67. Dayton
Dayton
Giving a yawn, I stretch, my arms knocking Rosie and Fare on either side of me. Pale light streams in from beneath the curtain. It must be very early morning.
Fuck, I love this giant-ass bed. It’s been a crazy few days since we made it out of the Below. All our focus went to supporting Farron and his family as we prepared for the funeral. The day after was quiet. Mostly, we all went our own ways with our own reflections.
But last night, all six of us ended up in here, each staggering in at different hours. There are so many decisions and plans to be made. But for this moment? I’m just going to enjoy being surrounded by my family.
Farron gives a huge yawn and throws an arm over my waist, letting his cheek rest on my chest. I tug him in closer.
Farron, High Prince of Autumn. My mate.
The first time we made love after that discovery was something I’ll never forget. Stars, the memory of me contained in the orb of ancestors will boast about it for centuries to come.
He’s a part of my soul now, the life that keeps my heart beating and the blood pumping through my veins. A soft whimper sounds on my other side, and Rosalina curls in, her leg slinging over mine.
And so is she.
My mates, my life in every sense of the word. Could a man ask for anything more?
Movement rocks the mattress as someone turns over. Ezryn, on the left edge of the bed, hooks himself around Rosie’s waist. On the right side, Cas shuffles, subsequently elbowing Farron and nearly pushing Kel off. Kel gives a rumbling groan and pulls the blankets over his face.
Well, I could ask for brothers, for friends I’d trust with my life.
I truly am blessed, far beyond my magic.
“What you thinking about, Day?” Farron blinks up at me.
“How lucky I am to be here with all of you,” I reply. And I feel it. Life. Safely tucked between my mates, the soft press of silken sheets on my skin, the warm touch of the morning sun…
“We’re so lucky to be with you,” Rosalina says, her voice welcome as a sunrise. She pushes a strand of hair out of my face and kisses the corner of my mouth.
Her lips linger a beat too long. Then another.
A spark flickers in my chest.
Ezryn hums low in his throat. “It’s too early,” he says lazily, but his hand slides beneath the sheets, dragging across Rosie’s waist. She arches, breath catching.
Farron grins, his palm splayed over my stomach. “Too early for what?”
On the far side of the bed, Keldarion groans dramatically. “If you lot start without me again, and I wake up with Rosie over me…”
Cas sits up and runs a hand in Keldarion’s snow-white hair. “You liked that.”
“And I’m pretty good at not being enthralled anymore.” Rosalina presses on my chest to look over at them.
“Shall we test it?” Caspian raises a brow.
Ezryn’s pillow hits him square in the face. “I swear to all the gods, if you ruin this bed with your little thorns—”
A briar snakes up from the ground and wraps around Ezryn’s bare forearm. “My briars are anything but little, Ez,” Cas purrs. “Rosie’s had them inside her. You want to see if you can take it like our girl can?”
Ezryn growls and breaks free of the briar, but I meet the Prince of Thorns’s gaze.
The corner of his wicked mouth raises. “Or you, sea puppy?”
I give a long chuckle. “There are some things even I’m not brave enough for.”
“What if I was controlling the briars?” Rosalina says, then erupts into a fit of giggles.
I catch her around the waist and drag her away from Ezryn and pull her onto my lap. “All I’m hearing is our little Rose and Thorn are feeling very playful this morning. And I think that should be rewarded.”
The air shifts, tension growing.
Rosie drops her lips to my neck, and Farron’s fingers slip lower on my stomach.
Ezryn sits up to whisper in Rosie’s ear. “Then let’s make this morning memorable for our girl.”