Page 74 of Forging Bonds: Part Two

I nod, “I don’t plan on letting go any time soon. I’m okay, just a little bit freaked out.”

“That’s understandable,” Raiden growls.

“We really should try and get some sleep now,” I say with a frown. “We have a busy day tomorrow. Not that I know how I’m going to get some sleep.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep watch. One of those creatures attacked at the same time that Kylen decided to stand over you guys,” Ransom says.

“It’s my turn to keep watch with you. Whoever is up with you can make sure nothing like that happens again,” Griff says gruffly, his eyes full of anger.

I nod, “Okay.”

Sliding down the wall, I stay sitting as River lies in front of me, my fingers still in his fur, and the others sit as close as they can around me. Doc’s hand rests on my thigh, and Evander’s does the same on the other side, and Raiden sits next to River, resting his on his back as he takes one of my hands in his, leaving my other one to carry on holding on to River

“Try and get some sleep,” Van says. “We’re here.”

“Don’t forget to wake me for my shift,” I say. When the guys share a look, I roll my eyes and add, “I mean it.”

“Okay, deal,” Reed replies for everyone.

The cave falls silent as everyone tries to settle down again, and sleep is hard fought for.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Neith

“Neith,” Raiden says gently.

My eyes immediately ping open, “I’m up.”

“Shit me that was fucking terrifying,” Raiden replies, looking slightly shocked.

I chuckle as I sit up, “Sorry, I wake up easily when I’m in this kind of situation, and especially after last night.”

Raiden’s eyes narrow, but he doesn’t comment purely because this is the Choosing and we’re being watched. I’m getting so fed up with thinking that, but I feel like if I don’t remind myself regularly, I’m going to forget, and there would be some pretty big consequences if I forgot. Ones that I don’t want to deal with.

To be honest, I’m good with that because I absolutely don’t want to relive the events of last night. I can’t believe I managed to get back to sleep afterthat. Although granted, I did fall asleep sitting up with my back against the wall, River’s giant kitsunefront of me, Doc on one side, and Reed on the other, with the other guys all around me and closely packed together. The Draconian team clearly took Doc’s threat seriously because they put Kylen as far away from me as possible, and then put themselves between us, with Coen the closest to us. His eyes glued to me, and murderously angry.

“It’s nearly morning, you’re the last one to do a shift. As soon as the light comes up, send Ransom to lie down, and wake the rest of us,” he says instead, and I nod as I get up and carefully step over a sleeping Evander.

The men are all in different places than they were when I went to sleep, having switched as they did their shifts, but they’re all still around me and keeping me safe.

When I glance over at the door to the cave, I’m surprised to see Coen sitting next to Ransom, looking far more relaxed than he has been for a while.

“Hey,” I say as I sit down on the other side of Ransom.

Ransom grins, looking surprisingly awake considering the time and how long he has been awake for, although his grin is interrupted by a huge yawn.

“Coen decided to keep me company, he’s been here since Kylen pulled that creepy as fuck shit,” Ransom tells me with a smile.

I smile and open my mouth to say thank you, when I realize that it means that he’s been up all night and hasn’t gotten any sleep. I study Coen as my eyes narrow.

He deliberately avoids my gaze, which has Ransom hiding a smirk behind his hand.

“Shouldn’t you get some sleep?” I ask him.

Coen pulls a face, “Nah, I’m good.”

He smirks, he knows that I can’t say anything else without giving anything away. Which pretty much means that I can’t make him get some sleep or chew him out for not getting any sleep like I usually would do.

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