Dungeon Hunter: Act I

It Begins

That "night" I slept as soon as my head hit the bedroll. It was the quickest I'd fallen unconscious since the whole event of the Gates and Dungeons appearing, unless blacking out counted. My slumber was sound and solid.

I dreamt of nothing, and as the bleariness of waking beckoned me slowly from restful darkness, I came to notice a warmth perfectly curled behind me, further stretching over my waist and grasped in my own hold; a blanketing that was as comforting as it was foreign. Only as my mind caught up to the soft exhales tickling against my ear did I dimly come to realise what these things indicated.

Wren had set up her bedroll deeper down the labyrinth entrance hall; she had explained she liked the way the sunlight danced in the shimmer of the crystals, almost like a nightlight. Which meant there could only be one person here laying with me, since Gigi, Jye, and Tam should've been on their watch shift.

Wakefulness didn't so much as shake me as lightning bolted thought into reaction, accompanied with a flush of embarrassment. I rolled out of Axel's embrace, cheeks stinging.

Heart hammering in my chest, I cast a careful glance around to see if anyone had witnessed what had taken place. Jye and Gigi seemed to be chatting amicably whilst Tam was leant up against one of the maze walls, arms crossed and eyes locked on the one entry.

Thank God for small mercies. Tam, with all her little asides, would never let us live it down, and Jye would definitely react, though I had no idea how they really felt. They appeared to hate Axel but were also attracted to him. Then again, they'd shown similar interest in Tam. Maybe the giant was just an absolute horndog that was attracted to anyone pretty. I didn't know whether to consider it an insult that they'd never displayed an inkling of desire towards me. Maybe they just suspected and respected my identity? Still...

The heat that had been trapped between us was dissipating in the flurry of panic that beset me, my heartbeat now slowing.

Sitting ramrod straight, at least an arm's length away from Axel, I turned to check if he was awake and aware of what comfort the both of us had sought in our sleep. But no. He was still under. I spared a moment then, to scrutinise whether or not he was faking it. I hadn't seen, or bothered to look at, the blond's sleeping face for quite a long time. Though he did appear properly asleep.

I didn't often see him while his defences were down like this.

There was looseness around his closed eyes, a slight flutter in his thick lashes as he dreamt, and the tension held in his jaw was gone. Whatever torment took over him sometimes was nowhere to be seen. He looked younger, more innocent, when asleep. It made me miss the Axel I'd known when we were children. I'd loved that kid. How he'd become the man sleeping there still baffled me to this day.

Though with the addition of the weirdness about him, it was easier to see where that child had gone, hidden away under traits that he'd grown into or adopted. Underneath all that posturing, my best friend was still there. Was still there in the moments between others. It was nice getting that back. I don't think I ever realised how much I'd missed it.

Before, he'd said I never hated him.

He was right

I could never hate him.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer, babes," came Tam's voice, her frame casting a shadow over me as she approached from the wall.

Embarrassed but not knowing why, I said, "Keep your voice down."

The brunette lifted the chunky necklace from her chest to check the watch I'd given her.

"Well, y'all ain't due for your wake up call for another hour or so." She gave me an appraising look. "But based on your expression, you're not gonna grab any more Z's."