere.”

Caelan goes quiet. “The Omega?”

I look down at Astra, his mouth slightly open in sleep while his hair sticks up in several directions. “Yeah.”

“How is he?”

“Sleeping.” I shift carefully beneath the blankets and settle my arm more securely around his waist before Caelan can ask the next obvious question. “I’m still here too.”

Caelan gives a soft hum. “I gathered that much.”

I picture him somewhere with coffee, barefoot in one of those expensive shirts he treats like an old T-shirt, and the thought turns too easily into his scent in my sheets and his mouth against my shoulder after a fight. “You worried?”

“About you? Frequently. You’re very large and very committed to making terrible decisions when you’re angry.”

I look down when Astra makes a small noise and tucks closer. “I made one good decision last night.”

Caelan is quiet. “You sound different.”

“I’m not discussing my sex life with you while he’s asleep on me.”

Caelan laughs through the phone. “That wasn’t what I asked, but thanks for confirming there was sex.”

“Caelan.”

“Fine.” The teasing fades enough that I hear what was underneath it the whole time. “I’m glad you’re okay. I was actually worried, asshole.”

I rub my thumb once over Astra’s side. “I know.”

Neither of us says anything for a few seconds. We’ve never needed to fill every silence. Caelan has sat through enough of mine to know that.

“I’ll handle the Forge this morning,” he says. “Come in later if you want.”

“I’ll see,” I tell him, already knowing I’m not promising anything.

“I figured. And Bryn? Try not to start a war with Sabine before breakfast.”

My jaw tightens. “No promises.”

Caelan laughs quietly and tells me to call him later before ending the call. I set the phone back on the nightstand as quietly as I can.

Astra stirs anyway, his nose wrinkling before one green eye cracks open beneath the blankets. He blinks at me several times before lifting his head far enough for the covers to slide down to his shoulders. He stares at me for several seconds before recognition finally settles in.

“Morning,” I murmur when his eyes finally focus.

Astra stares at me for another second. “You’re still here.”

“I said I would be.” My hand moves slowly down his back as he buries his face against my chest again.

“I’m deciding whether I believe you’re real before I commit to being awake.”

I let my hand move slowly down his back. His skin is warm beneath my palm, and when he shifts closer, the scent of him changes almost immediately. Astra’s scent warms enough that I feel my body answer before I mean it to.

I frown down at him. “Are you close to your heat?”

Astra shakes his head against my chest. “No. I know I’m reacting fast.” He lifts his head, his eyes clearer now. “I just don’t get a lot of moments where I can enjoy anything.”

I hate hearing him say it like enjoying anything is rare enough to explain this. Astra catches my face before I can hide the reaction and rests his hand over my sternum. “Don’t do that.”