Chapter 22: Best Sleep

Graeme lowered August against the bed. Her hair was fanned out in a halo around her when he pulled back on his knees to take in the image of her, his mate with golden stardust in her eyes.

She had been lying right here unconscious for so long, but now her eyes were bright looking up at him. Her skin had flushed a beautiful rose color under his gaze, and he almost whined. She was so beautiful, it brought tears to his eyes. He didn't deserve this—to be able to experience the delicious pull of his mate right before him.

She looked like his own personal goddess—like someone who had been plucked from the stars, and she may as well have been for how quickly she had moved his heart and changed his trajectory. Once again he found himself wondering if this was really okay, if he wasn't going to inadvertently hurt her—his precious human mate—if it wasn't too soon.

And then he scented her fear. It wasn't strong, but it was there, and it was like a bucket of cold water had been dumped on him. He was right—of course it was too soon. The heat drained from his eyes and his face, and all of his senses instinctively attuned to her protection as if a threat was hovering nearby waiting to pounce.

He lowered himself next to her side, propping himself up with one arm as he caressed her hair and kissed her temple. With that, her breathing slowed and the fear gradually dissipated.

With her back on the bed and Graeme's intimidatingly muscular body kneeling between her legs, a sudden fear had flashed behind her eyes, and August felt guilty for it. His position felt predatory at that moment, but it wasn't. It wasn't his fault. She gulped the fear back now that he was next to her, touching her like she was precious.

"Will you let me treasure you, too?" she whispered, turning to face him now with her arms tucked into her chest. He smiled in response to it, dropping his forehead to touch hers for his dark hair to fall around her.

"Can I just hold you for awhile?" He asked. She nodded and felt him pull her into his arms. This was the safest place, August thought to herself. Pressed against his warm chest, tucked under his chin. She breathed a deep sigh of relief at the thought as he smoothed her hair down and started playing with locks of it against her bare shoulder.

When she was a small child, her mother had always played with her hair to soothe her to sleep. No one had done it to her since, and now her eyes gradually grew heavy tucked into his warmth with the memory of her mother playing in her mind.

Graeme stared at the sloping wood ceiling thinking of what to expect at the council the next morning. His anxiety was less with August tucked safely into him, he realized. But her vulnerability still worried him. He couldn't shake the feeling that he might be leading her into another compromising situation, but what choice did they have?

His attention shifted to her breathing, which had become soft and steady against his chest. He gripped her tighter before allowing himself to relax into sleep for the first time in weeks now that she was in his arms.

When August awoke the next morning, the forest looked bright out the window. Muffled voices drifted to her, and she looked down at the bed to realize Graeme had covered her with a sheet. After trailing the sheet awkwardly around behind her to the closet, she pulled on a clean shirt and sweater and glanced in the mirror to tame her hair before padding out to the deck in bare feet.

The morning air of the season was cool, hinting to the colder months that would soon arrive. Graeme and Greta didn't seem to notice, however, as they were both sitting casually in short sleeves. Graeme's hair was still ruffled with sleep while Greta's was as peach and bouncy as ever.

"Good morning," Greta smiled. "Would you like something to drink?"

"I'm okay for now, thank you," August crossed her arms against the chill and stood unsure of herself. Although waking in strange places was becoming a habit lately, she felt out of place staring at the siblings in front of her, especially with Graeme's eyes on her. They had shared some intense moments together while only knowing each other a short time, and she couldn't help but avoid his eyes now for fear of what might be revealed there. Had the morning sun burned through the magic that felt palpable under moonlight? Had she imagined it all?

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"I'll get you a cup of tea in case you change your mind," Greta said as if reading August's unsure body language. She squeezed August's elbow lightly as she walked past her into the house.

"Come here, sweet girl," Graeme called, holding an open hand out to her.

She slowly walked forward and took his hand for him to unexpectedly pull her into his lap.

"Sleep okay?" He asked while tucking her into his chest. She nodded. "You're so quiet," he said after a few moments, pulling back slightly to examine her.

"Just… waking up to still have this be real…" she laughed lightly, gazing out at the mist glistening in the trees. He grunted with understanding before ducking his face into her hair.

"Did you sleep okay?" She asked.

"I did. Best in weeks," he smiled against her.

Greta returned with a steaming cup of tea and set it down next to the two of them, and August thanked her.

"So…" August started, "Council day."

"Yes," Greta replied and furrowed her brows.

"What should I expect?" August asked.

"Well, let me just say first… Graeme, you have to shave," Greta said sternly.

August raised her eyebrows in surprise before letting out a half-suppressed laugh.

"What? Says who?" Graeme chuckled and ran his hand down his beard, bringing it to a point below his chin.. "August likes it. Don't you August?"

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