Chapter 15 #2
It was only a bit further down a hall and then he turned them into his room, the only one on this wing.
“Inside, quickly.” He gestured for them both to follow, and then shut the doors turning to them.
To Julian and Raven.
They all wore matching garments as if they were a unified front, but he could see the anger and distrust in both their eyes. They were far from being unified at all.
“Sit.” He gestured to the couch that took up part of the space and flicked on the lights, turning to the fireplace.
Offering it wood and kindling and bringing it back to life.
It was clear his space had been prepared the bare minimum.
But that was okay, he had never been treated with respect, not since he had disappeared from Grypheem for over ten years.
He didn’t expect it to be any different now.
He just hoped his brother’s influence would be enough to satiate the anger of the Grypheem people.
When he came back four years ago, it was with the label of failure. To Grypheem, he couldn’t stop the Resistance from killing their citizens. To his brother, he couldn’t prevent Nightingale from going off script.
“This is a castle,” Raven said in shock behind him. “It looks…medieval? Why is it so different here than Violencia?”
“Your country focused on knowledge, ours fixated on curing the infertility problems,” Griffin explained, bending and stoking the fire until he was satisfied. He knew it was exceptionally cold in this room, that Julian and Raven wouldn’t be used to it.
“Did you ever find out the root problem?” she asked.
The question was innocent, he was sure it was a simple curiosity, but the answer was difficult.
He had his assumptions, but no proof to back it up. And if what he thought was true, it would mean that the people of the Sacred Trinity were poison.
Literally.
“Not exactly.” He turned around, his gaze landing on Julian and Raven. How they sat side-by-side on the couch, her form wrapped into him. How Julian watched her with his intense gaze.
Griffin breathed a few times, allowing the jealousy to control him for a single instant before smashing it into oblivion.
“We need to sleep on the bed together just in case anyone comes in.” He waved to it, it might not be fully necessary, but he didn’t want to take any chances.
A united front.
Julian opened his mouth to argue, but Raven squeezed his leg.
“I’m not going to fight you. It’s clear this is more than I can hope to understand.
That you are the only one in this room who knows the rules to this Sacred Trinity.
” She spit the words in disgust. “But then what? We get married? We invade Violencia? What about Sparrow? Jayce? How do they stay out of it?”
Griffin heaved a sigh. “I don’t have all the answers, Raven. I’m figuring this out as I go, too. But there is a place that I know that will keep them safe for us. We just have to get them there. Can you trust me on that, please?”
Raven watched him with her sharp gaze. “For now.”
Griffin deflated, his body untensing. It would be enough. “So tell me Raven, about your life before all of this. About your days in the Facility.”
Accepting his peace offering, she smiled, a quirk of her lips that sent a jolt of desire directly to Griffin’s balls. He wanted more than anything to put that look on her face again and again and again.
To fill her with joy.
And his cu—
He shook his head, clearing the invasive thought.
“Sure, but you will have to do the same.” Her grin spread into a more mischievous nature.
He fell into the chair across from them, taking it as the safer route. He couldn’t get too close to her, he wasn’t sure his self-control could handle it. “Sure. You too, Julian?”
Julian inclined his head.
And that is how they spent the next several hours. Each telling only the happiest of memories from their lives. It didn’t take Griffin long to realize all of his best memories were made outside of Grypheem, but he buried the thought.
The warmth of sharing their souls together was incredibly soothing, and it wasn’t long until they all made their way to the bed, Raven offering herself to the middle spot.
It was the easiest Griffin had ever fallen asleep in his life. His heart warm, and the fuzziness in his head was absent.
***
Griffin startled awake, his eyes blinking a few times. It was still dark out, no light seeping through the stained glass in the room.
“Raven.” The moan was soft.
Griffin’s anger fueled, his jealousy taking control.
Are they fucking with me right here?
“Julian, wake up, you’re sleeping.” Raven’s soft voice filtered through. “Stop, it’s okay. Please, you have to let me go.” Her concern propelled Griffin into consciousness.
He rolled over to find that Raven was wrapped in Julian’s arms, but he was squeezing her half to death. She attempted to struggle out of his hold, but it was clear she didn’t have the leverage she needed to do so.
Griffin reached forward and swiftly grabbed hold of Julian’s arms.
I will break them if I have to.
“Please don’t hurt him,” she gasped. “This is my fault.”
Griffin narrowed his eyes, but didn’t argue. He was able to peel Julian far enough away for Raven to escape. He replaced her with a pillow and tugged her directly into his arms.
He watched in anger as Julian squeezed the pillow, deforming it until he was sure it would never be the same shape again.
That could have been Raven.
“How is this your fault?” Griffin stared down at her as he cradled her body to his.
She wore a sleep gown that was silk against his skin while he was in nothing but his boxers.
His cock hardened by the second as she accidentally rubbed against it.
Electricity skirting across his skin at each place she touched him. “Hold. Still.” He bit out.
“It’s my fault because no one can walk into the Masquerade and remain sane. And for him to have done it, become a Game Warden, and then the Host? It is my fault he was there.”
“No,” Griffin bit at her ear. “It is not. He made those choices. He knew what he was getting himself into. He made a deal with Anadil and she had the upper hand. She always has the upper hand.”
“But how? How does she seem to know everything but five steps in advance?” Raven craned her neck up at him. Her glassy eyes met his, sending shots of heat into Griffin’s chest.
“Information. She dealt with it just as you did. She just had the luxury of more.” He attempted to remain level-headed, to keep his cool.
“But I—” Raven’s tongue lashed out to wet her lips.
It was his undoing. His self-control snapping in a single instance.
Griffin couldn’t take it any longer, his mouth captured hers. This time she reacted, but instead of pushing him away, she matched him. Stroke for stroke. Swipe for swipe. He tightened his hold until he could feel all of her curves. Her hardened nipples pebbling up and tracing against his skin.
I need to claim her.
The thought was a glass shattering on the ground.
He released her. He knew if he didn’t, he would push for more. But now wasn’t the time for that. They needed to rest, to prepare for tomorrow. For the party.
“Get some sleep,” Griffin told her, tucking her head under his chin.
Raven growled at him. “Why are you doing this to me? Playing with my emotions?”
“It’s for your own sake.” He hummed, circling back to their conversation before. “Do you know why Anadil was called Nightingale?”
Raven shook her head against him.
“Grypheem’s emblem is a Griffin. And Luscinia? It’s a Nightingale.”