“This is your room.”
The door swings open, and I freeze, completely shocked. Aydin chuckles and rubs my back in what I’m sure he means as a comforting gesture, but I stiffen all the same.
“Sorry, Vinna, I keep forgetting that you don’t like to be touched.”
I ignore the incorrect observation, not bothering to enlighten him. It’s not that I don’t like to be touched, I’m honestly just not used to it. Beth never touched me unless it was to punish me, and since I’ve been on my own, I focused only on training and fighting. I’m affectionate with Talon now, but it took time for him to earn my trust.
My eyes flit all over the room, not sure where they want to land. To my right, a beautiful cream colored limestone fireplace takes up most of the wall. Across from the fireplace is a humongous, black four-poster bed with a tall arched headboard that sits on top of a colorful rug in gray, purple, pink, and blue hues. The bed is covered in grayish purple bedding, with different textured pillows in the same color, stylishly placed at the head of the bed. The wall that the headboard sits against is the same gray stone that’s on the outside of the house, and it makes the room feel old and warm.
A collection of small canvases hang above the headboard, and they artfully come together to create a picture of a pixelated peony. Tall windows brighten the room, and another set of doors lead out to a private balcony.
My hands come up to my mouth as I turn to the left to see a sitting area with a cream colored couch complete with two matching chairs, centered around another colorful rug. They face a huge TV mounted to the upper part of the wall, with built-in black bookshelves below it. I gawk at everything, rendered speechless.
“Welcome home, Little Badass.”
A knock sounds at the door, and Evrin sticks his head in with a shy smile.
“We brought your things up," he tells me and pushes open the door. He whistles as he enters the room and Silva follows in behind him.
“Wow, the sisters really put in work," Silva exclaims, looking around as impressed as I am.
They drop off the boxes, and we all stand around awkwardly, staring at each other.
“Anyway, we’ll leave you to get settled,” Aydin finally declares.
Evrin and Silva move to leave, but Evrin stops so abruptly that Silva slams into his back.
“I’m glad you’re here, Vinna," Evrin tells me, and I regard him for a couple beats.
“Thank you, Evrin," I whisper.
He continues his exit from the room, but Silva hesitates.
“I am sorry about what happened after the beacon spell," Silva tells me. “I know things have gotten off to a horrible start, but they’ll get better.”
I offer him a small smile that ends up feeling more like a grimace. The termhorrible startfeels a little tame for how things have gone. It’s tempting to believe him, it would be nice to be wanted here, but I can’t help feeling like Birdie, Adelaide, and Lila forced this apology out of him.
Maybe I’m wrong, and I should give them the benefit of the doubt. Or perhaps I’m so desperate for a connection and guidance, that as bad as things started, it really doesn’t matter. I give an awkward wave goodbye as the three paladin leave.
As soon as the door clicks shut, I twirl around and squeal.At least there’s this. I run my hands over all the different textures in the room, inspecting the details. I walk through the frosted glass double doors just past the sitting area, and I stumble to a stop. Is this a spa or the bathroom? Vases of fresh flowers sit atop a long black vanity with two sinks, and a distinct area to lounge while putting on makeup and getting ready.
Across from the vanity is a crazy huge shower, and I spot several showerheads positioned throughout the ceiling. At the end of the long room is a behemoth-sized soaking tub with an insanely tall window above it.
“Hello, beautiful. You and I will be getting acquainted, very soon," I promise the tub.
I walk back into the bedroom and run my hands over the soft sofa and pillows. I slip out of my shoes and run my toes through the velvety fibers of the rug. I climb into the mountain of pillows on the bed and lie there, trying to process what in the hell I’m doing here.
14
Delicious smells beckon me forward as I reach the bottom of the stairs. I’m not sure what time it is since I don’t currently have a phone or own a watch. Apparently they don’t believe in clocks in this house either, because I have yet to find one. I follow my nose towards the kitchen, which I find filled with the rumbling sounds of deep laughter and animated conversation.
I passed out yesterday afternoon, and I just woke up maybe ten minutes ago in full starvation mode. I take the back way into the kitchen and find the paladin sitting at the island, enjoying a delicious looking spread laid out before them. My mouth waters, but I hesitate to interject myself on their happy breakfast. I’m about to turn around and sneak away when Birdie stops me mid-pivot.
“There you are, love, I wondered when I’d get to see that gorgeous face of yours again. Where are you going?”
I pivot back towards her which means I just full-on twirled and now look like an idiot. I don’t answer her, and I can’t seem to make my feet move forward either. Birdie gives me a sympathetic look and walks towards me.
“Here we are, love, you just sit right here, and let’s get some food in your belly. Do you like eggs benedict?”
