Dinner went smoothly with no surprises, unless you count Roman being Roman and the usual round of playful banter.
Right now, Violet lay on her bed, all alone. She had thought having the space to herself would be nice, maybe even liberating. But strangely enough, she couldn’t sleep. After over thirty minutes of turning and tossing to no avail, Violet knew just what to do.
Grabbing her pillow, she quietly got up and padded to the door. She opened it slowly, peering out into the hallway. When no one was in sight, she slipped out and closed the door behind her with a soft click. Violet paused for a moment, listening for sounds. When the coast stayed clear, she tiptoed toward a certain room.
When Violet arrived, she turned the knob and it gave in. Thankfully. She eased the door open and stepped inside, closing it gently behind her.
"I knew you’d come."
Violet’s heart nearly leapt out of her chest.
She whirled around to find Asher standing there like a ghost in the dim light, holding a tray with a pitcher of water and a glass.
"I couldn’t sleep," Violet admitted immediately.
"Thought as much. Come here." Asher shifted the tray to one hand and reached out with the other.
Without hesitation, Violet placed her hand in his. He laced their fingers together, his touch warm, and led her to the bed. He set the tray down on the nightstand, then pulled back the covers and tucked her in before slipping in beside her.
They lay on their sides, facing each other, though a small space remained between them. So Violet scooted closer until their bodies pressed together and she could feel his warmth seeping into hers.
Asher didn’t sleep with a shirt on, which wasn’t surprising. Roman and Griffin practically lived in their birthday suits at night. Maybe it was a werewolf thing. Either way, Violet wasn’t complaining. She liked the feel of him like this: warm and close.
She reached out and cupped his face, her thumb brushing the edge of his jaw.
"How are you feeling, Asher?"
"Better," he said softly, catching her hand and kissing her knuckles. "When I’m with you, I feel like I can live again."
Those words should’ve thrilled Violet. But the fact that he hadn’t been living before made her chest ache.
"I’m sorry I nearly killed you," she whispered. "I wouldn’t have forgiven myself if you’d died."
"No, that’s on me, Violet," Asher said, shaking his head. "I knew the risk and still went ahead with it. I didn’t think about how that might affect you. For that, I’m sorry."
"There’s nothing to be sorry for. I never blamed you. And I promise you, this time no matter what happens, I won’t leave you behind."
Asher smiled, then pushed up on his arms and kissed her.
Violet welcomed him, her fingers tangling in his hair as she kissed him back with the same ferocity, as if sealing the vow they had just made.
The kiss was passionate, but short-lived. Asher pulled back, then pressed a soft kiss to her temple.
"Sleep."
Not that she could’ve slept even if she wanted to, because the door flew open, banging against the wall, and in stormed a very flustered Roman Draven and Alaric Storm.
"You trickster!" Roman wagged a finger at Asher accusingly. "I knew I’d find her here when her bed was empty. You broke the pact! We said hands off tonight!"
"I came to his room, not the other way around," Violet said flatly.
Alaric and Roman both turned to each other sharply, tension spiking through the room like the very lightning the north Alpha wielded. Roman’s eyes narrowed, but Alaric shot him a pleading glance, one that said, Don’t abandon me now, buddy. We’ve survived too much for you to fold.
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