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"Just down the hall," he responded, pointing to a door a little ways away.
"We’re not sleeping together?" I asked, immediately slapping my hands against my face in embarrassment. I was just surprised. It felt like I had no choice but to sleep in the same bed as Alistair. But with Ares saying that we were blood bonds, I guess I’d assumed it would be the same uncomfortable situation of us sharing a bed.
He looked surprised by my question. When I finally peeked through my fingers, he asked, amusingly, "Do you want to sleep in the same room as me?"
"No," I immediately squeaked, before groaning as his delicious laugh filled the room.
Ares took a few steps towards me, until he was standing just a few inches away. I peered up at him and his hand went to my cheek, softly stroking it in that way I was coming to recognize.
"My hope is that you will someday soon. But above all, I just want you to be comfortable. So you let me know if you ever want to switch your bedtime arrangements," he said with a wink.
My brain had ceased to function as he slowly licked his bottom lip.
"Good night, Rune," he whispered, and I swear my panties were drenched by the sexy way he’d said it.
Again, what was wrong with me? Should I have these reactions for a stranger…but nothing for my fated mate?
Maybe this was the curse? Or maybe this was how my reaction was supposed to be with my mate, and another confirmation that Ares was telling the truth.
If I kept thinking about all of this, I would get another headache.
Ares had left the room, softly closing the door behind him, and I stared at my surroundings, feeling completely off kilter…as usual lately. I decided to get ready for bed, and I was shocked to see that all of my favorite toiletries were on the counter, brand-new, making it clear he’d had them bought for me.
But wait…how would I remember that these were the toiletries I would have been using? These were not toiletries I had used in my mother's house. A glimmer of hope seeped into my veins. Did this mean parts of my memory were returning?
Before I could think anymore on it, that voice that had been haunting me filled my head, calling my name frantically in a tortured, broken tone. I fell to my knees, because his pain…felt like my pain. My head dipped forward as a shiver rushed across my skin. I waited to see if he'd say anything else, but my name was all he offered.
Despite the way things were slightly looking up, and the beautiful place I found myself in, I once again sobbed. He felt immeasurably important to me, whoeverhewas. So why wasn'thethe one saving me? Washeeven real?
Eventually I dragged myself off the floor and into the shower. I realized I still smelled like Alistair, and I wanted to get it off right then.
The shower felt like heaven. Gray marble stone on the floor and on the walls, and a giant waterfall showerhead above and in front of me, creating a perfect experience. After I got out, I finished preparing for bed, lathering on some lotion and brushing my teeth. When I walked into the closet, there were also racks filled with clothing still containing tags. But a key difference between Alistair's closet, and this one, was that these were all clothes I would love to wear, ranging from comfortable to tastefully sexy. Nothing that made me want to set my eyes on fire or threatened to show my nipples.
I found a sleep set with a tank top and shorts made of the softest material I'd ever touched. I dragged them on, sighing in relief at the feel of the fabric on my skin, and celebrating the fact that I wouldn't have to smell like Alistair, and I wouldn't have to wear lingerie.
I celebrated even more the fact that I didn't have to deal with his wandering hands.
For a moment, I wondered if he'd woken up yet, and realized he was in a cell. But as I searched my heart, I couldn't find anything that resembled pity for him. The side of him he'd shown in the garden…the side he'd shown glimpses of throughout my time with him, I knew for a fact he was a terrible person.
I slid under the covers, sighing at how comfortable it felt, and ignoring the way that my wolf was demanding I call Ares to the room.
And as I fell asleep that night, for the first time since that first night in Alistair's bed…I didn't dream.
CHAPTER 10
ARES
Ididn't require much sleep, so my right hand man, Connor, knew it was all right to stop in around midnight. I appreciated him giving me some time to settle back in, although the process wasn't quite as seamless as usual considering I couldn't stop thinking about Rune. Wondering if she was comfortable, wondering what she thought of the place…wondering if she was going to suspect anything.
I knew I was playing a dangerous game. But I couldn't help it. As I sat there in the car with her, her scent enveloping me, I felt like I was losing my mind. The idea of going back and sharing her with Daxon and Wilder, and them doing their best to push me away before I really had any source of standing in her heart…I couldn't do it.
A dark part of me wanted to keep her away from them forever, but if she did remember things, I could only imagine the pain she'd experienced being without them, the same paintheyno doubt were experiencing right now.
But something had told me this was my chance. If I didn't get her to fall in love with me now, I was never going to. That wasn't a chance I could risk. So I did what I had to, and I stole her away.
I assumed they would eventually find us, but I'd sworn to myself that after a couple of months, if it wasn't working, I'd return her back to them…and this time I’d let her go.
I knew that would mean spending my life pining for her, wishing and being miserable without her, but I would do that if it was what she wanted.
