Maidens & Killers

Midnight Visitor

      I wake abruptly to a banging noise that takes me a few seconds to realize is coming from my room door. Garrick, who was happily snoozing next to me, is already up and pulling a shirt over his head. I squeeze my thighs together as I remember the events that unfolded before we fell asleep, despite our absolute exhaustion. They had been filled with sleepy touches and kisses that had gotten us both off in a slow, lazy manner. I shudder as I think of Garrick with his half drooped eyes and his lips at my neck and his fingers doing unspeakable things below the blankets.
I sit up, keeping the blanket high up on me to hide the satin number that I’m mostly wearing, though the shoulders have completely skewed. Garrick glances at me to make sure that I am covered before opening the door.
Xaden barrels through the door smelling of the relaxing smoke that I see the boys sometimes smoking here.
“I’m going fucking crazy,”  He says turning to hit the wall in my room. I close my eyes to the bang and am grateful there is no hole there when I open my eyes again.
Garrick just sighs and shuts the door, a frustrated look on his face now. “What’s going on now?”
Xaden whirls around to look at Garrick, “I already told you. I’m losing my fucking mind. Tairn and Sgaeyl are mating and normally I can shield and smoke and be fine, but then here comes Violence walking around the corner and all of my fucking control is broken. Plus this Cat shit is on my mind, I know that there are going to be repercussions.”
Xaden turns and notices me for the first time, as though this isn’t MY room.

     “Can we get a moment?” Xaden has the nerve to ask me.
Garrick does an actual facepalm and I look down at myself, clad in a satin nightie that matches my eyes and hair fully disheveled.
I smile sweetly, “You know what, sure. No problem. It’s not like it’s my room or anything.”
I hop dramatically out of my bed and both men audibly gasp. I must look a sight with my curls going every which way. I grab my blanket and wrap it around my body and look at Garrick, “Should I just, wait in the hallway or….”
Garrick seems to finally break out of the transe he’s been in since Xaden came barreling through my door in the middle of the night.
“No!” He walks towards me and wraps the blanket tighter around me and kisses me on the forehead. “No, Xaden and I are going to take a walk. You head back to bed okay? I will be back when I can.”

     I smile up at him, crawling back in bed sounds a million times better than standing in the cold hallway. But I would have, because frankly seeing the wingleader this unhinged when he is such a normally controlled person is a little terrifying. Hopefully Garrick will bee able to help him with whatever he has going on, though my nosey self couldn’t help but overhear it has something to do with Violet’s dragon and someone named Cat.
“You, out!” Garrick says pointing to Xaden. “I’ll be out in a minute and we gotta talk about boundaries, man.”
Xaden huffs and leaves my room with a slam of the door.

     As soon as Xaden leaves Garrick wraps me in his arms and walks me towards the bed. “I’m sorry about him. It’s just been him and I for a long time. We may be a little codependent on one another, but we’re gonna work on that.”
I can’t help but snort in laughter at his statement.
Garrick just keeps talking though, “He probably went to my room first and got more worked up when he couldn’t find me there. I’m not making excuses for him, but he has a lot going on right now and he needs me.”
I let Garrick lay me down on the bed and tuck me in before I speak, “It’s okay. Really. I found the whole thing funny if I am being honest.”
Garrick nods before kissing me long and hard. “Thank you. He’s been a mess since the whole Violet almost being killed in her room thing.”

    “WHAT!” I say almost leaping back out of my bed.
Garrick shakes his head, “Yea, we will talk about that one when I get back. But, remember the other week when that whole situation escalated with Amber Mavis? It was because she let a group of boys into Violet’s room intent to kill her. That’s why Liam has been such a shadow for her, Xaden warded her room, but he is still losing sleep over it.”
I rack my brain and remember bits and pieces of a morning formation that ended in Amber’s death. Shit. I really have been a mess these last few weeks since bonding with Craobh. When was the last time that I thought about anything other than riding or my signet?
Did I ever even properly thank Violet for helping me with the burning of Soren’s letters?
“I am a terrible friend.” I say burying my face in my pillow.
“No, you're a first year rider and you have more on your plate than you can handle right now. You all do. That’s one of the reasons that they don’t advise you to make friends in your first year.”

      I look up at him from where I have buried my face, “That doesn’t make sense. All they preach about is the strength and bond of the squad. How we need to become a family.”
Garrick nods, “There is a difference between a friend and a squad mate. At least to the leadership here there is. A squad mate should be like an extension of your own self, like another arm or leg to fight with. A friend can be a burden, they can hold you back.”
I look up at him confused, “So how do you differentiate? How do you keep someone from getting into your heart? How do you stop from caring?”
Garrick smiles down at me and presses one more kiss to my lips, “I thought I knew, killer. Turns out, I’m just as shit at it as everyone else.”
My heart races at his confession that I have wormed my way into his heart.

       I hear a throat clear audibly outside my door.
Garrick rolls his eyes, “I have to help him. I promise I’ll be back, though it may not be til morning. Try to get some more sleep alright?”
I snuggle into my bed covers and nod, already closing my eyes and chasing the comfort of sleep again. I barely hear Garrick get up and walk out the door, though I do hear a muffled “Was that really necessary?” As the door closes, sleep finds me.

       I wake up for the second time in a much more pleasurable way. I feel Garrick’s weight joining me in the bed once again and when I crack my eyes, there is sunlight streaming in my window.
“MMmmmmmm.” I moan, stretching and snuggling into Garrick’s body at the same time. He wraps his arms around me and his hands are freezing.
“EEEEEk.” I squeal embarrassingly and try to pull away from his frigid fingers.  “Your fingers are like icicles.”
Garrick chuckles and buries his hands deeper into me to warm them.
I wrap my arms around Garricks big frame and pull him close, “Were you guys outside?”
I can feel Garrick’s head nod against mine, “Yea we walked the grounds and talked a bit. He just needed to clear his head. It was a bad night.”
“Did I hear him say that Tairn and Sgaeyl were mating?! Like actually having sex?” I ask curiosity killing me.
“I mean I don’t think anyone asks for details but yea. And because Tairn, Sgaeyl, Violet and Xaden are all connected it can get pretty intense.” Garrick replies peppering my cheek and shoulder with kisses.
“Wow.. that sounds…bad.” I say carefully.
“Ya it definitely is, especially since Xaden is trying really hard to keep his distance from Violet right now.”
I want to ask why Xaden is keeping his distance or a million other questions that I have but Garrick’s cold hands have decided to warm themselves between my thighs and there are much better things that I care about now.