“List them,” Sergei demands.
“Connor scared herbadly. When he did, she turned to me; I stayed quiet. So did Seamus. Her skillset was suspicious enough that we all had questions. She’s been off in her own mind ever since. Has barely spoken a word to anyone.”
“Alright,” Sergei mutters. “Sounds like she might feel betrayed. How was she behaving beforehand? Last night and today?”
It feels surreal to be discussing my problems over a potential relationship with Sergei, but if he’s offering help, I’m in no position to refuse.
“Reluctant but compliant,” I say.
“Attitude?”
“Mostly positive, occasionally withdrawn.”
“Were you intimate last night?”
“Not really,” I reply.
“What do you mean,not really?” Sergei queries.
“We slept in the same bed but didn’t touch. Nothing sexual.”
He releases a long breath. “Okay. Here’s what you’re going to do. Donotthreaten her with recruitment, but turn up the heat. Woo her in whatever manner she’s receptive to. When I was building a relationship with my Kira, it took a long time to get past her walls. I was not forceful at any point, I was calculated. I did things for her that were meaningfulto her. Women respond to being spoiled and taken care of, but each of them seek a different kind of caretaking, and many of them expect it to be a two-way street. Be open so that she’ll feel safe to open up to you. Don’t lie to her whenever you can avoid it. Spoil the hell out of her.”
“I don’t think she wants to be around anyone right now,” I say, peeking into the living room. Mira’s in the same position on the couch, feet tucked under her, arms crossed over her chest. Closed off and withdrawn.
“Tough shit. Don’t be forceful, but don’t let her steamroll you. Keep her close. Blame it on me if you need to. From this moment onward, your operation has shifted to making her yours, and there are few things more difficult than gaining a woman’s trust and affectionwhen she’s led a difficult life that makes her cautious of people.Especiallywhen she feels she’s been betrayed or abandoned in a time of need.”
“How do you know?” I question. Sergei’s wealth of knowledge about women and relationships is strange, but considering he’s happily married and word has it he’s trying for an heir, I don’t doubt his advice. It helps that he is, hands-down, the smartest person I’ve ever met with an IQ that puts most geniuses to shame.
“Experience, and an affinity for reading people. As for your woman, Connor filled me in on what he found. Admirable that she’s in Greywood on a scholarship after such a life. Most people would fracture under the weight of the trauma, men and women alike.”
That much I believe; I’ve seen it happen. The sight of the scars littering Mira’s ribs, chest, and stomach are almost too much to bear, and they help me piece together a tentative picture of her life. One that inspires a great deal of admiration and respect for her.
“Keep me updated on your plans with the Serpents, and tell me if there are any problems with the girl,” he says, ending the call without a goodbye.
I shoot off a text to my group chat with Connor and Seamus, asking if they need help with cleanup. They respond within a minute, telling me they have it handled, which leaves me to deal with the girl.Mygirl, who’s quietly stewing on the couch. I rotate my shoulder, wincing a bit at the pain before strolling back into the room.
“It’s been a long night. Let’s head to bed.”
She slowly turns to pin me with a steady, blank gaze. I don’t like the emptiness in her eyes. “I’d very much like my own room.”
I consider her request. I don’t want her to have her own room, I want her in my bed.Where she belongs. The thought startles me, but also feelsrightsomehow. Sheshouldbe in my bed. I want to keep herclose, both so I can have eyes on herandso I have the opportunity to study her. Learn her. Get to know her. Crawl into the crevices of her being and determine exactly what it’ll take to successfully claim her. What sort of care does she want—need?What can I do for her that’ll make her less angry? How can I explain that I didn’t intend to betray her or leave her to the wolves?
“Not going to happen,” I reply. “Come on, Mira. I’m tired and need to sleep off my injury. You need rest, too. We can argue in the morning.”
“I want my own room,” she repeats more forcefully. “I amnotsleeping in your bed again.”
The determination in her voice makes me smile a little. “You are. We can discuss more in the morning. Don’t make me carry you; I’m not feeling my best right now, so it’ll only piss me off. Let’s go.”
She stares at me for several beats, releasing a low growl that reminds me of a hissing kitten. Even so, she stands from the couch. She’s silent as she follows me up to my bedroom, where she promptly picks up the bag of clothes she brought from her dorm and shuts herself in the bathroom. A few seconds later, the shower turns on.
I take the alone time to contemplate exactly how I’m going to deal with her. She disobeyed me pretty blatantly tonight, multiple times. My instinct is to pin her down for a thorough punishment, but that wouldn’t be useful at this…fragilestage in our relationship. Then again, it would be good to set expectations early on; to show her that while I enjoy her sass, if she pushes me too hard, I’ll push back.Harder.
With a sigh. I decide I can hold off on any punishment for now. I think she’d appreciate the evening to breathe and adjust—it’s been a trying night for both of us.
I lock the door of my room to make sure she can’t escape in the night, pocketing the key. I’m sure Mira’s at least thought about it,considering how pissed she is. When she comes out of the bathroom, dressed in small shorts and a camisole, I go in without a word. I carefully wash myself, thanking god that the doctor had the foresight to provide me with waterproof bandages. By the time I emerge, Mira’s at the very edge of the bed, either asleep or pretending to be. I leave her be for the night, too exhausted to fight.
I wake up in the middle of the night, drawn from unconsciousness by some gut instinct. The bedroom’s dark, illuminated only by dim moonbeams streaming through the window. My eyes crack open and instinctively search for Mira. Though I haven’t known her for long, I’m already becoming attuned to her and starting to crave her, which is why I know I’ll find an empty bed before I even look.
