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Not that I’m falling for him. That would be well and truly crazy. So what if he’s witty and sarcastic? And reads almost as much as I do?
Koda is cruel. Isn’t he? The man, excuse me, shifter, tossed me in a cell because he doesn’t want me to be his mate. Whatever the fuck all that means.
Deep down, I know he’s not cruel. Not really. Not like my father. Koda wouldn’t hurt me. He told me as much on that first day. Plus, we sort of shared a moment yesterday after I spilled my guts about my tragic family. Koda played with my hair and gently, so damn gently traced the scar on my temple.
Someone that tender couldn’t be capable of harming me like my father did. I get the sense that Koda also had a monster for a father. He didn’t have to tell me, it was written all over his face. I could see the way his stance changed, his muscles tensing as he clenched his jaw. Koda said his father was strict. I instinctively knew that was code for abusive. It was for me, too, for many years.
I hear footsteps on the stairs, pulling me from my confusing thoughts. My palms start to sweat as my heart rate picks up. I try to appear casual on my cot as I wait for him to appear. Instead of Koda coming up the stairs though, it’s one of the kitchen helpers who has been delivering my meals the last few days.
“Hey,” I greet her with a friendly smile as I stand up.
She has a small tray of tea and cookies with her, and I frown.
“No dinner today?” I ask her. She smiles.
“It’s only three, but I was told to bring you a snack and to take you downstairs to one of the guest rooms.”
My eyebrows rise at her words. I’m going to a guest room? Why?
“What’s changed?” I ask her. The woman just shrugs.
“I don’t know, miss. I was just told to bring this up to you and to help you get ready in the guest room.”
“Please, call me Salem.”
She nods, taking out a key, and I watch as she unlocks the door. This almost feels like a trap as I step past the bars, but I’d do anything to get out of that jail cell.
The maid leads me down the staircase and I keep glancing around, waiting for Koda to step out and tell me this was all a joke or something. We reach the second floor and she leads me down the hall to an empty bedroom. It seems that most of the bedrooms are empty and I wonder if Koda really lives in this big castle all by himself.
That must be lonely.
I banish the thought as soon as I have it, but the lingering curiosity and sadness swirl in the back of my mind. King Koda isn't who I thought he would be.
Two more maids are waiting in the room next to a row of dresses. I look around the space and all I want to do is curl up in the king-size bed and sleep for the next twelve hours. The cot up in the tower was like a torture device, and I haven't been sleeping great the last few nights.
“The bath is ready, miss,” one of the girls says as she walks over to a doorway on the left side of the room.
“Oh… great.” I head into the bathroom, taking in the deep clawfoot tub filled with steaming water and tons of bubbles.
There’s a clean change of pajamas on the counter for when I’m done, and I turn to smile at the maid.
“Would you like help undressing?” she asks. I blink, shocked.
“What? No! No, I’ve got it. Thank you though.”
"We'll be right out here if you need anything, miss."
I nod and she backs out of the room, leaving me alone in the bathroom. I glance at the window above the bathtub, wondering if I could fit through it. We're on the second floor, so I'd have to find a way to climb down, but this could be my only chance to get out of here.
The bath should go to waste though…
I strip, sighing as I step into the water. It’s the perfect temperature, and as I sink into the bubbles, I let my mind clear and my sore muscles relax. Soaking up every last bit of luxury, I stay in the water until it turns cold and most of the bubbles disappear.
As I stand up in the tub, I take another look at the window. Now that I’m closer, I think I could fit out of it. Glancing outside, I see a tree with branches growing next to the castle roof.
This must be my lucky day. I step out of the tub, drying off and trying to be as quiet as I can as I pull on the clean pajamas. They fit perfectly. I slip my shoes back on and climb up onto the side of the tub.
I balance there, easing the window open slowly. It creaks and I freeze, listening for any sounds that the women in the room heard. It’s silent, so I continue to slide the window open.
