I sighed. Finally alone … I walked over to the large rectangular mirror and stared at the sallow reflection. I look hideous, I grimaced, taking in the dark circles accentuating my already puffy eyes, and the cowlick of wispy front hairs sticking out and off to the side of my forehead. My jaw wasn’t much better. At least my lip was back to its original size, though still purple. All in all … far from appealing.
Shaking off my rumpled clothes from the day before, I climbed into the shower. I stood under the hot water for what felt like an eternity, allowing it to soak into my pores and clean the toxins out as I thought about all that had transpired in twenty-four hours. When I’d woken yesterday, my life was in shambles. Then it slapped on a pair of skis and hot-dogged down the side of a mountain. Attacked by witches and Sentinel, I came home to a freed Bishop who’d been lobotomized by the Fates and now had the hots for me. To top it all off, I released the ghost of Sofie’s true love because of my toxic magic and now I had him closer to me than my own shadow, granting me permission to go to the bathroom on my own.
Yes … my life was better when it was just in shambles and not doing a full nosedive into hell.
I hadn’t connected with Veronique last night, though, from what I recalled. I hope I hadn’t! Would I have been drunk if I had? Either way, if they weren’t torturing her, then I had bought myself some time. Now, as long as Viggo and Mortimer didn’t find out about her, and, worse, that I knew about her predicament, then maybe I wouldn’t die a slow, horrible death at their hands. Lilly had to have some information for me soon …
Once sufficiently scrubbed, cleaned, and primped—and feeling marginally better—I cracked open the door and peeked out. Three sets of eyes watched me. I knew asking any of them to leave so I could get dressed was a hopeless cause. Ducking out in my robe, I reached into the dresser near the door, discreetly assembling an outfit down to underwear and socks, silently wishing I were alone with Caden. What I would do to be alone with Caden …
Once dressed, I took a giant breath and stepped out. There they were. Still. The three of them. Caden, Max, and Wraith, forming a narrow triangle in my room. Wraith was closest to me, his gaze weighing me down. Sidestepping around him with a wary eye fixed on his movements, I made my way to Caden’s side.
“Feel better?” Caden smiled, wrapping himself around my upper body, enveloping me into him.
I nodded. Surprisingly, whether it was the hot shower, or the two little pills, or Caden’s arms around me, the pounding had subsided. I may even be a little bit hungry …
You certainly smell better and … Max began.
I rolled my head within Caden’s chest to throw Max an evil stare. He didn’t finish his sentence. “Yeah … I’m never drinking again,” I said. My head shook against Caden’s chest as he chuckled. Warmth exploded within me. I loved the feel of his happiness. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt it.
Pulling back slightly to look down at my face, the back of his hand grazed over my lip gently. “Does this hurt?’
I shook my head, melting. He leaned forward and placed the lightest kiss on my lips. “Does that hurt?” he whispered.
Blood rushed to my ears as my heart hammered against my ribs. Whatever resentment or hurt held him back before, it wasn’t present anymore. On impulse, I grabbed hold of his neck and drew him down for another kiss. He responded without restraint. If my lip still hurt, it wasn’t registering at the moment, too overjoyed by being in contact with Caden’s mouth to complain. Once Bishop returned, we’d be back to the twisted delusion. Until then …
The hairs on the back of my neck prickled suddenly, an eerie feeling sweeping through my body, ruining the moment. On instinct, I broke free of Caden’s lips and checked over my shoulder. Wraith had slinked in behind me, no more than three feet away from us. He didn’t do anything or say anything. He just stood still, waiting expectantly. I knew exactly why—to level Caden if he felt I was at risk. That bugged me. Greatly. The only thing I was at risk of now was losing precious time with Caden.
Pivoting on my heels to stay between Wraith and Caden, I decided to try cordiality. “Can you please give us a moment alone, Wraith?”
Wraith only stared back at me.
Good luck with that, Max muttered sarcastically.
“Please?” I said again, the pleading in my voice that was really beginning to annoy me.
“I do not understand this ‘moment’ term,” Wraith finally explained.
“It means give us some space … don’t hover?” Still, only a blank look, and no movement. This was going nowhere. “Can you please leave the room!”