Red stands there, holding a wicker basket full of towels and various bottles. “I brought you some more things. Thought you might want a shower.”
“I… what?”Is he for real?
This pack is nothing like what I expected.
Red points across the hall. “Opposite side, one door down, is an enormous bathroom with an amazing shower, or bath if you prefer.”
When I still don’t reply, Red tilts his head. “How are you doing, Tobias? Really. I’ve noticed you haven’t come out of the room yet.”
I pick at the blanket.
Red sets the basket on the floor by the dresser. There’s a bright green body poof poking out from the top, tag still attached. “I imagine it’s a lot to process. But I’m here if you ever want to talk.”
He just wants me to tell them about the coven.
“It might surprise you, but I do know a little of what you’re going through,” Red says gently.
He was hurt by sadistic vampires? Right. I doubt that.
He gives me a weak smile. “The pack before this one wasn’t as… um, accepting, I guess you could say. They didn’t like that I’m half mage.”
The confession stuns me.Halfmage? Does that mean he’s half shifter too?
“You’re a… crossbreed?” I whisper.
He nods. “I barely escaped that pack’s abuse and lived as a rogue for four years before meeting my mate. Anyway, all I can say is, take it one day at a time, okay? We’ll try not to rush you. But Jasmine wanted me to mention that dinner will be ready in about an hour. So come down if you’re comfortable. If not, I’ll bring some food up soon.”
The mention of food makes my stomach growl. It’s been a long time since I ate those granola bars.
He leaves the door open on his way out.
I eye the basket in disbelief. They’ve given me food, clothes, and now towels? I reach for the basket, running my fingers over the soft blue material. They feel brand new, just like the body poof. Something silver glints in the side of the basket, and when I pull it out, my jaw drops. A razor? The pack trusted me with a razor? Aren’t they afraid I’ll cut one of them?
Then again, the tiny blades won’t do much against supernaturals, with their insane healing abilities. But still. To even offer it to me…
Gathering my courage, I walk into the hall. It’s empty, aside from an endless line of doors and a few decorative tables.
The bathroom is one door down on the opposite side, exactly like Red said. Inside, I find a porcelain tub and glass shower.So far, everything they’ve told me is true.
The white tiles and stainless steel faucets look bright and crisp against the blue-gray walls. Near the shower, three towels hang on hooks with black letters painted above them. R, I, and G.
I set the basket on the counter, then turn the water on before placing each bottle in the shower. There are a dozen bottles already, yet the bottlesRed gave me feel unused. Iseverythinghe gave me new? I struggle to wrap my head around that.
Stripping off my clothes, I set them on the toilet lid before stepping under the water. It’s hot and wonderful against my skin. I close my eyes and drop my head back, running my hands through my dark blond hair. Even with the heat, it takes a long time for me to relax, my attention fixed on the door, like someone will bust through at any second. I’d locked it, but that tiny lock will do nothing against a shifter if they really want in.
It had done nothing against the vampires either. They never gave me more than two minutes to clean up.
Taking my time, I wash up, then slip into another fresh set of clothes, which had been tucked in with the towels. The pants are a little short on me, but the shirt fits perfectly and even has long sleeves. It calms me to feel them on my wrists, hiding the ugly scars.
It’s such a simple thing, to be clean, yet it almost makes me feel like myself. The only thing left to do…
I reach for the razor and bottle of shaving cream. Every stroke is like cutting away a version of me I don’t like, revealing the one I do. I shaved at the club too, of course—the vampires forced me to take care of myself so I was presentable on stage. But to do this onmyown. Because Iwantto. Because Ican.
It almost makes me cry.
I wish I could cut my hair too, but that’ll have to wait.
Finally, I carry the basket back to my room, peeking into a few of the other rooms. The one across the hall from mine has a Black Paw poster on the wall, which immediately makes me smile. My favorite band. I wonder whose room that is.
