Page 16 of Pretty Little Thief


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Robyn

The door to my bed chamber flies open with a bang, startling me awake. My heart pounds in my chest as I scramble to sit up to see what all the commotion is about. Callum, Greyson, and Dominicall stand beside my bed, glaring down like they’re ready to kill someone.

Movement at my side has my eyes popping out. The memory of last night flows through my mind, and Tristan instantly jumps out of bed like his pants are on fire.

“What the hell is going on in here?” Dominic curses at the two of us like we are children. “Did you—”

Tristan cuts him off, holding his hands in the air. “No! Nothing happened,” he whispers, gesturing to his fully clothed body. “She had another nightmare and asked me to lay with her until she fell asleep. I must have dozed off.”

“Another one?” Callum asks cautiously. His usual playful demeanor was replaced with concern. I grimace, noticing the worry lines etched in his forehead, then give him a nod. “I don’t like it. Something is causing you distress, these aren’t nor—”

“They’re just night terrors, Callum. Everyone has them,” I cut him off. My mouth goes dry as the lie flows from my lips.

These aren’t just any nightmares; they are signs of something ominous looming in the dark. If I only knew what, then I’d be better equipped to handle it. Instead, I wake with a paralyzing fear every night.

“Right.” Greyson’s scarred right brow shoots up, his jaw locked tight as he studies me. He flexes his fingers, making a fist then releasing it several times before cracking his knuckles. This is his tick. I can always tell he’s angry when he does this. But there’s no hiding the anger behind his beautiful gray eyes or trying to conceal the fury flowing inside him. It’s evident for all to see. The only thing I can’t tell is if it’s directed at Tristan or me, probably both of us considering the way his eyes dart between us.

Callum chuckles, moving to stand guard by the door. “Something told me to take the night shift, but I ignored it.” He shakes his head, almost like he missed out on something.

My eyes fall to my hands then back up to the men in the room. Greyson is angry, Tristan, worried. Cal looks amused, but it’s Dominic who makes my heart sink into my stomach. He looks—disappointed. For some odd reason, I don’t like him looking at me like that.

“Get up! Right now,” Dominic commands, and I jump out of bed without hesitation. He takes one look at my nightgown and shakes his head while rubbing his temples.

I let out a deep sigh, I was trying to make things better not worse. Now, I’m not so sure. Quickly, I snag my bedding to cover my body even though it’s too late. They’ve all had an eye full of me in my night wear.

“Your father and his men just returned from battle.” My heart leaps with joy, then he shares a look with Greyson, and I watch as some of the anger leaves him instantly, quickly replaced with concern.

My heart sinks. “What’s wrong? My father’s return is good news. Why do the two of you look like someone just killed your cat?” I ask.

Greyson pulls Tristan to the side, whispering something that has him standing at attention.

“She’s not yours. You should have never—” I can’t make out what Greyson is saying, but that much I know I heard. My attention is pulled away as Dominic walks around, throwing the covers away from my body and politely offering me a hand.

“We don’t know. I tried to go see him this morning, but his guard is standing watch, keeping everyone away. They must have returned in the middle of the night because I heard the news as soon as I woke and immediately went to give him a follow up with how things are going with your training. His guard is blocking the doors, not even allowing the servants to come and go.” Dominic’s voice is filled with worry as he leads me to my armoire in the corner of my room. I’ve never seen him lookso unnerved, but the way he’s rushing me around the room, the urgency is real.

There isn’t time to fix my hair properly, so I quickly re-do my braid and grab a dress from the armoire. I throw my nightgown over my head, then it hits me what I’ve just done.

I stand naked as the day I was born, while the four of them stare wide eyed, mouths gaping open and frozen to their spot. “Well, turn around. I don’t have time to call on Cyra for help,” I say nervously.

They spin on their heels as I quickly slide my chosen garments on. I stay facing them to ensure they aren’t sneaking a peek, which none of them do. Not that they’d need to, I just flashed them my goods for free.

“I need one of you to lace up the back. Do you think you can handle that?” I smirk, trying to lighten the mood. Callum still stands guard by the door, but the others have moved closer together. At my request, they all spin around.

Tristan grins, taking a step forward, prepared to come to my rescue once again, but Dominic has other plans. He throws his arm out, blocking Tristan’s pursuit.

Tristan glances down at the arm and grimaces.

“You’ve helped enough, pretty boy. I’ll do it,” Dominic growls. Tristan just shrugs his shoulders, turning to Grey to finish their private conversation.

I give Dom a simple explanation of what I need from him, and he gets to work, lacing and tightening the strings at my back.

“Why would they not allow anyone in?” I ask, staring at him in the mirror. “My father would never turn anyone away, especially a knight in the royal guard.”

“That’s what we need you to find out. Jon, the Lord Commander, said the only people allowed in were the prince and princess. Something doesn’t feel right, Princess. And you need to find out what,” Dominic frets.

The concern in his voice is real and hard to ignore. If he thinks something is wrong, then there is. Dominic’s instincts are rarely off, and I won’t start questioning them now.

When he finishes lacing my dress, we simultaneously turn, hearing a scuffle behind us. Greyson, hot-tempered by nature, is shoving Tristan, making accusations I’d rather not repeat, while Callum stands idly by, watching it all play out.

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