SEVENTY-EIGHT

I awoke with a banging headache and an unsettling feeling. I squinted my eyes and groaned as I tried to seat up. As usual, Draven wasn’t in bed and the usual disappointment settled at the pit of my stomach.

“Thank goddess you’re alive,” I flung my head to find a frail figure seated at the extreme end of the room. How did I not catch her scent?

I giggled and held out my arms to my best friend, “Ailana! How did you get here?” I have been too busy these days to see her and I’d had it in mind to go to her today.

She hugged me and giggled too “Your mate told me to come be with you,” she answered.

“He did?” I asked, not hiding my surprise. Draven wasn’t comfortable with me having friends, especially not Ailana considering their history.

“Suprised me too,” she sat next to me on the bed “He went from telling me to stay away from you to ‘Ordering’ me to come stay with you and not let you out of my sight,” she laughed “He cares for you,”

I rubbed my wrist that still ached from when he’