And Rynn had seen it.
“Fuck,” I repeated, my voice still deeper than normal, but the word came out clearer this time. “I’m so sorry, Rynn.”
I waited for her to tell me to get the fuck out, to demand answers, but Rynn tenderly touched her neck and winced slightly.
“Was my snoring really that bad?” she asked wryly.
I just looked at her.
Slowly, Rynn got up and scooted across the bed till she knelt in front of me, her knees touching mine. I looked away from her to stare at the bloody pillow. I could’ve fucking killed her. My reason for never falling asleep with someone after fucking was partly because I didn’t want them to form attachments, but it was also because of this. It had been years since I’d had a nightmare this bad, so I hadn’t thought much of it with Rynn, but her fucked-up family situation must’ve gotten to me more than I’d realized.
I was such a fucking idiot. What if I had killed her in Narchis territory? It would’ve been a fucking disaster. Not to mention, some part of me recoiled at the idea of Rynn dying. She may not have been a part of my pack, but she was just so . . . Rynn. I’d never forgive myself if she died at my hand.
Rynn reached out to touch my face, but I flinched.
“Don’t,” I growled.
“Don’t tell me what to do,” Rynn snapped back, and then her hands were on my face. She cupped my jaw while her thumb ran over my cheekbones. “You make a beautiful monster, Bastian,” she said, and there wasn’t a hint of mockery in it.
As if of their own volition, my eyes turned away from the blood-soaked pillow to look at her. I thought for sure I would see the lie in her eyes, but she was tracing the new lines of my face without a hint of fear or disgust.
“You’re something else, Princess,” I rasped and leaned a little more into her touch.
“Need I remind you that my best friend is Calypso Rayne?” A small grin played across her lips. “Also known as the most terrifying Furie in existence? Samara and I have been there when Cali’s lost her temper. A Furie in their true form is something else.”
I didn’t doubt it. While I’d seen Furies lose themselves to their rage and spiral into madness, only one had transformed into the beast they kept chained in their soul. We didn’t know why some Furies transformed and others didn’t. What was impressive was that Cali had done it . . . and come back from it.
The fact that she hadn’t hurt Samara or Rynn didn’t surprise me. I’d heard whispers of Calypso Rayne since the moment she’d come into her power. That she would be the death of us all when she lost it.
Not if. When.
But Velesians ran on instincts, and I’d met Cali in person at Drudonia when visiting Rynn. I was absolutely certain she would not falter . . . as long as nothing happened to her best friends. They were what kept her from slipping into darkness, I was sure of it.
“Cali would never hurt you.”
Rynn blinked. “I tell people that all the time and they look at me like I’m crazy.”
I shrugged. “Most people are fools.” One of my hands wandered to her neck, my fingers hovering over the now-healed wounds. My claws were still stained with her blood and the upper half of her body was covered in it as well.
It could have been so much worse. My throat tightened.
“I was more concerned with waking you than getting you off me,” she said gently. “But trust me, Charming, if I wanted to, I could’ve.” Rynn’s brows furrowed slightly. “Who is Reed? I couldn’t make out most of what you said, but you repeated that name several times.”
It felt like my heart stopped beating for a moment.
“Let me get you a towel to clean up,” I said roughly while rolling off the bed before she could push me for more answers I wasn’t willing to give. It was the past, and that was where it needed to stay. Plus, it was a vulnerability, and one did not share those with anyone unless you wanted them used against you.
My family had taught me that.
I walked into the small washroom attached to the bedroom and looked into the mirror above the wash basin. A monster looked back. One that had my familiar green eyes, just brighter. Unnaturally so. Like they were lit from within. My already cut cheekbones were even more prominent, and they framed a nose that was blunt and more feline-looking. Thanks to the oversized fangs, my mouth had widened as well.
Everything combined together made me look perfectly at home with the monsters of Lunaria. She called you beautiful, a voice whispered.
Whatever Rynn saw in me, I sure as fuck didn’t. Closing my eyes, I focused on my breathing and calming my still too fast heart rate. Another voice chimed in. One that wasn’t mine. Nor was it Rynn’s.
Just listen to my heart and the way it’s steadily and slowly beating. You are safe. You are here with me. You are safe, Bas.
I welcomed the slow burn of bone and muscle rearranging. Usually, shifting was instantaneous and relatively painless, but this one always hurt. After a few seconds, the pain subsided and I opened my eyes. A sigh slipped from my lips as my normal face peered back at me from the mirror. It was slightly paler than usual, but no more monster. I glanced at my hands, and dull human nails had replaced the claws, although they were still stained with blood.
