That’s all I need to come again, and my body does exactly what he asks of it.
He changes the sheets after I can’t take any more. I feel like a cooked noodle. Limp. No thoughts. He softly brushes his fingers through my hair.
I sleep better than I ever have in my entire life.
Chapter Seven
I’ve been awake for a while now, but I’m staying still and breathing slowly. I’m afraid that the minute I stir, I’ll break the spell. Finn will leave. They’ll realize I’m the wrong human, I’m not a mirror child. A loud boom of thunder rolls, causing both of us to jump.
Finn kisses the top of my head before getting out of bed, still in his clothes from last night. I was hoping we would do more, but he insisted it was about me and that we had all the time in the world to do everything now that we were found.
I fell asleep with that phrase in my mind. “We were found.” As if he has been just as lost as I have, but we won’t be anymore.
I thought insta love was the biggest crock of bullshit in the world. I’ve read plenty of smut, and the minute it was insta love, I rolled my eyes and put it down.
To all the authors I cringed at: I am so sorry.
Finn paces in front of the glass doors, lightning crackling in the sky across the field. He looks stressed.
“Uh, everything okay?” I ask, somewhat nervously. Now isn’t the time for my horrid insecurities to come into play, but here they come.
He stops pacing and smiles at me quickly. “I think so.”
Talk about reassuring.
There’s a knock at the door, and I look at him, wide-eyed. I cover myself with the sheets. He may have been fully clothed, but that man kissed and licked every inch of my body last night, and I wouldn’t know where my clothes were if I even tried to remember.
“Easy, Echo,” he insists. “It’s Veyra, she was to bring you new clothes today.”
Thank god. Hopefully, they’re more than the pillowcase playing as a dress from yesterday. He opens the door for her, and she rushes in, dropping an armful of fabrics onto the bed. “Finnick,” she starts, concern making her voice scratchy.
“I know,” he responds, just as fretful. I dig through the pile, finding a green skirt, a brown corset, and my favorite cozy yellow cardigan. I use them as a cover and run across the room while they’re distracted, talking to one another. The first two pieces don’t belong to me, but having my cardigan in my hands makes me feel so much better. Safer. It’s my comfort item. I wrap myself in it, giving myself a big hug, inhaling the smell of my apartment before I walk back out to join them.
“How did you get my cardi-” I start, but I stop when I hear the hushed tones they’re speaking in. I stay tucked against the wall and listen.
“There must have been a tear when Claudia came through,” Veyra whispers.
Finnick pinches the bridge of his nose, and a serious expression darkens his face. “Maybe it’s nothing.” His voice is hopeful, but unsure. False optimism.
“Something is building, Finnick,” Veyra says. “Just…be careful. Protect yourself. Protect her.”
Finnick nods. He sees me finally and holds out his hand to beckon me over. I join them and try to act like I didn’t hear them. “Thank you, Veyra, for somehow getting my cardigan.”
She nods politely. “I was able to use a mirror to get to your apartment and grab some things. This looked well-worn, so I assumed you’d enjoy having it. I also grabbed-”
She doesn’t finish her sentence because a squeal cuts her off. My squeal. “Wallace!”
My grumpy cat walks in like he owns the place already, and I’m in tears. I pick him up and immediately squish my face into his chubby tummy, which he hates but always allows. I decided whatever they were discussing could be finished later.
Another goblin wheels in a cart. It’s full of food, and my stomach growls loudly at the realization I haven’t eaten since I don’t even know when. Actually, I’m not even sure how long I was out cold before I woke up in the forest. Wallace squirms in my arms, contorting his body until I let him down. He immediately disappears.
“Thank you, Brecht,” Finn says to the girl, who curtsies in response.
“Of course, Your Majesty. Do you require anything else?”
Finn places his hand on the small of my back. “Brecht, this is Claudia. She will be staying for…a while.”
I smile politely at her and tell her it’s nice to meet her, but in my head I’m waiting for her to leave so I can ask about theYour Majestybusiness.