"It's dark."And there was a monster, who'd not be under his bed, but in it.
"True."Rourke's hand disappeared and was followed by what sounded like clothes hitting the floor."Come on, undress."
"Erm..."Ezra toed off his shoes, then reached for the button in his jeans only to still."You see in the dark."
"I'll close my eyes.Promise."The amused tone had him hesitating.He didn't believe him.Though, did it matter?He'd already seen him.Not entirely naked, but he wasn't planning on stripping this time either.
He shoved his jeans down and stepped out of them, removed his socks, and the shirt he was wearing, but kept the T-shirt he had underneath on.Fumbling for the bed, he found the edge and sat.Then he unclipped one bracelet after the other and put them on the bedside table.Every time he dropped one atop the previous one, a satisfying clinking sounded.
When Rourke touched his shoulder, he jerked.Then there was a tug at one of his braids, and Ezra froze.He was undoing a braid?What had he done wrong?
Nausea climbed his throat.Was it because he hadn't said the cat was a spy before he'd reached the place in the forest where it had been?He hadn't been sure until he was close enough to sense the magic.His eyes burned.Should he have mentioned the possibility before he was sure?Was the offense big enough to lose a braid over?
He did his best not to make a sound.Everyone would be able to tell how useless he was now.
"How do you remove the metal things?"Rourke's voice was nothing more than a whisper."Oh, never mind, it came loose."He leaned forward and added one of the spiraled braid rings Jiprix had given him to the pile of bracelets.
Ezra couldn't breathe.
"Aren't they uncomfortable?"Rourke ran the curled hair between his fingertips.
Ezra shook his head, unable to make any sounds.
Rourke started on the next braid, and Ezra almost screamed.Both his braids?His carelessness would cost him both of his braids.Air didn't fit in his lungs anymore.
"I like the rings better than the solid ones.Do they mean different things?"
Ezra shook his head again.They were gifts.Gifts Rourke was taking away from him.When he ran the hair between his fingers like he had with the first one, Ezra squeezed his eyes shut to keep tears from spilling."I'd have told you earlier if I'd been sure, but I didn't want to worry you in case it was an ordinary cat."
Rourke stilled.Ezra's hair still trapped between his fingers."What?"
"I didn't mean to displease you."
Silence spread, and Rourke still didn't move."I'm not sure I understand."
"You took my braids."
He slid his fingers to the end of the strands."I undid your braids, so you can sleep more comfortably."
Ezra didn't move, didn't so much asbreathe.The darkness was thick and unmoving, too heavy to breathe in.
"You can rebraid them tomorrow, right?You did today, added the new bling."
"I'm allowed?"
Rourke huffed."Do I have a say in how you style your hair?"
Of course, he did."Yes.You're the clan leader.Your word is law."
Rourke laughed low."Sweetheart, this is a pack, and do you think Ulric or any of the others would tolerate me expressing an opinion on how they're to wear their hair?"When Ezra didn't reply--what was he to say?Rourke sighed."My word is law when it comes to pack decisions, not when it comes to anyone's appearance.If you want to braid your hair into a million braids, braid it into a million braids."
"I don't deserve a million braids."
He believed Rourke nodded behind him."Since none of us here understand how the braids work, I fear you'll have to reward yourself braids when you deserve them."His large hand tugged at Ezra's arm."Come on, now.Bedtime."
Reward himself?He would never dare call Rourke insane to his face, but he was if he believed people could reward themselves.
* * * *
