Guardian of the Drowned Empire by Frankie Diane Mallis

Author:Frankie Diane Mallis [Mallis, Frankie Diane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Seven Queens Press
Published: 2022-06-27T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The sun streamed in through the window, casting a golden-reddish glow behind my eyelids. I didn’t want to be awake yet. It was too early. I was too tired. And I was so wonderfully warm and cozy. I hugged the pillow in my arms tighter, trying to burrow my face into it, to hide from the day, to sleep just a little longer. Except it was definitely not a pillow I was holding, nor a pillow under my head. It was something far larger, sturdier, and warmer.

My eyes flew open. I was laying across Rhyan’s chest. His arms were wrapped around me, and his hands were on my back, holding me close.

The events of last night flashed through my mind. I’d been holding Rhyan as we’d drifted off, and somehow, in the middle of the night, we’d shifted until I was the one in his arms, and it was my head resting on his chest.

I shuddered, closing my eyes, not wanting to wake up, not wanting the spell to be broken.

But Rhyan’s chest rose beneath my head, and a small moan escaped him as he stretched his legs, his arms tightening around me. “Morning, partner.”

I opened my eyes, embarrassed to be on top of him. Quickly, I rolled out of his arms and onto my side as far away from him as the bed would allow. Which wasn’t much. He turned toward me, one hand beneath his pillow, the other resting on the sheets between us. Our eyes met.

“Morning.” I tried not to stare at his naked chest, at the gryphon wings tattooed across his chest. I tried not to think about how my head had just been there.

He smiled. “So are you like this every morning before coffee?”

I wrinkled my nose. “Like what?”

“Pretending to sleep even though you’re awake?”

“I thought you were still asleep,” I said. “I didn’t want to disturb you.”

His eyes bore into mine. “Did you sleep okay? Were you comfortable?”

My cheeks flushed. That had been the most comfortable I’d felt sleeping in months. Years. “I slept perfect.”

“Good,” he said, sounding relieved.

“How did you sleep?” I asked.

“No more nightmares.” He swallowed. “Lyr. I’m so sorry for everything last night. I was,” he stared up at the ceiling, “I was a gryphon-shit asshole. And I—”

“It’s okay,” I said. “I meant what I said. I forgive you. It’s no different than me trying to push you away all those months ago when you were trying to help. And you forgave me. We’re all right, me and you.”

He let out a mirthless laugh. “You called me a forsworn and said you didn’t need my fucking help with a bandage after clinic. Not quite the same as me backing you into a wall and—I was out of line. I shouldn’t have touched you.”

“What if I wanted you to touch me?” I held his gaze as the emerald green of his eyes darkened beneath his lashes. “Because I did. And I think you knew that.”

He stilled. “But that wasn’t why I did it.

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