“Horrible,” Vanessa finished for me, her features softening with understanding.
“Yes,” I admitted. “Now, I realize that although I still don’t know the truth, and the contradiction of it all makes my brain hurt, it’s time for me to see the world with my own eyes, not through the warped lens theShadow Born Packforced on me. I want to learn about who you are from you and my own experiences with all of you… I never should I called you that, and I’m truly sorry I hurt you.”
Vanessa’s grey eyes glistened with my words, causing mine to sting in response, until she slowly nodded. “That sounded like a damn good apology to me.”
“Thank the Goddess,” I breathed, and she chuckled.
“Apology accepted,” Vanessa offered, wiping the tears that escaped her eyes. “I’m going to hug you now because forgiveness needs to be sealed with a good hug.”
“Oookay,” I whispered, watching that sweet smile of hers curve her lips until her eyes twinkled.
I wasn’t going to lie, my first reaction when she hugged me was to fully tense at the notion of a living, breathing Vampire touching me. She ignored it, her arms wrapping around me and squeezing the life out of me. Her embrace was warm and affectionate, and it reminded me of Isis’.
Although I found it hard to return the hug, I didn’t pull away, allowing myself to feel her.
My entire body was rigid by the time she pulled away. “I just need some time to get used to?—”
“I know… but this is progress,” Vanessa assured, seeming content with our exchange. When her gaze shifted to my head, she sighed. “Now, let’s fix that hair…” pausing, she smiled at me with kindness. “We can do our makeup too if you want?”
She didn’t mention the scar on my eye, or even look at it, but somehow, she’d known I needed that to feel better.
“I’d love some makeup. Thank you.”
12
Meeting me outside Vanessa’s room, Dante took my hand in his, and the three of us headed toward the kitchen. Still, my steps slowed when we reached my room. The door was no longer splintered. It looked like it had never cracked.
“Yeah, sorry about that,” Vanessa mumbled. “I’m never that…spirited.”
“It’s okay.” I shrugged. “My uncle cracked my door back in the village more times than I can count. He was always enraged at me for one thing or another. Isis just rebuilt it every time.”
Dante and Vanessa exchanged a glance, mixed feelings clouding their gazes, resentment being the strongest one.
“It’s fine. I mean, Ryker always said I deserved it for defying him. So… it was on me.”
“No.” The simple word echoed resolutely in the hallway. Dante’s assurance was absolute. “It wasneveron you, Natasha. You didn’t deserve anything he did to you.”
His words left no room for contradiction, which honestly, killed the little voice in my mind that had always said everything was my fault. The voice Ryker had masterfully planted in me, tokeep me submissive. Glancing at Vanessa for confirmation, she offered me a kind, yet pained smile.
“No one deserves to be punished for simply wanting to show the world who they truly are. To become what they know in their heart is their truth. You just wanted to be yourself, regardless of how different that looked from those surrounding you, and you hadeveryright to do so. There is nothing wrong with that, Natasha. Being different is the most beautiful thing anyone can be.”
Emotion reached my throat with her words because she had no idea what she’d just touched in me. Still, I swallowed it because it was what I’d always done to survive. I hid what I truly felt, so I wouldn’t seem weak. So, I wouldn’t give those eager to see me down the satisfaction. Just like Isis had shown me.
Tension grew between us, but they didn’t say anything more, allowing me the time I needed and respecting my silence.
Focusing on the door, I successfully pushed everything else aside. “Did you fix it with your magic?” I asked Dante, my finger tracing the phantom split of the wood.
“No… Bjørn did. He’s back.”
Bjørn… My head whipped toward Dante. Bjørn was back. “Does that mean that Isis…?” The question died on my lips with his gloomy expression.
“I’m sorry… He hasn’t found her yet. But he won’t stop until he does.”
“He’ll find her even if it’s the last thing he ever does,” Vanessa assured. “Trust me.”
My heart sank as fast as it had lifted, but I nodded, still grateful that knowing how much she meant to me, they were searching for her.
Our steps resumed, but soon, I found myself captivated by the room right after mine.
