Page 80 of Secrets of Avalon
"Avalon isn't a planet. It's a pocket universe. There's nothing that has the ability to cause an earthquake." His words are meant to be comforting, but they only make me more confused.
I don't know how to respond to that. What does that even mean? What I've seen of this place… it looks like a normal world. Obviously, there's a big difference. "Then w-what–" I start to ask, but another tremor cuts me off.
I cling to Hawke, my fingers digging into his skin. I try to steady myself. His arms tighten around me, and I can sense his determination to keep me safe, to figure out what's going on. But beneath that, I sense his own uncertainty, his own fear of the unknown.
As the shaking subsides, I pull back just enough to look up at him. "Hawke, what's happening?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
He meets my gaze, his eyes searching mine. "I don't know," he admits. His words hang heavy in the air, exposing his vulnerability. "But I promise you, Melinda, I won't let anything happen to you. We'll figure this out together."
A heavy knock on the door nearly makes me jump out of my skin. "Prince Stormblood. Domina. The other knights are saying something happened in your tower and everyone is being called for an emergency meeting. Something about Excalibur."
A wave of relief washes over me when I recognize Kellan's voice. At least it's someone familiar and not some random castle person trying to barge in on us. But then it hits me–they absolutely know what Hawke and I were doing in here. My cheeks burn with embarrassment.
"Give us a moment to dress, Kellan," Hawke shouts back at the closed door, his voice tense.
"Elen and Lydia are here to help Domina dress," Kellan replies from the other side.
“You will allow me to cover my mate or there will be blood spilled,” Hawke snarls back at the closed door. He turns back to me, and I can see the confusion swirling in his eyes. But there's something else too, a flicker of fear snaking its way through our bond.
He quickly yanks on his pants from last night and strides across the room to the armoire. He pulls out a heavy night coat and carries it over to me, holding it out like a peace offering.
I drop the blanket, trying not to think about the fact that my clothes from yesterday are still scattered around the room. I step into the coat, slipping my arms into the sleeves. Hawke turns me to face him. He tucks the ends around my body and knots the sash tightly around my waist.
"What do you think happened?" My heart pounds wildly in my chest.
"I'm not sure."
He’s holding something back. I reach out and touch his arm, making him pause and meet my gaze. "You are sure."
He sighs, his shoulders sagging. "I—yes. I think Aena shook the castle."
Fear shreds my composure, making it hard to breathe. "The evil queen is in Camelot?" The thought of facing someone who makes even Hawke nervous is terrifying. If she's here, in the castle, what does that mean for us? For everyone?
"You need shoes," he says like the announcement about the evil queen means absolutely nothing. He pulls away, striding back to the armoire. He digs through the bottom and returns with a pair of ankle-high furry boots. Kneeling before me, he slides each boot onto my feet.
"Hawke. Explain. Please."
"I think when we bonded, we triggered something. I need to talk to the others, and I need to see the tower." His voice is steady, filled with a certainty that assured through our bond. It's comforting, and I take a deeper breath.
Before I can protest, he sweeps me into his arms, lifting me effortlessly off the ground. The strength in his arms, the way he holds me close to his chest, he treats me like something precious. I’m safe even in the middle of all this chaos.
"I can walk," I say, but it's a halfhearted protest at best.
"Absolutely not." He smirks down at me, a possessive glint in his eyes. "Just letting you out of bed is straining my control. And no one, not even Kellan is touching you right now. Understood?"
I swallow hard and nod, laying my head against his chest. I'm not about to argue, perfectly content to stay right where I am.
"Kellan, the door please," Hawke calls out.
The bedroom door swings open, and Hawke strolls out with me in his arms, as if it's the most natural thing in the world. Elen and Lydia stand behind Kellan, their knowing smiles making my cheeks burn again.
I bury my face against Hawke's bare chest, and that's when it hits me. "Bare chest." My fingers trace the line of his collarbone. "You're only wearing pants."
Hawke Stormblood
I smirk down at Melinda, her cheeks flushing an adorable shade of pink. "Does it offend you, sweet girl?"
"No, I–of course not! It's just–" She stammers, her embarrassment pulsing through our bond. I catch a fleeting thought–I’m naked under this robe.