𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅

chapter twenty-two

Emriana

I stirred, feeling the sun hitting my face. I groaned, nuzzling my face into my pillow. My eyes snapped wide open when the pillow chuckled, and I pulled myself up, only to come nose to nose with a smirking Zeke.

"Slept well, princess?" My eyes widened, noticing the position we were in. I was lying on his chest, my legs on either side of his waist. My cheeks immediately became tinted with a dark red as I shoved myself off him, resulting in me falling off the chair with a yelp.

Of course, Akira was right at my side, accessing the damage. He sniffed me a few times, circling my body before giving a big lick in approval of my good state.

"Thanks, Aki," I mumbled, pushing myself off the floor and smoothing out my dress.

"I would never have thought of you as a snorer?" Zeke called behind me, and I turned to him, only to realize that Drakkar and Zander were by his side. My face was boiling in humiliation. What they must be thinking of me right now!

"I...um...need to go. Yes, that's right,...I...I need to go," I managed to say, heading toward the exit, keeping my head low to avoid eye contact with the guards throwing me curious glances. This was so improper, spending the night on someone like that.

I must have been the biggest fool to think getting out of this situation would be that easy when I heard their heavy footsteps resonating against the marble floor. They were much faster than me, their legs almost twice as long as mine.

I threw Akira a worried glance as I turned into a less busy corridor, hating the glares I was getting from the maids. I recognized some as the girls talking to Ryenne the other day. I didn't know what her problem with me was, but I could definitely tell she hated me.

"Not so fast, little one," I froze at Drakkar's low, raspy voice right over my ear. I chuckled nervously, turning to face all three of them.

"Funny to see you all here!" I lied, giving them a smile. Zeke shook his head, a small chuckle coming from his throat.

"Why are you blushing so much, little one?" Drakkar asked, and I glared.

"I'm not, and stop calling me that," he rolled his eyes.

"Is it perhaps maybe you liked using Zeke as your personal pillow?" He said, taking a step toward me as I took one back, chucking nervously.

"Wha...I...No...Of c-course not." Very believable! Good job!

He narrowed his eyes on me, and I looked away, unable to hold his gaze. There was something about him that made me feel so small next to him. He radiated authority or something.

"Are you lying, little one?"

"Me? Lying? Pff...of course not," I shrugged, taking another step back.

He was about to say something when I heard a maid yell from down the hallway that the King was coming this way. My eyes widened, looking in her direction before I turned to see the three men in front of me completely blank. Their faces went so cold. It scared me. It was like they'd seen a ghost.

Without thinking, I opened the first door I could find, which led to a large utility closet. I grabbed Zeke's and Drakkkar's arms, who flinched at the touch. Their heads snapped toward me.

"Come! Hurry!" I said, tugging them into.

"What the fuck a-

"Yeah yeah. Get into the closet! Hurry!" I whispered, dragging them inside. I glanced back at Zander, who was glaring so hard, he could have made a hole through my face. I rolled my eyes, gesturing for him to come, but he didn't move.