CHAPTER 101 : THE CALM AFTER

Aiden stood there for a moment, his gaze fixed on Dave's body as it collapsed to the floor. The gold's weight had caused Dave's head to thud against the cold floor, making that sickening clink sound.

There was a brief silence before Aiden finally looked away from Dave's lifeless form as he now looked at the cauldron, which he still held. He tightened his grip on it and then turned and walked back to the fire pit, keeping the cauldron back at its rightful place.

"Get rid of the body," Aiden ordered the guards as he walked to the forge dungeon's door. "You do not need to hide it. I want people to see it. I want them to know what happens when they try to be foolish," he said to the guards and left the place, not waiting for a response.

He knew they would do as they were told.

Aiden walked out of the forge dungeon and was almost out of the main dungeon. With every step he took, the sound of his boots echoed off the stone floor, and he could still hear that faint sound of water dripping.

As he walked, his gaze fell to his hands. He had some burns; the skin was raw and reddened, but it was okay. He flexed his fingers, noting how the healing was already starting. 

To Aiden, the pain was nothing, plus he was already healing fast. A small, almost imperceptible smirk curled on his lips as he watched the flesh begin to heal and the redness receding.

"What an interesting day," he murmured to himself.

Now that he was satisfied with how things went, Aiden headed back to his home.

He nodded to the guards and maids who greeted him, accepting their greetings, before heading upstairs to his room.

Opening the door and entering the room, he found Bryan and Kira still asleep, the sign of them normal to him. It's not like it was the first time he had seen them sleeping so soundly, and it would probably not be his last.

Aiden shut the door behind him quietly and took a deep breath as he stepped into the bathroom and took off his clothes. His mind was on the need for a shower to wash off the dirt he may have on him and to make him feel refreshed again.

He stepped under the shower, which was now on, letting the water rush over him as it rinsed away the grime from earlier. He quickly lathered up, washing his body, before rinsing off as he felt his muscles ease up, leaving him feeling renewed and refreshed.

In a matter of minutes, he was out of the shower, drying himself with a towel. He slipped into a clean, comfortable shirt and a pair of soft pants after he was done drying himself, the fresh fabric against his skin making him feel good.

Walking towards the bed, he saw that Kira was curled up against Bryan, her body tucked close to his. Aiden smiled softly as he moved quietly to his side of the bed.

 

He, too, needed some rest and carefully slid in behind her, his arm resting gently on the curve of her leg. His body was close, but not enough to disturb her.

Closing his eyes, Aiden allowed the warmth of her presence and the steady rhythm of her breathing to soothe him before he allowed sleep to claim him, his body finally relaxing against hers.

Hours passed, and Aiden's peaceful sleep was interrupted by the sound of his phone ringing. His eyes squinted at the sudden noise, the harshness of the shrill sound his phone was making, pulling him from his restful state.

He groaned softly, reluctant to wake up. 

"Can't I just get some sleep?" He thought to himself as his senses began to sharpen. 

Opening his eyes, he became aware of Kira against him. His body stiffened for a moment, realizing the position they were in. Last time he checked, this was not the position they were in when he joined her and Bryan in bed. Not that he was complaining.

He blinked a few times, trying to clear the fog in his mind, his phone still ringing. The sight of Kira, on the other hand, made his heart skip a beat. 

Kira, who had been cuddled up to Bryan before, was now resting in his arms, and Aiden noticed Bryan had shifted in his sleep. The position was now reversed, with Kira's head resting on Aiden's chest and Bryan lying behind her, his face calm and relaxed.

Aiden smiled and pecked Kira's cheek softly. It was a sweet moment, but his mind quickly shifted back to the phone call. He didn't want to disturb Kira, but he needed to get up.

Slowly, he began to move, trying to figure out how to free himself without waking her. It seemed like she really loved cuddling.

Just as Aiden was about to move, Bryan's deep, husky voice interrupted him. 

"I got her," Bryan said quietly, already awake.

Aiden looked at Bryan, who had been lying on his back with his face tilted upwards towards the ceiling and his eyes closed. He was not even surprised that Bryan was now awake.

Bryan's expression was relaxed, his gaze soft as he reached over and gently slid his hand under Kira's neck.

 

With careful hands, Bryan turned her to her side, keeping her body supported, and it made Kira let out a soft sigh in her sleep as she felt herself being moved. She still did not wake up, but instead nuzzled her face into Bryan's neck.

Her lips parted just slightly, and a peaceful, innocent expression spread across her face. 

Bryan smiled softly at her, his fingers brushing the hair away from her face. One would think she does not know how to be stubborn.

The sight made Aiden's chest tighten—such tenderness, such care and peacefulness. But all that was interrupted by his phone still ringing.

He let out a soft sigh and slowly sat up, carefully removing his arm from around Kira, making sure not to disturb her. As he stood and checked who was calling, he glanced back at Bryan, who was still gently holding Kira.

"I will have to take this in the office," Aiden informed Bryan as he ran a hand through his hair, still waking up from the heavy sleep.

"Any problem?" Bryan asked him.

"I don't think so," Aiden replied. "It's the ruler of Reykholt. I will fill you in later when I'm done."

"Alright," Bryan muttered.

Aiden looked at Kira one more time, ensuring she was comfortable in Bryan's arms, even though he knew she was.

"Stay with her while I handle it," he said softly. "I don't think she would want to wake up alone before she bites off one of our heads."

Bryan chuckled softly and gave Aiden a small nod, Aiden also chuckling softly as he turned to leave the room.

As Aiden left, Bryan heard him answer, "Hello," in a steady, businesslike tone, before shutting the door behind him.

Bryan turned his attention back to Kira, her soft breathing tickling his skin where her face was nestled against the crook of his neck.

He shifted his arm gently, wrapping it securely around her waist, while his other hand rested lightly on her back, holding her closer as he adjusted his position.

Kira instinctively burrowed further into him, her hand brushing against his chest as she made herself comfortable.

Closing his eyes, Bryan let himself relax in the moment. He was already awake now and won't be sleeping, but he enjoyed the closeness and intimacy of holding her like this.

Minutes passed, and the room was still as quiet as it was from when they all started sleeping. But then, Bryan felt something—a soft, whispery sensation brushed against him.

At first, he thought it was nothing, probably the fabric of his joggers shifting against him seeing as Kira kept moving in her sleep. And so he dismissed it, still keeping his eyes closed, letting himself sink deeper into the quiet moment.

 

But then it happened again. This time the touch was more deliberate. Something—someone—was touching him directly over his manhood. 

Before he could process it, he felt it again; it was definitely a hand that slipped beneath the fabric, finding its way under his boxers as it finally made contact with his c*ck and squeezed it.

Immediately, Bryan's eyes snapped open.