Go ahead, just take all night, then. It’s not like I need a shower or anything.
I reach the second floor, and the landing stretches out between the main bedroom and the bathroom, with one smaller, unfurnished room to the side. Only the main bedroom is furnished, and I refuse to think too hard about there being only one bed.
I go straight up to the attic, loving the big open space with exposed beams across the roof. A little window at one end lets in the starlight, and the pretty vines sweep their leaves across it, whispering to me.
It’s really beautiful. If I had to leave my cottage, I couldn’t ask for a better home.
Hearing the door slam downstairs, I sigh, letting my shoulders slump. My responsibilities weigh heavily on me, and I wish I could explain to everyone that it’s not just my duty to our pack and the alliance; it’s the fact that my sisters rejected me—again—and ordered me into this marriage.
I know they didn’t reject me, not really. They love me still. But they did order me to marry him and cast me out of the coven forever. My great destinies don’t seem like a gift at all under these circumstances.
I turn away from the little window, hurrying downstairs to see how the guys are getting on. Luke and Dan have all our bags inside and are saying goodbye to each other at the front door.
“So, we’ll see you tomorrow?” Luke says. “We’ll need a decent-sized meeting with most, if not all, of the pack to get a structure set up that suits everyone. It’s pretty chaotic, I have to warn you.”
“That’s to be expected,” Dan replies. “Don’t worry, that’s my first priority, and I’ve already got some ideas. You head off and get some rest. You’ve done an excellent job today.”
“Thanks, boss,” Luke says with a laugh. “As much as I admire your take-charge attitude, be careful how you throw it around. I might have to kick your ass.”
“You’re welcome to try,” Dan jokes. “But I truly hate to see you fail.”
The two of them laugh together and give each other a firm slap on the shoulder. It strikes me suddenly that Dan’s black ops buddies are to him what the coven is to me, except that he lived with them for years, and his family has now been broken up.
He must feel just as lost as I do, if not more.
Dan closes the door, then notices me standing in the hall. He gestures vaguely at the bags.
“Did you want to unpack now?”
“Not at all,” I scoff lightly. “I can’t think of a worse idea. I’d really love a shower, though. Is my blue bag here?”
“Is this it?” Dan asks, pulling my suitcase out from the pile of bags.
“Yes, that’s it. Thanks.”
“Do you need help taking it upstairs?”
“No, I’m fine,” I answer, grabbing the handle and dragging the suitcase up the stairs. It really is too heavy for me, but I’m not going to ask for his help.
“I’ll hunt around in the kitchen,” he says.
My frustration rises, but instead of giving in to my thoughts of him eating like a pig and not washing his hands, I remind myself that he probably didn’t have to worry about things like that on covert missions, and for all I know, he’s never even lived with a partner before.
Maybe he just wasn’t taught any manners or learned how to conduct himself in a civil manner. I have to give him some space.
As I finally drag my suitcase to the top of the stairs, I hear his footsteps in the hall below me. Even after my resolution to cut him some slack, my mind is already full of the mess he’ll probably make that I’ll have to clean up.
I drag my suitcase into the bedroom and give my head a hard shake as if I’m trying to remove the bad thoughts by force. Again, I ignore the bed, refusing to acknowledge that there is only one, and go to the bathroom to finally have a shower.
As pretty as my dress is, it’s not a comfortable gown to wear on a long, hot day, and it’s a relief to get it off. It takes some time to pull all the pins from my hair and unwind the braids, and as my hair falls loose down my back, the tension eases out of my scalp, sending tingles of relief down my spine.
I take my time in the shower, letting the hot water soothe me. When I get out, I feel much calmer and ready to face Dan and have a proper talk.
Still not going to think about the one-bed situation.
I put on some comfortable pajamas and go downstairs, following the sounds to the kitchen. When I get there, I’m surprised to see Dan putting two cups on the table with apackage of cookies. My stomach growls, reminding me that I haven’t eaten properly all day.
“What’s all this?” I ask.
