Chapter One Hundred Ten
Chapter One Hundred Ten
The halls of the estate were finally quiet. The last of the guests had drifted off to their rooms, still buzzing about the twists and turns of the night. Staff were cleaning up the remnants of champagne flutes and feathered masks. The clock had long since passed three in the morning. And the cast? They were done, Exhausted, Giddy, and ready to collapse.
Avery pushed open the door to their room and immediately sagged against the frame, laughing softly, “I can’t believe how intense that got.”
Molly slipped in behind her, wrapping her arms around Avery’s waist from behind, “You were incredible. Even when you weren’t trying to be.”
Avery leaned back into her, finally - letting her body relax. The tension she’d been carrying for days melted out of her shoulders. Lucien sprawled across the couch, shirt half-unbuttoned, looking like he’d fought a war and won it stylishly, “If Elena doesn’t write a ten-page column about this, I’ll be offended.”
Kael was rummaging through the minibar, muttering to himself, “We deserve snacks, and sleep, and maybe a parade,”
Riven sat in the armchair, rubbing his temples, “I’m never playing detective again.”
Lucien smirked, “You wouldn’t have it any other way.” Riven didn’t deny it.
Kael finally turned around, holding a bottle of sparkling wine, triumphantly, “Found it! Celebration drink.”
Avery gigg;ed, “That’s not what you promised earlier..”
Kael froze. Lucien choked on air. Riven looked away quickly to hide his smirk. Molly burst into laughter.
Kael’s ears turned red, “I-well-yes-after-”
Lucien clapped him on the back, “Smooth.”
Kael glared at him, “You’re not helping.”
Avery’s cheeks warmed, but for the first time, it wasn’t from stress. It was from something soft and sweet and safe.
She curled up on the couch beside Lucien, Molly settling on her other side. Kael brought the sparkling wine over and dropped down in front of them, leaning into Avery’s legs. Riven took the other armchair, pretending not to be undressing them with his eyes.
Avery let her head fall onto Molly’s shoulder, eyes drifting closed, “I forgot what it felt like… to just have fun.”
Molly kissed her forehead, “That’s why we brought you here.”
Lucien brushed a hand through her hair, “You deserve nights like this.”
Kael rested his head against her knee, “and lazy morning afters, like what I have planned for you..”
Riven groaned, “Kael”
“What? I’m being hopeful…” He says with a wink, at Avery and Molly.
Avery laughed—really laughed—and the sound filled the room like sunlight.
For the first time since the attack, she wasn’t bracing for danger. She wasn’t waiting for the next crisis. She wasn’t carrying the weight of the world.
She was just Avery.
Loved. Safe. Held.
And surrounded by the people who would burn the world down before anything hurt her again.
Avery woke slowly, drifting up from the softest, warmest sleep she’d had in weeks. Her body felt pleasantly heavy, a little sore in that deeply satisfied, deeply loved way that made her smile before she even opened her eyes.
When she finally blinked awake, she took notice of her body-there was a constellation of faint bite marks, and blooming hickeys. Heat rushed to her cheeks. She also noticed that two of her mates were not in bed with her, she looked and saw Riven sitting in an armchair, watching her wake up, and Lucien is lounged on the couch, pretending to be asleep.
They were all a mess of affection, evidence of a night that had been equal parts laughter, teasing, and the kind of closeness Avery had desperately needed. She felt full, settled, safe. And also… trapped.
Kael was draped half across her torso like a giant, overgrown wolf blanket, and Molly had curled around her other side, one leg thrown over Avery’s hips in a way that made escape physically impossible.
Avery stared at the ceiling, thinking, “I have to pee. I really, really have to pee.”
She tried to wiggle. Kael made a sleepy noise and flopped even more weight onto her. Molly nuzzled into Avery’s shoulder with a soft sigh. Avery’s eyes widened in silent desperation, whispering, “...Help.”
Lucien, awake but pretending not to be, cracked one eye open from the couch, he smirked, “You look stuck.” Avery glared at him, “I AM stuck.”
Riven, sitting up in the armchair and stretching like a cat,, raised a brow, “Just wake them.” Avery shook her head violently, “No. They look too peaceful.”
Kael snored directly into her ribs. Avery winced, “Okay maybe not peaceful, but still.”
Lucien pushed himself upright, rubbing sleep from his eyes, “Want me to extract you?” Avery nodded frantically.
Lucien padded over, leaned down, and whispered into Kael’s ear, “If you don’t move, Avery’s going to pee on you.”
Kael shot upright like he had been electrocuted, “WHAT-?” Molly jolted awake at the sudden movement, blinking blearily, “What’s happening?”
Avery scrambled free, bolting for the bathroom, “Finally!” The door shut behind her. Silence. Then Lucien burst out laughing. Kael groaned into his hands. Molly flopped back onto the pillows, giggling. Riven shook his head, amused despite himself, “Morning, everyone.”
And for the first time in a long time, Avery’s day began with laughter instead of fear.
Avery emerged from the bathroom feeling ten pounds lighter and about a hundred times more human. The warm shower had washed away the last of the nights exhaustion, and the fluffy robe wrapped around her felt like a hug. Her hair was damp, her cheeks soft with that morning after-glow, and she padded back into the room on quiet feet.
Kael and Molly were still on the bed, blinking blearily like confused woodland creatures who had been startled awake too early. Kale mumbles, “Sorry, sunshine… didn’t mean to crush you.” And, Molly whispers, “We love you. We’re sorry. We were warm.” Both leean in to kiss her-soft, apologetic, still half-asleep, before shuffling into the bathroom together to freshen up. Avery giggled as the door closed behind them.