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With his reassurance, I stop fighting against the wave of sleep trying to pull me under and fall asleep faster than I ever have before.
CHAPTERTHIRTY
Irissa
As promised, Nor is still curled up beside me when I wake up. Without any windows in the room, it’s impossible to judge how long I’ve been asleep, but it must have been hours because I’m completely refreshed. His slow, rhythmic breathing tells me he’s still asleep, so I carefully slip out of his hold and slide off the bed, my feet landing silently on the floor.
Before heading for the bathroom, I turn to look at him. In sleep, he’s not nearly as menacing. The tension has disappeared from his features, making him appear far less angry than normal, and he doesn’t look like he’s ready for a fight. It’s impressive how gentle he can seem when he isn’t flaunting his royal personality.
The lavish bathroom is dripping in shades of purple and gold, and I spend way too much time admiring the details before returning to the bedroom. I expect to find Nor still asleep, but his eyes fall on me the moment I open the door. Aside from opening his eyes, he hasn’t budged.
“You were right,” I say, jabbing a thumb over my shoulder as I make my way back to the bed. “It’s huge.”
He smirks and gestures to the space beside him on the bed. I crawl back up next to him, pressing my face against his chest as his arm snakes around my back, and close my eyes again. For the first time since arriving to Ulleh, I finally feel at home. Out of the entire castle, this is my favorite place to be.
“I bet it’s almost dinnertime,” he whispers into my hair. “Do you want to eat in the dining hall or have food brought up?”
The idea of staying here in my personal sanctuary is tempting, but I didn’t tell Lizette where I was headed before I disappeared from the library. I haven’t seen her since this morning, and I should probably let her know that nothing happened to me. Times are too uncertain to go without checking in periodically, just for peace of mind.
“We can eat in the dining hall if you help me get dressed again,” I mutter against his skin. “You’re getting rather good at it.”
He huffs a laugh and squeeze my ass playfully. “I think I’m much better at taking them off.”
“That you are.”
“Come on,” he says, slapping his hand flat against my ass cheek, making it sting. “Before I decide I’d rather eat you instead of dinner.”
We get dressed, my stomach already rumbling at the thought of food, and head downstairs. I cling to Nor’s arm through the halls, and he strolls leisurely so that I’m able to keep up. Now that we’re away from the sanctuary of his bedroom, I’m regretting my decision to leave. To be tangled up with him is all I want right now.
“If you want,” he says softly, “you can come back to my room after dinner. You can stay with me.”
Considering we should have been sleeping together months ago by royal standards, the offer would sound funny in any other scenario. However, now that I’ve gotten a small taste of what it’s like to be with him, the thought of sleeping in my own room isn’t at all appealing.
“Of course,” I say, already imagining being curled up with him again. “I’d like that a lot.”
Lizette smiles in my direction when Nor and I step into the dining hall together, and I give her a little wave. She’s already standing in her place against the wall. I’ll have to fill her in on the day’s events soon, while sparing her the dirty details. She might not ever return to the library if I tell her what happened there.
To my surprise, Nor pulls out a chair for me, and my cheeks prickle as I take a seat. It’s unusual for him to be so sweet when there are people around, but I thank him softly as he sits to my left. Oryx sits across from me, and it looks like he’s struggling to fight off a knowing grin.
“Where’ve you been, Nor?” he asks, cocking an eyebrow. “I haven’t seen you all day.”
I’m jealous of how unbothered Nor appears as he adjusts himself in his seat and reaches for his goblet that’s already been filled with a dark liquid.
“Busy. Any word from the guards we sent to Hyatt?” Nor asks, keeping his voice low. King Rukkus and Queen Torria are sitting at the other end of the table listening to a long-winded story from Orabelle, but Xaina is close enough to overhear.
My ears perk up at the question, and my hopes follow suit until Oryx shakes his head. “Not yet.”
I sigh a little, and Nor’s leg nudges mine beneath the table.
“We’ll hear something soon,” he assures me softly. “Don’t worry.”
Servants sweep into the room from the doorway in the corner with several trays of food like usual. I wait patiently as they fill my plate with a chunk of smoked meat dripping in sauce, a mixture of seasoned vegetables, and a fluffy pastry the size of my fist. It’s still a hearty meal, but they’ve gotten used to serving me less than the other royals. Nor’s plate is piled three times as high.
I take a deep breath, the rich aroma of food making my mouth water. Even after living here for months, I’m still amazed by how incredible every meal is.
And I still wish that everyone back home could enjoy it the way I have.
“What’s wrong?” Nor leans in, his voice low. “Should I have them prepare something else?”
