Page 61 of Sinful Curses
All she wanted was sleep, but they had no idea what else could be in this town. They had to secure the building against whatever monsters might lurk nearby.
They somehow managed to dredge up enough energy to lock everything down, simply because none of them would be any good for a while. If they didn’t do it now, and something sinister lived here, they’d die in their sleep and never know it.
Her vision was blurring again, her head pounded, and she stumbled around as she locked the door to what she considered her room in these buildings. She closed the shutters before falling to her knees and blindly feeling for the trapdoor in the floor.
Her fingers finally located it, and she pulled it free. She slid down the stairs on her ass and checked the secret door that opened into the space behind the back of the pub.
Barely able to see anything beyond the door, she closed it again and half crawled back upstairs. She slid the trapdoor back into place and dredged up what remained of her energy to cast a protective spell over it.
The spell was far from her best work, but a scream would sound throughout the pub if someone broke it. She could only hope that would be enough to wake them once they passed out.
She unlocked the door, staggered into the hall, and bounced off the stair railing as she went downstairs again. Sahira could barely keep her legs and feet beneath her as she stumbled toward the center of the room, shrugged off her pack and weapons, and curled into a ball on the floor.
Her legs and feet, which hadn’t gotten any rest for days, trembled now that her weight was finally off them. She almost wept over finally being set free from the field, discomfort, and misery of the past few days, but as soon as her eyes closed, she didn’t know anything more.
When she woke again, the room was dark. She had no idea what time it was, as the shutters closed out most of the light, but some crept beneath the bottom of the front door.
Her hip and shoulder ached from lying on the cold, hard floor, but something softer cradled her head. When she inhaled the scent of whatever was beneath her, Orin’s cinnamon and clove scent wafted to her.
Blinking away the sandy grit still clinging to her eyes, she rubbed them and yawned before nestling closer to his warmth. Her head was propped on his shoulder, and his body surrounded her.
She didn’t recall pulling a blanket from her sack and was fairly certain she hadn’t, but one covered her now. She should probably be annoyed he’d taken advantage of her exhaustion to sleep beside her, but she was too ensconced in the happiness and security he gave her.
She couldn’t be mad when she craved this. He smelled so good, and the muscles of his lean body emphasized his strength as he held her close.
No one could hurt her while she was in his arms. He was the only one.
That cold reality put a damper on her mood. He’d break her heart, but she still didn’t move as she idly traced the ciphers his shirt had pulled back to reveal on his arm.
She loved the sharp black edges of the marks that flowed like water across him. The man was magnificent and powerful, and despite all hismanyfaults, she’d come to care for him.
There was so much she didn’t like about him: his callous attitude, lack of empathy, and nonstop manipulation were just a few things. But despite all those faults, a good heart lay beneath his cold exterior.
He’d saved Pip, cared for her, and protected her after she was injured. She truly believed he’d come to her to offer his blood because he sought to make her stronger and not for sex. It had worked out that way for him, and for once, she didn’t regret sleeping with him.
He’d kill anyone who got in his way, but she was beginning to see he had a kinder soul than even he realized. And he’d also kill anyone who tried to harm her.
She had no idea when that changed; it certainly hadn’t been that way before the Cursed Realm, but she didn’t doubt he’d protect her. He’d drive her crazy, play games with her, and they’d probably fight by the end of the day, but he’d also do everything he could to keep her safe, and she would do the same for him.
Before coming to this realm, she would have hesitated to throw him to the wolves only because he was Cole’s brother. He might have hesitated to do the same to her because Lexi was her niece.
Now, she would also protect him. In this realm, they’d come to rely on each other, but they’d also seen different sides of each other.
She didn’t doubt he’d run straight into the arms of another woman once they were free. He was a dark fae, after all.
The idea of losing him caused sadness to tug at her heart. She stopped tracing his ciphers and buried her sorrow as she shifted her attention to the empty room.
As much as she wanted to do so, she couldn’t spend all day in his arms. She had no idea how much time had passed since they arrived in this town, and they needed to learn more about it.
They could have already been here for hours or days. Her full bladder demanded her attention as her stomach reminded her it had been a while since anything filled it.
CHAPTERFIFTY-THREE
As carefully as she could,she inched away from Orin before rising. Stretching her cramped back, her feet, muscles, and joints protested movement as they screamed about the abuse they’d taken since leaving Belda’s town.
She’d give anything for a hot bath, a steaming cup of eucalyptus tea, and a bed with thick blankets and an inviting mattress. They were all the things she’d always taken for granted and never would again.
When she finished stretching, her gaze fell on Orin, who remained on the floor. In sleep, his face was softer, his mouth parted, and though he lay on his back, his arm remained outstretched to where she’d been.
