Chapter 3
Skye
He was sleeping.
Only sleeping.
I stared at Aiden’s sweet face, so relaxed while he slept. His dark eyelashes fanned over his cheeks while his chest rose and fell serenely, his breathing even.
My lip curled in anger as I remembered the last time I’d been monitoring him like this, when the academy had been attacked.
At the gala, I’d been within feet of the monster who tried to kill him, and I let her go. All because he wasn’t ready to deal with her yet.
I hated it, but I understood it, and Lucille’s fate was sealed anyway. I’d kill her without hesitation, all Aiden had to do was say the word.
I’d barely slept in the last two days. Rafe had taken Marion back to the Palace yesterday even though Wyatt had crashed several times during the night. We’d put him in my parents’ Chain bed, and Zephyr had ended up sleeping beside him so he could act quickly if Wyatt went downhill again.
Now, Wyatt was healing just fine. He needed rest, but he’d eventually wake up on his own. Zephyr left back to the café this morning, needing to check on Levi.
I left Aiden on the couch and went into my old room, a time capsule from the pre-teen me that didn’t know who she was. The me that was afraid to sleep alone, that clung to her brother while we slept in our parents’ bed.
I hadn’t meant to bring us back here, but something about the chaos at the Palace had thrown me off my axis, and I’d teleported here instead of the apartment.
It was for the best, really.
Levi had warned me not to go to the gala, and I’d ignored and insulted him. The last thing I needed to do was show up at the apartment, proving that I should’ve heeded his warning.
I stiffened.
Levi had warned me not to go to the gala. How–
“Skye,” Rafe whispered from behind me, and I bristled slightly, not liking that he’d snuck up on me.
I glanced at him over my shoulder.
“Is there something I can do for you, my love? I can’t watch you like this much longer.”
My first thought was to snap. Did he think I wanted to be acting like this? I thought I was doing pretty well considering I’d just watched one of my Links turn into a sleeping fairytale princess while the other tried to break a record for most bones ever broken ever.
“I’m sorry, darling.” Rafe whispered, sensing my mood take a turn. “What did I say?”
I breathed out slowly. “Nothing. Come lay with me?”
Rafe visibly relaxed, his shoulders dropping as he nodded.
I pulled the sheets back, and my small childhood bed dipped as Rafe climbed on beside me. The bed frame creaked precariously, and Rafe stilled, his dark eyes finding mine before crinkling at the corners. I giggled softly while he chuckled.
He settled in close to me, chuckling as the bed frame creaked again.
“I assume a man has never been in this bed,” he murmured.
“Only Ben,” I whispered.
“What an honor,” he joked, then cupped my cheek. “Skye,” Rafe’s voice faltered. He cleared his throat before continuing. “I know you need them, but…”
He trailed off, not finishing the sentence, but I felt his words deep inside me.
I needed them, but he was here, too.
And I needed him. He needed me. Watching me like this was probably torture for him.
It felt wrong to seek comfort in one of my Links while two of them were unwell. But wasn’t it my duty as a Key to comfort my uninjured Link?
Poor Rafe. Watching his Link-mates this way had to be painful. Seeing Wyatt, his lifelong best friend, looking the way he did…
My eyes skated over Rafe carefully, really taking him in for the first time in days. He’d managed to shower and change. His hair was tousled but messy, very unlike him. The skin under his eyes was dark, his cheeks a little sunken in from exhaustion.
My eyes flicked down to where a shadow prodded miserably at my exposed toes, and I breathed out slowly as I tucked my feet up under the blanket.
I’m sorry, I whispered.
Don’t be sorry, he replied. I’m sorry. I didn’t see this coming. I miscalculated. I should’ve had more spies. Maybe we should’ve all gone to the dungeons together. Maybe–
I leaned in, kissing his soft lips. His words cut off mid-thought, and he melted into me, pulling me hard against him while he prodded at me with his tongue. I let the kiss deepen, let him reposition himself so he was above me while I writhed slightly, my hips moving in search of him.
Rafe settled close to me, but broke the kiss with a heavy breath before he pressed his forehead into my chest.
“I’m sorry,” he breathed. “Getting carried away.”
“No more sorrys,” I chided. “I’m not judging you.”
“Nor I you,” Rafe whispered. “Never. Do you understand me?”
I nodded. “Should we…keep going?” I whispered.
“I suppose we could, though I don’t think this bed would survive it.” Rafe replied. “I can’t be gentle right now.”
I snorted, then shook my head as he kissed my nose. He settled onto the bed next to me, snuggling close.
Let’s not break my bed, I muttered.
No. Sleep, darling. I’ll keep watch for you.
I breathed in his scent, feeling myself relax more and more with each inhale.
I tossed and turned for what felt like hours.
I couldn’t settle.
I kept checking over Aiden.
Checking over Wyatt.
Wyatt was healing. His heartbeat was growing stronger every hour, his breathing steadying even quicker.
Aiden was still fine, still sleeping.
I rolled over, facing Rafe, who hadn’t left my side. He was on his back, staring at the ceiling with the sheet pulled up to his nose.
I missed him.
I’d wanted to pout when he broke off our kiss earlier, though I understood why. Things were weird right now. We were in my childhood home, laying together in my tiny bed with soft pink bedsheets and pillows.
“What can I do, my love?” His voice was raspy, so he must’ve slept at some point. I didn’t think he just stared at the ceiling for hours, but he could have. Rafe was nothing if not patient.
And he wasn’t only patient when stalking me. The beginning of our relationship may have been weird, but he’d waited for me. He never pushed me too far, even when he wanted more. He was always there, always watching. My patient shadow, quietly devoted to me. How had I taken so long to accept him?
“I want to make a plan, but for now I just want to stay with you a little longer,” I said.
Rafe turned to face me, still keeping the blanket so high it almost covered his face.
“I’m yours,” he said. “Whatever you want. Whatever you need.”
That was Rafe. Always waiting. Always available. He’d chosen me time and time again, even when it seemed like I wouldn’t choose him. I ran my fingers down his cheek, reveling in how he leaned into my touch.
“I love you, Rafe,” I whispered.
Rafe blinked at me, then shook his head. “Don’t say something like that right now. Not while emotions are all over the place–”
“They’re not,” I said, sitting up slightly.
Rafe rolled so he lay on his back, still keeping the sheet pulled up.
I glared at him, daring him to argue, but his dark eyes only watched me as I continued.
“I mean, they are. Emotions are weird. But not about this. I’m sure of this.
I’ve been sure about this. You don’t know, but I didn’t tell Aiden I loved him until we were all crammed in the dorm together after I saved him.
I could’ve lost him and he’d never have known how I felt about him. ”
Rafe finally shifted the sheet, reaching for my cheek. He cupped my face in his hands, then kissed me softly. “Okay.”
I blinked. “Okay?”
“Was I supposed to say something else?”
I scoffed. “Uh, maybe? I just told you I loved you, I expected–”
“You expected a love declaration from me, too?” Rafe propped himself up on an elbow, cradling my cheek with his free hand and staring deep into my eyes.
“Sure, I love you. I have for a long time. I was sure of my feelings the moment I watched you risk everything to save Aiden in that dorm room. You didn’t have a single reason to trust me or Wyatt in that moment, and you didn’t care.
You saved him anyway, and I can only ever hope to be as brave. ”
I blinked again, my eyes stinging.
“Oh.”
“Yes. Oh.” Rafe moved so that he loomed over me, making me feel small but not in a bad way.
“You are a force of nature. The fiercest woman I’ve ever met.
A formidable affinate but a kind, vulnerable soul.
I love that you trust me, because I know that trust isn’t easily given.
I crave it. I crave to know everything about you.
I want you to want for nothing ever again.
I want to kill anyone who’s ever made you consider a frown.
Love isn’t a deep enough word to describe how I feel about you.
Call me obsessed, I won’t be offended. I love being obsessed with you. ”
Oh.
Yes. Oh. Do you feel better? Rafe ran his fingers along my jaw, his eyes tracking all over my face while my eyelashes fluttered.
Yeah, I replied. Completely speechless.
Rafe kissed me fiercely, then pulled back before settling back next to me.
Tell me again.
Tell you I love you?
Rafe nodded, then kissed my nose. I want you to tell me every day. Twice a day, at least.
Okay. I love you.
I snuggled into his side, hiding my face somewhere around his armpit, and Rafe only traced circles along my arm. His natural scent was there beneath his body wash. I loved it.
But then I was suddenly hyper-aware of the fact that I still hadn’t changed since the gala. I was covered in dirt and blood and whatever else while laying in my old bed, with clean Rafe next to me, and he hadn’t batted an eye.
Ew.
I sat up quickly, but Rafe didn’t move, his dark gaze only watching me.
“I want Lena Iykos,” I said. “Can you find her?”
“I already know where she is,” he replied. “The Iykos manor isn’t far from the Palace.”
I stood, my affinity kicking in to hold my trembling legs steady. I didn’t even wince as my bare feet touched the worn wooden floor, cold from the season.
“She’ll wake him,” I said. “Or else.”
Rafe nodded without an ounce of protest. “Will you change first, or is it part of the plan to appear in her home looking like a sexy disaster?”
I scowled at his joke, and he barely held back a grin.
“I’ll change.”