I follow her and Nils up the stairs and down a long hall until we reach room 223.
“This one is yours,” he says, handing me the key.
“Okay,” I say, more focused on what—or rather, who—might be waiting for me inside.
Thankfully, no one is here, either.
I guess since it’s the middle of the day, most students would be in classes.
“Ooh, very nice,” Emilía says.
Relieved, I look around at the sofa with a coffee table. Behind it is a dining table and chairs. I doubt I’ll use either. “Why do we have suites anyway when the witches share rooms?”
Nils shakes his head. “Berserkir need their own bedrooms, as a precaution.”
I suddenly wish I hadn’t asked. “Right, I… I guess that makes sense,” I say weakly, glancing down at my nails again.
Still pink and round.
No claws.
Yet.
Either way, I’m glad to have a room to myself. Since I was expelled, I’ve spent the past three weeks living in fear around my foster family. I didn’t want to lose control again. I didn’t want Jim and Patricia to see me like that. Or worse, Bea.
Maybe precautions are what I need.
Just like Bea’s suite, only one door is ajar. The room feels too big for just me. There’s a twin-sized bed, a wardrobe, a desk, and a dresser. The furniture all seems like actual wood, a big step up from the IKEA I had in my childhood bedroom. It’s strange having something that’s all mine.
Emilía’s phone chimes. She frowns as she stares at her screen. “Sorry, I have to go help the headmistress with the Unity Celebration. It was so great meeting you though. Hey, why don’t we swap numbers?”
She hands me her phone. Emilía and Nils both seem so nice. Neither of them judged me for being a berserkr. I’m grateful they were my tour guides and not someone like Amund. I’m surehewould judge me if he knew. I finish punching my number in and hand her phone back.
Emilía grins. “You’re going to love it here. See you later!”
With that, she hurries off.
“Well, guess I’ll leave you to it.” Nils hesitates on his way to the door, shoving a hand through his curls like he’s gathering his courage. “Unless you’d like some help unpacking?”
“I’m good, but thank you.” I smile, and I think it’s actually a real one. “You’ve already helped me a lot.”
Nils nods. “Then I’ll see you around, Edith.”
CHAPTER FOURAMUND
Gods, it’s been a long day.
The stiff mattress does nothing to help my aching muscles. Rolling over makes my still-tender rib throb. I have Father to thank for that. He broke it while we were sparring weeks ago, and it hasn’t fully healed. It isn’t the first injury he’s given me, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.
Gritting my teeth, I try to focus on anything other than the pain. Like the witch I met this morning.Edith. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her and the way she smiled at me. She seemed so grateful we scared off the berserkir. Seeing her and her sister reminded mewhyI hunt.
To protect people.
For the first time in a long time, I felt good about myself. Edith was so warm and welcoming, she disarmed me. Those steel-gray eyes of hers were as beautiful as any blade. My heart jumped when our gazes met. No one has ever looked at me like that.
Not with fear but admiration.
For a moment, it seemed like she might be interested in me.
