Red Moon Rising(14)
She held her hand out to Bree. “Follow me my love.”
Bree followed her down the hallway. Avery opened a door and ushered her into the room. Bree stared in amazement. The room was small but it had an indoor toilet and a large tub. It was already filled with water, and steam rose lazily from its depths.
“We have both electricity and running water.” Avery smiled at her as she lit some candles. “Although my husband does like to conserve so we use candles for everyday use. Do you need to use the bathroom?”
Bree nodded and Avery left the room. “I’ll be in the hallway if you need me.”
“Thank you.” Bree closed the door gently and rubbed absently at her aching side.
* * *
“Bree?” Avery knocked on the bathroom door. “May I come in?”
At Bree’s soft yes, she opened the door and smiled at the woman in the tub. “Shall I wash your hair for you?”
Bree nodded gratefully. She had tried to wash her hair, but lifting her arms over her head made her side hurt too much.
Avery knelt next to the tub and using a metal jug, poured water over Bree’s hair until it was soaking wet. She lathered her hands with soap and then began to massage Bree’s scalp, working the lather through the long wet strands.
Leta popped her head into the room. “I put the food in James’ room mama.”
“Thank you Leta.”
Leta leaned against the sink and stared at Bree. “How old are you?”
“Nineteen.” Bree murmured.
“Oh. I’m ten. I’m big for my age aren’t I mama?”
“Yes, you are my love.”
“I’m almost as big as Evan and he’s fifteen.” Leta said proudly.
As Avery rinsed Bree’s hair, Leta leaned forward. “You’re not very big at all.”
“Leta.” Avery said warningly.
“What? I’m only telling the truth. She isn’t very big.”
Bree blushed and Avery turned to Leta. “Go and find your sister and ask her to help you look through the spare closet for some of her clothes. They’ll be too big, but Bree needs something to wear other than your brother’s shirt.”
“Yes mama.” Leta kissed her mother’s cheek and left the room.
“How many children do you have?” Bree asked timidly as Avery finished rinsing her hair.
“Tristan and I have five children.”
“Are they all Lycan?”
Avery nodded. “Yes. We weren’t sure about Leta at first. Lycan’s usually start shifting around two years of age, but she was nearly seven before she shifted for the first time. I’m still not convinced she didn’t do it from sheer willpower alone. She was terribly jealous of her sibling’s abilities.”
“You look much too young to have five children.” Bree said.
“Why thank you sweet Bree.” Avery stroked her wet hair. “I do seem to be aging well but in fairness our two oldest, Sophia and Nicky, are not my birth children.”
Bree blinked in surprise as Avery began to squeeze the water from the ends of her hair. “Sophia was seven and Nicholas nearly a year when I married their father. Sophia and Nicky are full blooded Lycans like Tristan, but Nicky is not Tristan’s child.”
“He isn’t?”
Avery shook her head. “No. We do not know who his father is. But in our hearts he belongs to us, and that’s really what’s important isn’t it?”
She finished squeezing the water from Bree’s hair and stood up, reaching for a towel that was on a shelf on the wall. “Stand up Bree. The water is cooling.”
Bree stood and Avery wrapped the towel around her slender body. She used a smaller towel to bundle up Bree’s hair and then led her back to the same bedroom. A woman, short and chubby, was just changing the sheets on the bed.
“Thank you Laura.” Avery replied.
“You’re welcome Avery.” The woman plumped the pillow and set it on the bed with a flourish. “It’s going to be a cold night tonight.”
“Aye, I believe you’re right. How is Leo feeling?”
“Oh fine, fine. The cut healed up overnight without any trouble.” Laura replied. “He was grumbling that in his youth the cut would have healed in hours, but he’s not a young Lycan anymore is he?”
Avery laughed as she led Bree to a chair in front of the fireplace. “No, I suppose none of us are young anymore.”
Laura left the room as Avery took a comb and began to carefully detangle Bree’s hair.
“Who was that woman?”
“That’s Laura. She’s a human who works for us.”
Bree stiffened. “You mean she is a slave?”
Avery shook her head and rested a gentle hand on Bree’s shoulder. “No, my love. We have no slaves here. Everyone who works for us earns a wage, and they are free to leave at any time.”