“What happens now?” I ask, shifting to try and find a comfortable spot for my shackled wrists against the wall of his room.
“Now, we go back to the Crux,” he says, not meeting my eye. “Captain Thora and Arlon will decide what to do with you from there.”
Once he’s finished thoroughly rifling through my things, he stands to look down at me. “On your feet. Turn around and face the wall.”
I warily obey as I say, “I don’t have anything else on me.”
Nik gives me a look before a firm hand on my shoulder spins me. My chest bumps the stone as he starts to search me, unfastening my cloak before he feels through my pockets.
“Hold on, if you’re gonna manhandle me, let me help,” I snap, annoyance replacing my dread. I thrust my ass back at him, bowing my back and more firmly putting my face against the stone.
Nik jumps back in surprise before he clears his throat. “Right. You’re good.”
“Yeah, no shit.” He doesn’t stop me as I turn and sink to sit on the floor again, careful of my shackled wrists.
Nik avoids my eyes as he starts to repack my things. I watch without really seeing him, trying to weigh my options. And there are few. Plead with him, or get away, and I’m not betting on the second when he’s already got my spells.
“So, what, you’re just gonna leave me shackled? I got a fucked arm, Nik. At least fasten them in front of me.” It’s an exaggeration, but no matter how good of a job Galiva did when fixing my drawing arm, it’s not happy to stay wrenched behind me for too long.
Nik doesn’t even look at me. Instead, he finishes repacking my things before there’s a knock on the door. He answers it, and Janessa gives me a furtive look before saying, “Bath’s ready.”
He nods before he comes over and helps me to my feet. I’m led a few doors down before Nik finally unlocks the shackles. I rub my wrists before he gives me a nudge inside of the washroom. He half closes the door before thrusting one hand through expectantly.
“Give me your clothes.”
“Thought we already established that I’m not carrying anything else.”
“I know you’re not,” he says before flapping his fingers impatiently.
Only then do I notice the large window that faces the now-dark woods. The shutters would be easy to open, the drop manageable with caution. But I can only imagine one scenario where I would want to go running around naked in the woods, and it’s not with Nik. Besides, it’s started sleeting, a mix of ice and rain whispering against the window.
I undress with a sigh before I hand him the bundle of clothes. Nik takes it all before thrusting his hand back in. “Your boots.”
I roll my eyes but hand them out all the same. “Enjoy the stink,” I mutter before I snap the washroom door closed. I head to the steaming wooden tub and sink in far quicker than I should. I let out a yelp, my cold hands and feet struggling to adjust to the heat.
Nik clears his throat before calling through the door. “Holler when you’re done.”
I silently flip a rude gesture before I settle into the water. Letting me bathe is a kindness he doesn’t owe me, but I’m set on being angry. I scrub myself with a soapstone until my skin’s pink before soaking until the water goes cold.
I’m just about to muster the energy to get up when there’s a knock on the door. Nik doesn’t wait to open it, yet when I look over, he’s only holding my spare set of clothes through the crack.
“Leave ‘em. I’m not done yet.”
Nik snorts. “Nice try. Time to get out. We got an early morning.”
I petulantly linger for a moment longer before I heave myself out of the tub and snatch my clothes from his hand. I dry off and get dressed, though I can’t help but notice that Nik failed to give me back my boots. I open the door, barefooted, to find him waiting for me. He goes to grab my arm, but I step back.
“If you wanna hold hands, you gotta ask.”
Nik rolls his eyes. “This is gonna be a long trip home with that attitude. I didn’t want to come up here in the first place, you know.”
“And you think I did?” I scowl but lead the way back to his room. He looms just behind me, like he’s ready to grab me if I attempt to run for it.
“Then why did you?” he asks.
I swallow the knot in my throat. “Because I’ve got to find her.”
Nik scoffs. “Your mother? It’s a lost cause, Dom. I heard enough of your talk with the innkeeper that even I can see that.”
