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 couldnāt 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 youād come."
Violetās 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 couldnāt 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 didnāt sleep with a shirt on, which wasnāt surprising. Roman and Griffin practically lived in their birthday suits at night. Maybe it was a werewolf thing. Either way, Violet wasnāt 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 Iām with you, I feel like I can live again."
Those words shouldāve thrilled Violet. But the fact that he hadnāt been
living
before made her chest ache.
"Iām sorry I nearly killed you," she whispered. "I wouldnāt have forgiven myself if youād died."
"No, thatās on me, Violet," Asher said, shaking his head. "I knew the risk and still went ahead with it. I didnāt think about how that might affect you. For that, Iām sorry."
"Thereās nothing to be sorry for. I never blamed you. And I promise you, this time no matter what happens, I wonāt 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 couldāve 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 Iād 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.
Roman clutched his chest like heād been personally betrayed. "You chose him over us? Violet, how could you?"
"Because he actually lets me sleep. Unlike you." She folded her arms, then narrowed her eyes. "Also what exactly were you two doing in my room?"
There was silence.
"We came to check on you," Alaric covered up at once.
"Yes, check on you," Roman backed him.
"With pillows?" Violet raised an unimpressed brow.
Roman froze while Alaric blinked. They both looked down at the very objects incriminating them.
"We brought them in case you needed extras." Alaric didnāt even blink as he delivered the lie.
"Yeah." Roman nodded way too quickly. "Neck support. You never know with these mattresses."
"Moon goddess give me strength," Violet groaned, covering her face.
Alaric and Roman together were a dangerous duo of mischief and zero shame. Putting them on the same side of a plan was like handing grenades to toddlers and telling them to behave.
Asher finally spoke up, "Thereās only space for one."
That did it.
Alaric and Roman both turned to each other sharply, tension spiking through the room like the very lightning the north Alpha wielded. Romanās eyes narrowed, but Alaric shot him a pleading glance, one that said,
Donāt abandon me now, buddy. Weāve survived too much for you to fold.
Roman grinned, completely unfazed. "I have a better solution."
Before anyone could ask what he meant by that, Roman had already transformed into a tiny, vivid green snake. He slithered right out of the pants puddled on the floor, his serpentine form smooth and glossy.
Alaric, utterly unfazed, bent down, scooped him up with one hand, and dropped him gently onto the bed like it was a normal thing.
Snake-Roman slithered up the sheet until he reached Violetās lap, his little forked tongue flicking out with a smug hiss.
"I think we know the plan now," Alaric said, as if this was perfectly reasonable behavior.
Without hesitation, he climbed into bed beside Violet, wrapping one strong arm around her waist. Asher gave a long sigh, then followed suit from the other side.
Then Snake-Roman made his next move by wriggling under the hem of her nightgown.
"Roman?" she warned, instantly squirming at the sensation that was silky, teasing, and maddeningly ticklish.
Snake-Roman didnāt answer, of course. He just coiled himself lazily in the soft valley between her breasts, poked his small emerald head out through the neckline, and laid it smugly against her chest like it was his throne.
Wasnāt this wonderful?
So now Violet was lying in bed, sandwiched between two territorial alphas, with a tiny green snake curled in her cleavage like a living brooch.
Yeah, this was her life. Completely unhinged, utterly impossible yet somehow kind of perfect.
And honestly? She wouldnāt trade it for anything in the world.