Chapter 26

The garage is brightly lit, the faint hum of the fluorescent lights casting a blinding glow over the sleek lines of the motorcycle.

I slide off the bike, my legs a little shaky from the ride, and I stretch my body as soon as I'm free from the curled position I had to assume all through the ride.

His scent is all over me as I was completely pressed into him, and it feels kind of shaky as I try to get used to the ground again.

I can still feel the smooth vibrations from the bike. It's a sweet feeling, but I don't want to dwell in it.

The rubber band he used to tie my hair into a bun is stuck to the helmet, and when I pull it free, my hair tumbles down in a tangled mess.

I hand him the helmet and as he takes it, his fingers brushing against mine for the briefest moment, and I feel a jolt of electricity shoot through me.

I try to ignore it, focusing instead on the mess of my hair.

I groan, running my fingers through it in a futile attempt to smooth it out. He watches me, his golden eyes glinting with amusement.

“If you didn’t like the bun, you should’ve said so,” he says, his voice low and teasing.

I glare at him, though there’s no real heat behind it. “It’s not that I didn’t like it. The band got stuck to the helmet.”

He chuckles, the sound warm and rich, and before I can react, he reaches out and pats my head.

His hand lingers for a moment, ruffling my hair in a way that’s almost affectionate. “There. Problem solved.”

I swat his hand away, though I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips. “Hey, hands off. I'm not a kitten.”

"You might as well be to me," he says.

"What's that even supposed to mean?"

He grins and shakes his head, leaning back against the bike. “Go to bed. You’re not a night prowler like I am. I’ve got other business to attend to.”

I raise an eyebrow, crossing my arms over my chest. “What business could you possibly have at this hour?”

He shrugs, his expression unreadable. “I live my life in the night. I have my life to attend to.”

I internally face palm. Of course, he can't be out in the sun so his entire life is a night life. I must have been so caught up that forgot and now I look like an insensitive.

He grabs a set of keys from one of the hooks on the wall and unlocks one of his cars—a sleek, black sedan that looks like it belongs in a spy movie.

It's a completely different one from the one Achilles drives. I'm not a car person so I can't tell what the four rings logo interpretes as.

He slides into the driver’s seat, the engine purring to life, and glances at me through the open window.

“You might have a busy day tomorrow. Get some sleep.”

I nod, though I don’t move. I watch as he drives off, the taillights disappearing into the darkness, and then I turn and head back into the house.

The thrill of the hunt is still coursing through me, making it hard to calm down.

My heart is racing, my mind buzzing with thoughts of him, of the night, of everything that’s happened.

The house is still as I make my way upstairs, the only sound the soft creak of the floorboards beneath my feet.

I half expected Achilles to be up by the time I returned, but I guess even he is strict about his bed time.

I change into my pajamas and collapse onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Sleep doesn’t come easily, but eventually, I drift off, my dreams filled with shadows and golden eyes.

When I wake up, the sun is streaming through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room.

I haven't a nightmare about my mother's accident and death in a while. It's a good thing really, but is it because I'm more intune with my senses or because I've had more things occupy my mind?

Can't tell.

I stretch, my body still heavy with sleep, and sit up just as a maid enters with a tray of breakfast.

She sets it down on the table by the window, her movements quick and efficient. She's human, I can tell from the pulse, but it doesn't make her any less efficient.

“Good morning,” she says, her voice soft. “Achilles is waiting for you downstairs.”

I nod, thanking her, and she leaves as quietly as she came. The smell of coffee and fresh pastries fills the room, and I take a moment to enjoy it before getting up and heading to the bathroom to freshen up.

When I’m ready, I make my way downstairs, my footsteps echoing in the empty halls.

Achilles is in the training room, as usual, but he’s not alone.

Mara is there too, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, watching as he sets up some equipment.

“Morning, sunshine,” Achilles says, grinning as I walk in. “Sleep well?”

I shrug, trying to ignore the way my cheeks heat up at the memory of last night. “Well enough.”

Mara raises an eyebrow, her expression knowing. “You went hunting with him, didn’t you?”

I nod, not trusting myself to speak. She smirks, shaking her head. “Figures. You’ve got that look.”

“What look?” I ask, though I’m not sure I want to know the answer.

“The look of someone who’s been bitten by the bug,” she says, her tone teasing. “Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us.”

Achilles laughs, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t let her scare you. You’re doing great. Now, let’s get to work. We’ve got a lot to cover today.”

I nod, pushing aside my thoughts of last night and focusing on the task at hand.

But as we begin our training, I can’t help but glance up to the window, wondering where Valentine went last night and what he does with his nights.

The pull of the mating bond is stronger than ever, and I know that no matter how hard I try, I can’t ignore it.

For now, though, I push those thoughts aside and focus on the present. There’s work to be done, and I’m determined to be ready for whatever the shitty council tosses my way.