Raven Chapter 33 Foundations and Frustrations 411 #4
It ends up being the first movie of that super pretty book trilogy I found in his office. I can’t help but jump up and down a little on the couch because I finally get to see what all the fuss is about.
What I’m not prepared for is everything else that comes with it.
Leandre shows up with a weird-looking, glowing basin of water and sets my feet in it, claiming that my feet deserve care after all the work I’ve done on them. I’m not sure what he’s planning to do with all the other stuff he has, but I stop caring the minute my feet are in the warm, bubbly water.
Anik follows with something I’m pretty sure could be considered a feast. My plate, he informs me, has a little bit of everything. Everything being roasted chicken, honey-glazed carrots, fresh bread, various cheeses, and a dollop of cloudberry jam.
As Forrest settles in next to me on the couch, his body just barely brushing my own, Dre lifts one foot out of the water and starts massaging it with a hot rock. I have no idea what’s happening, but I am here for it.
The presence beside me is solid, warm, and constant.
He doesn’t say much during the movie, but I can feel him watching my reactions more than the screen.
Anik also never lets my plate get too empty.
The minute I’ve finished what’s on it—delectable cloudberry jam and all—he swoops in with a little thing called a berry tart and a warm cup of spiced cider.
Through all of this, I learn that Forrest is surprisingly thoughtful, Dre has magic hands, and Anik is probably god touched.
My hope is that soon it’ll be by me and not one of those other assholes; they don’t deserve him. I’m woman enough to say I probably don’t either, but I don’t care, he’s mine.
They’re all mine.
That night, the only regret I have is that the ache in my body came from something as mundane as training and not a marathon sex party.
The next day at training could only be described as a breakthrough.
I’m successfully defending against Enra’s simulated attacks by weaving physical dodges with short, sharp magical pulses.
It doesn’t feel like I’m reacting anymore; it feels like I’m conducting.
I’m not defeating entire armies, but my entire being lights up with the fact that I’m here and I’ve made the progress I have. Even the guys are visibly impressed. Forrest’s expression actually softens.
When I’m done for the day—exhausted and riding an accomplishment high—everyone disperses except Anik.
“What’s up, Ani-bear?” I ask, curious.
His gaze is heavy and possessive, sending a shiver up my spine. A shiver that only grows when he speaks.
“Tomorrow, after your day of rest and activity is done,” he says, his voice a low rumble only meant for me. “I am going to take you to our little cabin in the woods. You will be mine.”
My eyes widen, and my belly starts doing cartwheels as I do another fantastic impression of an error message.
Wait.
I hold up a hand, stalling. "Hold on. Back up. You will be mine—" I gesture vaguely at all of him, "—as in, claim me. Mate ceremony. The whole shebang?"
He gives a single, slow nod. No hesitation. No clarification needed.
"Right." I take a breath. "Okay. So before I spiral into a very detailed fantasy involving that cabin and the seventeen different ways you could pin me down, I need to ask you something."
His eyes narrow slightly, but he waits.
"You said I'm your mate. Your responsibility.
Yours to protect and care for." I hold his gaze, even though my heart is trying to punch its way out of my chest. "But I need to know—is that all this is?
Duty? Instinct? Or do you actually feel something for me?
Because I made a rule." I swallow. "No feelings, no life-long unbreakable commitment.
I want more than just being someone's assignment. "
The silence stretches. His jaw tightens. For a horrible second, I think he's going to walk away without answering.
Then his hand comes up, slow and deliberate, and cups the side of my face. His thumb traces my cheekbone once. Twice.
"Little one." His voice is rough, scraped raw.
"The Beast chose you the moment he saw you.
Before he knew you. Before I knew you." He leans in, forehead nearly touching mine.
"Duty is what I do. Instinct is what I am.
But you—" His breath hitches, just slightly.
The smallest crack in that immovable wall.
"You make me want to feel things I've spent decades ignoring. Is that enough?"
It's not three little words. It's not a sonnet. It's Anik—grinding out something vulnerable like it's being dragged from his chest with rusty pliers.
It's more than enough.
I nod, not trusting my voice.
He presses his forehead to mine for one long second, then pulls back. "Tomorrow. After your rest."
I stand there, frozen, while my entire nervous system lights up like a bunch of hobbits just broke into my internal magical firework hoard.
By the time I'm out of my shocked haze and ready to ask him out loud why exactly we're waiting, he's gone
With my pulse racing and his vow rattling through my brain, I make my way into the shower, then to dinner.
A dinner where Anik looks at me like I’m the only dish he wants to devour.
Selena, who is sitting next to me, has to grab my thigh and forcibly sit me back down before I can make him my dessert.
“I figured he informed you of his intentions when he went all beasty,” Selena informs me after dinner as she takes a swig of water.
I just hit her lightly on the arm, “What’s the lady version of a cock block? Cliterference? Twat swat? Clam jam? Vagected?”
I go to bed with a smile on my face, having—for the first time—seen someone in real life spit water out of their mouth all cartoon-like.
As I get back into my room, I see a soft light coming from the attached bathroom. Inside, waiting for me, is what could only be described as a Dre-level bath experience. I pick up the little note on the bath tray and smile.
The herbs are for muscle recovery, and the tea is for psychic fatigue. Sleep well, lille r?dyr.
As I lie in the bathtub, sore but satisfied, I feel Anik’s words in my bones and the massive spaces all of them have carved out in my heart.
Tomorrow is rest. Then I get to check off more of my master list.
Excitement is an understatement.