Page 20 of Quest for her Knights (The Lost Souls of Dyconia #5)

Chapter seventeen

Blaze

W hat did that mean? It sounds like something you eat. Was a cinnamon roll a good thing or a bad thing?

“Would they really put a woman in a closet?” she asks, quickly changing the subject.

Instantly, my mood shifts back to anger as I think about what she read in that book.

I had already started glancing at the other titles and realized they were all written for men trying to gain power over people and land. Elora deserved so much better.

“I don’t think you want us to answer that,” Ranger growls, his fists clenching at his sides.

“It’s been a long day. I think I’d like to go to bed now. Are you—” she cuts herself off as she stands and glances at me.

“We’ll be in there soon, Princess. If you want us, that is. ”

I see her shoulders drop in relief, and a small smile graces her plump lips. “Of course. I always want you guys.” She turns on her heel as though she hadn’t just said something that cut straight to my core. We watch as she grabs a nightgown from her trunk and heads into the bathroom.

The second the bathroom door closes, Arrow swears, “Fuck. Does she have any idea what she’s saying half the time?” I let out a small laugh, completely agreeing with him. Saying she always wants us ... those are dangerous words.

It’s hard enough sleeping beside her each night and keeping my hands to myself. The first night, Arrow and I had held her, but Ranger told us we had to hold back unless she was really having issues sleeping.

Usually, I reach under the covers to hold her hand, but when I wake up hours later with either her wrapped around me or me wrapped around her, I have to remove myself from the bed, knowing what Ranger would say if he saw us. Arrow’s been having the same restraint issues.

As hard as it is, I wouldn’t give it up. Being that close to her soothes something in me. All day long, I feel like I have to keep my distance, and it’s like my body feels relieved just to be near her at night.

When she finally gets settled in bed, I make my way to the bedroom, take off my weapons, chain mail, and boots, then lie on top of the blanket beside her, making sure there’s space between us.

Neither of us says anything, and after a minute, I feel her shift.

Feeling the heat of her eyes on me, I turn my head to find her lying on her side, facing me, her eyes wide open.

“Hi,” she whispers.

“Hi.”

“Are you really going to sleep in all those clothes?” she whispers, her eyes drifting down my body.

“Yes.”

“Why? It can’t be comfortable.”

“You’re a princess, Elora. It would be inappropriate to be any less dressed. We’re crossing boundaries as it is by being in here with you.”

“I don’t care about that, you know that, Blaze.”

“I know. But it’s just the way it has to be.”

“Nobody else would know,” she says, trying to hide her smile.

“Ranger will see.”

“He’s a party pooper,” she pouts, making me smile.

“He really is,” Arrow says as he joins us. He undresses to the same level as me and climbs in on her other side. She rolls to her back, then reaches out and grabs both of our hands.

“Those lords were creepy,” she whispers after a few minutes of silence.

I grunt, and Arrow speaks. “They were assholes. Don’t worry, we’ll be gone first thing.”

She’s quiet for a few more minutes before she asks quietly, “Do you think I’ll ever find someone to marry?”

“Yes,” Arrow and I answer instantly.

After a few minutes, I hear a soft snore come from Arrow, indicating he’s already asleep. She must think we’re both out cold, because she whispers, “I wish it could be you.”

Hearing those words does something to me. My heart hammers loudly in my chest, and not even Ranger being in eyesight can stop me from rolling to my side and pulling her against me, cradling her head to my chest as I whisper, “Me too, darling.”

I knew she felt comfortable with us, and liked us, but I wasn’t sure what was her flirty nature and what was genuine. But now I know the truth: she feels a pull to us as much as we do to her, which makes everything so much more difficult.

For a knight could never marry a princess.