Chapter 556

The next morning I find myself, by some bizarre miracle...at the foot of the bed, blinking awake with my face pressed against Jackson's chest. God, how did I even get here? I yawn and reach up a hand to rub my eyes. Did I like...crawl down here in my sleep?

“We're never doing this again," Jackson murmurs, already awake, stroking a hand down over my hair. “I don't care how much we love them or how many shadows there are. We're sleeping in our own bed."

I laugh a little, picking my head up to grin at my mate and then looking up at Jesse, who is asleep on his back as usual, snoring lightly, and Rafe, also on his back, his arm sprawled backwards across Jesse's body.

"But it's so cuuuute," I sigh, putting my head back down. "Plus, I slept great."

"Yeah, because you had your usual mattress," Jackson murmurs, groaning as he sits up, taking me with him. "The rest of us..."

Rafe shushes us harshly and turns his head to the side, frowning. "Go back to sleep," he groans, moody and exhausted.

"Time to get up," Jacks sighs, holding me cozily in his lap, my head tucked under his chin. I yawn and Jackson tucks a hand sneakily beneath my pajama top, passing me a little bolt of energy, which shivers pleasantly through me. I grin suddenly, picking my head up to beam at him as the energy rushes through me, making me feel quite bright and fresh and eager to start the day.

"I love you," I sigh, giving him a little kiss on the nose. "You're the best.”

"No being cute," Rafe bites out, yanking the pillow from beneath his head and throwing it at us. "Or so awake."

"Jacks, give him a little jolt too." I say, laughing at my brother as I swat the pillow away.

“That won't work,” Jackson replies, frowning at me.

"What are you talking about?" Rafe asks, sighing when he realizes we're not going back to sleep. Jesse snorts awake as well, blinking around at us, totally confused.

"Jackson passes me his energy, magically," I say with a happy sigh, stretching my arms smugly above my head. "I will never be tired again. Plus, it cures minor hangovers."

“What?” Rafe seethes, jealous and a little awed, pulling himself up and staring at me. "Are you...serious?"

I shrug and Jackson looks at Rafe with his usual stoicism, which is apparently convincing enough to make my brother groan, leaning back hard against Jesse's headboard. "Life is so unfair."noveldrama

"Whass...happenin..." Jesse croaks, pulling himself up and rubbing at his eyes, yawning.

"Ariel was just informing me that her stupid mating bond means she gets limitless energy on command for free," Rafe bites out, sighing hard.

Jesse stares at him and then over at

Sathim

us. "Booo," he sighs, throwing his pillow at us in turn. I laugh, swatting that away too. "That's so unfair. You get someone who loves you and you never need coffee? And all I get is

stupid shadows?" Content belongs

I laugh harder now, grinning at my brother and my cousin, not really feeling sorry for them - after all, they won the gic lottery of being gigantic and powerful and fast. It's about time I got the leg up in this situation.

Still...my wolf nudges me, urging me forward, some instinct telling her to pursue the question.

"Come on, Jacky," I say, grinning up at him. He frowns at me, not liking that particular nickname. My grin widens. "Just...try to see if you can pass Rafe some energy too. See what happens."

Jackson shrugs and reaches out, putting his hand on a bare spot on Rafe's leg where his pajama pants have ridden up.

"Whoa!" Rafe says, yanking his leg away. "What the hell are you doing!?"

"It needs skin-to-skin contact," Jackson says, rolling his eyes at Rafe. "What, do you think I'm making a move on you or something? Your sister is... literally in my lap right now."

"Yes, an arrangement which is becoming far too casual in this room," Rafe snaps leaning forward to glare at Jackson, though I can tell he's having a bit more fun with it now that he's waking up a bit.

"Here, try me," Jesse says, yawning

and sticking out his leg towards Jackson. Jackson complies, reaching out for Jesse, putting a

hand on his shin. Then Jacket

takes a deep breath and

concentrates the same way guess he does when he gives me energy.

We all wait, watching, but...

"No cigar, my man," Jesse says with a sigh. "I guess we're getting an espresso machine after all." “Okay, wait,” I say, my wolf nudging me again, urging me to keep trying. "Let's do it this way..."

I scoot out of Jackson's lap and onto the bed, reaching out a hand between Rafe and Jacks.

"What is this?" Jackson asks, his face scrunching in confusion.

"Oh, just do it," sigh, knowing that we have to get a move on today. I reach my hands out further to each of them, insistent, and

simultaneously both Rafe and

el.n

Jackson slap a hand aga

mine. I

squeeze both of theirs and then turn to grin at Jacks.