Dungeon Hunter: Act I

Goodnight

The two of us started, my heart in my throat. "Damn it, Phoenix! How long have you been standing there?" I asked, mortified.

"Long enough to hear the juicy bits."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Okay. Well. I'm going to bed. I need a break. From all of this."

The teenager nodded, letting us pass. Then she paused before hesitantly asking, "Hey, did you guys run into a girl named Anna in your Dungeon, by the way? She's Carrie's daughter and my... friend. Carrie won't say it, but she's been super worried about her."

I wasn't sure how to reply. The older woman clearly hadn't shared Anna's fate with Phoenix, despite their supposed friendship. Though her hesitation suggested something else, or something more. But it wasn't my business to divulge the news of her passing either. So how did I word this without tangling myself into a different lie completely?

Axel's head tilted. "We did, but we lost her."

Once again I was left impressed by Axel's ability to manipulate his truth to steer the conversation elsewhere. And with such a quick turnaround.

Phoenix let out a short disappointed huff; the most emotion I'd heard from her all night. "Well, that sucks." Her gaze wandered in the direction of the street of tents the permanent residents stayed in, a glint of concern in her big doe eyes.

"I don't think Carrie's been sleeping. At all."

Axel and I exchanged a look.

I said, "Let's hope she gets some rest tonight then."

The mousy brunette nodded. "I'll see you all in the morning for breakfast." She leaned forward and whispered, conspiratorially, "Word of warning: Killian always burns the toast. He scrapes the black stuff off, but you can still taste the residue."

After thanking her, and pawning off the whistle, Axel and I returned to the guest tents.

There was an awkward moment as I crawled in and he followed after me while we set up our sleeping situation. For some reason, an air of tension rested between us, something that had never been there before. Was it because everything was out in the open now?

"I can sleep outside the tent, if you want," Axel finally offered, his voice low. The others already seemed to be fully asleep, soft snores and breathing stemming from their respective tents. He continued, "We're all already inside anyway."

Frowning, I replied, "Why would I want you to do that?"

His eyes narrowed. "Look, I know it may come as a surprise to you, but I'm trying to be a gentleman." At my blank expression, the blond elaborated, "I do not control sleeping-Axel. He may spoon you."

"Come on, man, don't be weird about this." I wriggled into my sleeping bag, now overly conscious of the warmth emanating from Axel beside me.

"As the Deities as my witnesses, I've given fair warning. I cannot be tried or blamed for–"

"Just shut up and go to sleep."

With a chortle, he zipped his sleeping bag up around him. He lied down, putting our faces only centimetres apart. His breath tickled against my lips, and I could've counted each of his eyelashes. In that single moment, I found my gaze tracing the planes of his face, the highs of his cheeks, the point of his nose, the curve of his jawline, the dip of his cupid's bow; all of it proportioned to sublime perfection. He really was frustratingly gorgeous.

Axel smiled as I scowled.

"Roll over."

"I sleep on my left."