Total pages in book: 362
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
My brows lifted as I imagined everyone’s reaction to seeing a draken. Or tried to. It would be pure chaos. A tiny, evil part of me wanted to see that.
I shook my head at myself. “I understand. I won’t be gone long. I promise.”
“I know.” His lips touched the corner of mine, and they felt colder than they had earlier. “Anything else on your mind?”
“No,” I lied.
“Then you’re going to sleep?”
I nodded.
His lips found mine for a quick kiss. “Good night, liessa.”
“Good night,” I murmured.
Ash settled beside me, the slow, comforting circles of his hand slowing and then stopping altogether after a few moments. I concentrated on where our skin met. His leg felt colder, didn’t it? So did where his chest met my shoulder.
My heart kicked around in my chest. He’d given me so much blood since I’d awakened. My throat dried as anxiety rose, but I pushed past it. He needed to feed, and I needed to provide for him. “Ash.”
“If you’re saying my name, you can’t be sleeping.”
“I haven’t fallen asleep yet.”
“No shit,” he replied dryly.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not a guy. I can’t close my eyes and fall asleep in five seconds.”
“Have you thought about trying?”
“You’ll be shocked to learn I have, but that’s not what I’m thinking about.”
“So shocked,” he drawled.
I took a deep breath and exhaled loudly.
Ash ignored it.
I stared at the ceiling once more. Several minutes passed. “Ash?”
“Close your eyes.”
My lips turned down at the corners.
“And go to sleep.”
My eyes narrowed. “It’s important.”
“No, it’s not.”
I turned my head toward his. “You just said that whatever was important enough to keep me awake was important enough to keep you awake.”
“What you’re thinking about now is not important.”
My frown deepened. “And how do you know what I’m thinking?”
“I’m all-knowing.” Ash snuggled in closer, working a cold thigh between mine. “It’s a new ability.”
“Uh-huh,” I muttered, then my eyes widened. “Wait. You’d better be joking.”
“I’m all-knowing when it comes to you,” he amended with a chuckle.
“You’re not funny,” I grumbled.
“And you’re not sleeping.” His arm tightened around me. “You need your rest, liessa, and I’m prepared to ensure you get your sleep.”
I huffed out a short laugh. “And exactly how are you going to do that?”
“Quite easily.”
“Whatever.” I sighed obnoxiously. A few moments ticked by. “You know, I’m thinking about you—” I squeaked as Ash rolled atop me. My wide eyes locked with his. Bright streaks of starlight swirled wildly in them. “What are you doing?”
“What I said I’d do,” he answered. “I’m going to ensure you get your much-needed rest.”
“How?” I tried to move my arms, but his chest trapped them against me. “By squishing me to sleep?”
“No.” His lips coasted over mine. “I’m going to fuck you so hard that the only thing you can do afterward is sleep.”
My mouth dropped open, but he captured whatever I was about to say with a stroke of his tongue, and then he did as he warned.
Ash fucked me hard, face-to-face, and then flipped me onto my belly, driving into me until I was limp and sated. And he was successful.
Within five seconds of closing my eyes, I fell right to sleep.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Stomach roiling, I stopped at the bottom of the staircase as I heard footsteps coming down the main hall. I focused on my breathing until the churning settled.
The last thing I needed to do was vomit all over Ash’s desk after clutching the rim of the sink as I dry-heaved for what seemed like a small eternity. He would never agree to me leaving for Lasania today if I did that.
It had to be the bacon.
Why? I had no idea. I loved the stuff and was in a long-term relationship with it, but the moment I’d smelled the fried meat, I’d thought I might vomit all over the table.
It was probably also the fact that Ash had woken me from another nightmare this morning. When he asked me about it, I’d pretended to have no idea what he was talking about.
He had let it go.
But he’d known.
“Sera?”
I looked up, seeing Bele and Aios coming down the main hall.
No two people could look more different than they did.
Bele was dressed in black from head to toe, her dark hair swept back from her face. Aios wore a bright yellow tunic and white pants, and her cherry-red hair flowed to the middle of her back.
“Why are you just…staring at the floor?” Bele asked, striding into the library.
“I wasn’t—” I stopped myself. I had been staring at the floor. “Never mind.”
“Exactly.” Bele smiled brightly. “By the way, you don’t look so good.”
I frowned. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
I stepped away from the stairs and placed my hand against my cheek. I looked over at Aios. “Do I look bad?”
The goddess shook her head.
“She’s lying,” Bele said. “Only because she’s nice.”
“Wow.” I raised an eyebrow.