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She nodded. “Yes. But I want to hear that name from your lips, and your lips only.”
I pulled her face down to mine and kissed her. Gentle, nothing like the sloppy, sexy drunk kisses we’d shared the night before. This kiss was honest and raw. It held so much more intimacy.
“So tell me,” she said, playing with my hair again. “What do you call a king?”
My hands covered my face, and I groaned. “Ahh… it sounds so stupid, but Rex. It’s called Rex.” I leaned into her touch, nuzzling my face against her hand. “And no jokes about a dog named Rex, either.”
I peeked out the corner of my eye again, and she leaned forward, giving me a quick peck. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” She paused, adding, “Rex.”
A knock at the door caught our attention, and before I could even say, “Who’s there,” Griffin came barreling through.
“Hey, I was feeling lonely in my room, so I figured I’d come see what you guys are—holy crap, is that a king-size bed! You’ve been holding out on me, man. I’m sleeping on a shitty cot, while the king’s over here on top of the mountain, living large.”
Of all the words to use at that moment… I glanced at Emily who flopped onto her back, giggling.
“Are you feeling lonely?” she asked. “Do you want some company?”
With pouty lips, Griffin nodded, and Emily patted the bed on the other side of her. Like a child, he climbed onto the bed and snuggled up next to her.
Her arm wrapped around me, and I curled up at her side, resting my head against her. The rhythmic sound of her heartbeat, paired with the rising and falling of her chest, was exactly what I needed. I didn’t even care if Griffin was lying beside her. I just wanted this moment of peace with my mate.
And I think he wanted it, too.
* * *
Emily
Cassian’s breathing evened out, and I was pretty sure he fell asleep. He looked so peaceful lying beside me, I hated to move my arm, but it was numb and starting to hurt. With ease, I slid my arm out from under him and turned to my other mate, whose head was lying on the pillow, his eyes watching me with wonder.
I smiled and asked, “What?”
He smirked. Of course, he did—he’s Griffin.
I shook my head and turned to face him, lying on my side. He scooted closer, pulling me against him until I rested against his body—so warm and inviting. We fit together perfectly, like a puzzle piece.
He looked down at me, kissing the top of my head. I sighed dreamily, wishing that this moment would never end. Here I was, between the two men I loved more than life itself. At that moment, life was perfect.
I must’ve dozed off because the next thing I remembered was waking up to a tapping sound. Though, through my sleepy haze, I couldn’t tell what it was.
The sound repeated, over and over. Tap, tap, tap. Again and again.
I looked around, both guys asleep beside me, and wondered where the sound was coming from. Rubbing my eyes, I sat up, glancing around the room.
Tap, tap, tap.
Where the hell…?
Tap, tap, tap.
Then I saw it—a vine at the window, tapping against the glass as if it were someone’s finger. But why was this vine at Cassian’s window to begin with? Cassian’s room was on the second floor, and he didn’t have vines outside of his window, which meant it must’ve been sent using magic.
I forced myself out of the bed, working my way to the foot until I could squeeze out from between Cassian and Griffin. When I reached the window, I paused before opening it.
What if this was a trap? Maybe I should wake the guys first. But when I glanced over at them, they were sleeping so soundly, I didn’t want to wake them.
I opened the window, and the vine rose to my line of vision. It paused as if looking at me, despite not having any eyes… or a soul. Do plants have souls? Hell if I knew anymore.
It lifted, clutching a letter and dropping it on the windowsill in front of me. Unsure what else to do, I petted the vine like I was rewarding a puppy. But it seemed to enjoy the attention because the vine moved into my hand, rubbing against it. Then, it pulled away, slinking to the ground and descending into the forest.
What the hell just happened?
I held up the letter, sealed with red wax that had some sort of emblem engraved in the wax. Peeling back the flap, I opened the letter, but what I saw wasn’t a lengthy, handwritten note.
It contained coordinates with a time and date.
