Shared Night

Chapter 21

A Shared Night

EMELIA

Keiden’s words lingered as I walked into the room. I glanced around, taking in everything—the grand bed, the polished furniture, the small personal touches that marked this as his. It was his room, his space. I couldn’t just move through it like it was mine, and every step I took felt hesitant, like I was tiptoeing around boundaries I didn’t belong in.

I was still sitting on the edge of the couch, lost in thought, when Keiden strode in, his gaze fixed on me with a curious, slightly impatient look. “Why are you just sitting there? Aren’t you going to freshen up?”

I looked away, focusing on my hands as I tried to keep my voice steady. “I… I don’t feel right just doing things in here. It’s your room, after all.”

Keiden’s eyebrows lifted slightly, a smirk pulling at the corner of his lips. “I didn’t take you for someone who needed permission,” he said. “You can go freshen up, Emelia. By the time you’re out, you’ll find something to wear.”

I felt a small surge of relief and managed a quick nod, mumbling, “Thank you.”

With that, I slipped past him and made my way to the bathroom, closing the door behind me. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the strange energy that always seemed to linger whenever we were alone. The bathroom was spacious, warm with the faint scent of pine and something clean, like fresh linen. The shelves were lined with bath oils and soaps—luxurious items I’d only ever seen in passing. I couldn’t even tell what half of them were for.

I stepped out of my dress and turned on the water, feeling the warm spray cascade down my shoulders. Slowly, I lathered up with a soap that smelled like lavender and rosemary, breathing in the earthy scents. It was refreshing, even if I wasn’t quite sure I was using it correctly. When I was done, I wrapped a plush towel around myself, taking in the comfort it offered.

Stepping out, I immediately noticed a neatly folded set of nightclothes on the bed—a soft, silken fabric that looked both comfortable and a bit out of place on me. I pulled it on, feeling its smoothness against my skin, then walked to the mirror. My hair was a mess, so I swept it up into a loose bun, hoping it would stay that way through the night.

Just as I was about to glance around for something to spritz—a subtle scent to help me feel more settled in his space—a sharp knock on the door made me jump.

I opened the door cautiously, and, of course, it was Keiden. He glanced at me with a raised eyebrow as I stammered, “I was, um, just about to head out to sleep on the couch. I’m done here.”

Keiden folded his arms, looking down at me with a mix of amusement and irritation. “No need for that. The couch is hardly a place to get proper rest,” he said, his voice matter-of-fact. “You’ll be leaving with me tomorrow, so you may as well share the bed tonight.”

My cheeks warmed at the thought, and I glanced at the couch, remembering how stiff and uncomfortable it had been last night. Reluctantly, I nodded. “All right… Thank you.”

I slipped under the covers, sinking into the bed with a sigh of relief. It was soft, probably the softest bed I’d ever been in, and a smile tugged at my lips at how comforting it felt. I tried not to think too much about sharing it, forcing myself to relax as I took a steady breath.

But thoughts of tomorrow crept in. What would life be like in the new city? Would people look at me differently, treat me better, or worse?

A moment later, I reminded myself that it didn’t matter much—they’d have no choice but to treat me well. After all, I was Keiden’s supposed mate, even if it was only in name. It was enough to push the thoughts away, and I finally let out a long breath, sinking further into the mattress.

I hadn’t even noticed Keiden enter the bathroom until I heard the water running again. I closed my eyes, trying to distract myself, but the sound of him moving behind the closed door was enough to make my skin tingle with awareness. I shifted my head across the pillow, trying to get comfortable, when the bathroom door clicked open.

My breath caught as he walked out. He had a towel wrapped low around his waist, water dripping from his hair and tracing down his chest. I’d caught a glimpse of him earlier that morning, but seeing him up close and like this—I couldn’t help but stare.

Snap out of it, Emelia! I swallowed hard, hoping he hadn’t noticed, but he looked over and arched an eyebrow.

“Not using the duvet?” he asked, breaking me out of my trance.

“Oh! Sorry,” I muttered, my face heating up as I pulled the duvet over myself, turning away to hide the flush on my cheeks. What am I even thinking?

I buried my face in the pillow, silently cursing the fact that I’d gotten such a clear view of him—he looked… I didn’t even know how to describe it. It was distracting, to say the least, and I hated how self-conscious it made me feel.

The mattress dipped slightly, and I knew he’d settled in beside me, though he kept to his side, careful to leave a respectful distance. But even with that distance, I felt the heat radiating from him, a warmth that seemed to sink into my skin despite the space between us. I took a slow breath, trying to calm my racing heart.

“Am I making you uncomfortable?” he asked quietly.

“No,” I replied quickly, though my voice was shaky. “Not at all.” It was a lie, and I was sure he could tell, but he didn’t push it.

I kept my back to him, focusing on steadying my breathing and trying to act like everything was perfectly normal. The steady rise and fall of his breaths soon blended with the softness of the bed, and slowly, I felt myself relax. Before long, sleep finally claimed me.

The Next Morning

A bright shaft of light pried my eyes open, and I yawned, stretching as I began to rise—until I felt the weight of an arm around my waist. My breath hitched, and I stayed perfectly still, praying I was wrong. Please let it be anything but what I’m thinking…

But as I looked down, I saw it: Keiden’s arm, draped around me in his sleep. He lay beside me, his features softened in sleep, looking peaceful, almost gentle.

I swallowed, feeling my cheeks heat up as I tried to process what was happening. I was completely trapped beneath his arm, the warmth of his skin pressing close to mine. Carefully, I tried to ease myself out from under his grasp without waking him, inching away as slowly as possible.

Just as I thought I was in the clear, his arm tightened slightly, pulling me closer.

“Going somewhere?” he murmured, his voice rough with sleep, yet somehow carrying that teasing edge.

I froze, my heart racing. “I—I was just getting up.”

He chuckled, finally loosening his grip enough for me to slip away, though his sleepy smirk was still very much intact. “Well, don’t get too comfortable. We’ve got a long day ahead of us, and we leave soon.”

I nodded, trying to keep my expression neutral as I sat up and quickly moved to the edge of the bed, putting some distance between us.

“Right… I’ll get ready,” I said, standing and gathering myself as best as I could.