She handed Joshua a key first and then one to me before giving Elsa the final key. She showed us to our rooms, one next to the other. “Thank you.” I took the key from her and went for the door, sliding the key in before turning the lock.
I hadn't gotten the door open before I heard his familiar voice. “You guys are here!” Jaxon's voice echoed in the hall. I turned around, throwing my arms around him in greeting.
“We are.” I smiled through tired eyes. Staring at him, I could see the worn expression and knew why he hadn't returned home. “How are you holding up?” I asked, taking a step back as Joshua came out of his room.
“Taking it all in.” Jaxon caught sight of Joshua and chuckled. “Did the whole town decide to come for a visit?” He gave Josh a quick hug and then Elsa when she popped out of her room last.
“Something like that,” Elsa chimed, squeezing Jaxon tight. “We missed you back at home.”
Jaxon nodded, unable to voice anything for the moment.
Chloe smiled weakly at Jaxon, clearly recognizing him. “We should probably let them shower and get cleaned up. I need to let the council know we're here and then I have a little work to do in the lab.”
“I'll see you in a bit?” I asked Jaxon, hoping he wouldn't be a stranger. I didn't know what he'd been up to in Torv. Elsa and I were here to help the pregnant women and Joshua was along for moral support. The fact Jaxon had stayed in Torv—I questioned whether he'd ever return home.
“Yeah, get showered, you guys stink,” he joked trying to make light of the situation. “I'll catch up with you at dinner.”
“Okay.” I pushed open my door and stepped into my room. I was astounded once again by the view. Situated a few levels lower, our rooms faced a different side of the building but the sight was still just as beautiful as before. I dropped my bag on the floor, slipped out of my shoes, and stood mesmerized by the fact I could see for miles from a building. It was surreal.
After a few minutes, I pulled my bag from the floor and dug out a fresh change of clothes: black cotton pants and a dark blue shirt, both handmade in Shadow. Tossing my open pack onto the floor, I made sure I held the key before leaving my room behind. I locked the door, taking my clothes with me across the hall to the bathroom.
Stepping into the bathroom, the light flipped on automatically. I turned in a circle, wondering how it knew someone had entered. I locked the door behind me, hung my clean pants and shirt on a hook, and walked towards the shower. I started the spray, turned it on, and waited for the water to heat up. I could hear the shower running on both sides of the walls and knew Joshua and Elsa were getting cleaned up too.
I stripped down and jumped under the hot spray, washing the grime from my skin. My muscles were tired and sore. A yawn escaped past my lips as I lathered my hair with shampoo and scrubbed the grime and filth from my skin. I smelled of sweat and the outdoors. It wasn't a pleasant aroma and certainly not a great way to make a first impression on the people of Torv.
Finishing my shower, I found a soft, oversized towel and dried off before slipping into the clothes I'd brought along. I brushed my hair and opened the bathroom door to see Joshua's bedroom door open. “Josh?” I called, knowing he must have been done.
He poked his head out of his bedroom, smiling when he saw me. “Wow. You look…” he didn't finish his sentence.
“What?” I asked, shaking my head, a smile edging at the corner of my lips. I raised an eyebrow and waited for him to continue.
His cheeks reddened slightly, and he stepped out from the small bedroom. “You smell amazing,” he breathed, wrapping his arms around my waist.
I laughed, burying my face in his neck. “So do you.” My hands roamed the length of his back as I felt my body relaxing into his. “I'm beat.” I didn't want to move, too tired and feeling as though if I did move I'd fall on my face from exhaustion.
“Let's try and nap for a while. At least until someone wakes us up.” He suggested. He led me towards his room and I didn't object. It was exactly the same except that his bag was on his floor instead of my pack. Joshua pulled back the covers of the twin-size mattress. “It'll be cozy,” he teased as I slipped in and rested on my side. Joshua curled in behind me, wrapping an arm around my waist. I was relieved the bed was pushed against a wall so I knew I wouldn't fall out. If anyone fell out of bed, it'd be Joshua. It was probably why he held me so tight. My eyes closed when my head hit the pillow.
“Thanks,” I whispered, feeling the world swaying around me behind closed lids.
He didn't answer me, not in words. I felt a soft warm kiss to my neck and a moment later drifted to sleep in his arms.
CHAPTER 17
I awoke with a start, hearing a loud banging against the door. I groaned in protest and felt Joshua's hold loosen as he stood up from the bed and went to the door.
“I can't find Olivia!” Chloe was in a panic. “She's not answering her door.”
“I'm right here,” I yawned, as Joshua pulled the door back further so she could see me.
“Oh,” Chloe's cheeks reddened from the implication of what she thought we'd been doing.
I shook my head, rubbed my eyes, and smiled. “It's okay. I was just getting some sleep. What do you need?”
Chloe nodded, trying to regain her thoughts and remember why she had come looking for me in the first place. “Oh right. The high council is waiting to meet you. After, we'll go down and have dinner.”
“Right.” I smiled weakly, trying to pretend that I was excited and interested, but all I could think about was the comfortable mattress with Joshua's warm arms around me as I slept. “Can you give us a few minutes, and we'll be right there?”
“Great, I'll meet you in the lobby.” Chloe backed up from the door and Joshua closed it as he turned to face me. I was still seated on the bed, my legs curled beneath the blankets. The thought of leaving the warm mattress unsettled me.
“It's time to get up.” He smiled, reaching for me as I groaned in protest.
“I don't want to pretend to like these people. I just want to sleep,” I mumbled, falling back onto the bed and pulling Joshua atop me as his arms had been around my body.
He laughed and I could feel his hands buried under my back. “Is this how you plan on spending the rest of the evening?” I felt his kisses fall across my cheeks and forehead, doing his best to wake me.
I shifted restlessly, laughing as I tried to pull away, but he kept his hands tight around me, not letting me escape. “Joshua!” I squealed, feeling his breath tickling my skin.
He relaxed against me, and I finally let my eyes stay open, feeling more awake than I had when Chloe first showed up. “Come on.” He kissed my cheek. “Time to get up.”
I lifted my back from the mattress to let his hands free, which did me no favors as he then moved his hands to mine, pulling me from the bed. I groaned in protest but followed him out of bed. “I'm up,” I answered, though I wasn't entirely awake. “So, it's almost dinner time?” I asked, trying to make sense of day and night. I knew when we arrived it couldn't have been more than eleven in the morning. I hadn't accounted for the time change or the nap we'd taken. The sun had long since set and the stars lit up the night sky. Glancing out the window, I saw the city lights as they stretched on in Torv. It was amazing. I grabbed my room key. “I need to get my shoes.”