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I had zero shame about my body, but the thought of someone secretly watching me while I bathed creeped me the fuck out.
I grabbed a washcloth and scrubbed it along my skin as quickly as I could, and then I got the hell out.
A large, bright red towel hung on a bar next to the tub. I snatched it as I stood and wrapped the towel around my waist, not caring that I was getting water everywhere and soaking the towel. I walked over to the sink, resting my hands along the edge.
It wasn’t just me that was creeped out—my wolf was, too. He was pushing me to let him out, which was bad. At this point, taking a break from being human and letting him free for a bit sounded amazing, but I couldn’t. I’d never let him have free rein before, and I wouldn’t start now.
I closed my eyes and took a breath. The little beast said that Ziriel wanted to talk, and I needed to be human to do that. I wasn’t going to be trapped here forever. Once I had what I needed, I’d leave and never come back. And when I was gone, we’d go for a nice long run in the woods.
That made my wolf quiet for a bit, but the mirror revealed that my eyes were still glowing light blue. My wolf was still there peeking out at me, but I was in control. I was always in control, and it would stay that way.
Rubbing my hand down my cheek, I thought about shaving, but I wanted out of the room more. Plus, even if I could stand the few minutes it’d take, I’d need to figure out how to burn the hair. I couldn’t trust that putting it down the drain was enough to get rid of it when even the tiniest hair was enough to make a spell.
There were a ton of elastics in a little container by the sink. I took my mess of wet, wavy blond hair and pulled the top portion back. I needed a cut, but that wasn’t happening today. For now, I just needed it out of my eyes. I couldn’t fight as a human if it was in the way.
There was a pile of neatly folded clothes next to the sink. A gray T-shirt. A pair of black jeans. Pretty nondescript, which was good. I pulled on the clothes quickly, and then grabbed the socks.
The little beast was waiting for me just beyond the door into the bedroom. He’d made the bed and was fluffing the pillows.
The little beast disappeared for a second, before popping right back up in front of me. “You’re ready!”
I took a step back to keep from touching it and held out the socks like a barrier. “Just need my shoes.”
“Oh, you don’t need those.” Its voice trailed off a bit.
I looked where I’d left my shoes, but they were gone. What was the little beast up to? “I’d rather have them.” I didn’t leave any room for negotiation in my voice.
The little beast hadn’t told me his name, and I hadn’t figured out a way to ask without having to talk to him more. That wasn’t fucking happening. I had to fight the urge to kick him every time he came near me, but I know I shouldn’t. Kicking someone smaller than me was stupid. Especially when there was a massive possibility that he was actually dangerous and I had zero clue what his abilities could be.
But I really wanted to know why was he hanging around my room.
The little beast pulled the nightstand away from the wall, grabbing my shoes from behind it.
It hid my shoes? Weird. I wanted to be creeped out all over again—and I was to a degree—but I was confused more than anything.
I took my shoes from its outstretched hand and shook out a pile of sand from each before pulling them on. I still couldn’t believe I
was in the desert, but then I also knew I shouldn’t be surprised. I knew very little about the fey. After Cosette and Van pulled me out of the pit and killed my pack, it took me a while to get my shit together. Years. I’d been lost and scared and not sure of what to do with my life. Figuring out about the pixie and the fey and the bargain I’d made… That hadn’t been on my radar. Not until after I’d run into Adrian.
“Come. Come. Stop sitting! There is food. Food! We are late! Late!” The little beast bounced with each repeated word.
I shook my head at the little beast’s antics. Most of the time it reminded me of an anxious toddler, but then sometimes, it was terrifying. The deep voice it used before I took my bath made me think there was much more to the little beast than I thought. “Lead the way.”
It ran through the stone door like it wasn’t there, but when I put my hand on the stone, it was still as hard and impermeable as ever.
The little beast reappeared. “I forgot. I forgot! Hold hands.”
I looked down at the offered hand. It looked more like a tangle of pointy, spiny fingers. Did I really need food?
Damn it.
I eased my hand around its fingers, trying to keep the wince from my face, but I was fucking failing. They were thinner than they looked and a little slimy and no part of me wanted to touch the little beast unless I was killing it.
But killing it would be bad.
Cosette. This was for Cosette.
The little beast tightened its grip on my hand and I couldn’t help the shudder that ran through me.
