Page 60 of Forsaken

He scowls. “You should be afraid. I have tried to kill you twice.” He shrugs. “I had to make it look like an accident both times.”

“Your attempts sucked.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve got a better way.”

The thread of violence through his voice makes me sit up and take notice. He kneels next to me, and I veer as far away from him as I can, but since I’m tethered to this sink, there’s nowhere to go. His scent wafts over me, and I wrinkle my nose. I used to dream about his fragrance. It was the best smelling thing in the world. That’s completely gone now, and not just because I’m not attracted to him anymore. His body odor game is raw and strong, like he hasn’t bathed in a few days.

His fingers work on the knots, and I press my lips together. “What are you doing?”

“Letting you free to eat. Your friend is coming over so you can get ready for the ball together.”

Disbelief colors my words. “Kinsey is coming here?”

Sean pulls away, tracing his thumb along my jaw. “Of course. I told her you were already in the shower so you couldn’t come to the phone when she called, but she’s very excited.”

I slap his hand away. “I doubt she believed you.”

“Not my problem if she didn’t. It was pretty clever of you to make such high-powered friends, though. I didn’t realize shifters with Kinsey’s stature were sent to the academy.”

He has no idea how Kinsey grew up. He’s only assuming since she was paired with Jonah that she had some fantasy childhood, but that’s not the case.

Giving my head a quick pat, he smirks down at me. “You better eat and take that shower so you don’t make me look like a liar.”

I stand, shoving him back. Now that I’m on two feet again, I realize it would’ve been very difficult to shift in here anyway. There’s so little room, and I would’ve had to basically claw my way through the door to escape, which would’ve just drawn attention to us. “You’ve lost it,” I tell him. “Sean, let your wolf back in.”

“So he can be with you?” he snarls. “No.”

“I don’t give a fuck about being with you,” I snap back. “You need your wolf to feel whole again. You’re not thinking clearly. Tying me up the whole night, pacing...”

“I needed to make sure you stayed out of my hair while I came up with a plan.”

“And a locked door with a bed wasn’t an option?”

He tilts his head, then replies simply. “No.” He turns, leaving the room and almost kicking the bowl of dry cereal over. “Don’t try anything.”

I swoop down and grab the bowl, shoving the circular carbs into my mouth. It appeases my restless stomach as soon as I swallow. If only things were different, I’d try “anything” in a heartbeat. However, I’m a rejected shifter, so naturally, I’m the untrustworthy one. No matter the circumstances, we’re trash. Bringing what’s happening to someone’s attention would crucify me. No one would believe that a mate could do what Sean’s done. Everyone would assume I’m lying because I’m the cast off. We’re all pegged as desperate and damn near derelict. Just look at Robbie.

Not even Kinsey and Jonah can help me fully.

The floor creaks as I step out, shoveling another handful of cereal into my mouth as the aroma of bacon wafts from the kitchen. “The bathroom is the next door over,” Sean offers. When he moves, I spy a plate of eggs, toast, and bacon in front of him. Oh well. I’d rather eat dry cereal by myself than be forced to eat a nice meal in his presence.

I take the bowl right into the bathroom with me, leaving him and his basic apartment behind. Everything looks new, but it’s also cheaply made if you look close enough. It’s kind of like Sean himself. Pretty on the outside, but obviously someone fucked up when they were making up the inside.

Twisting the knob for the shower, I turn the hot water on. Black soot still clings to my arms, a stark contrast against the all-white shower. While I wait for the water to heat, I eat the rest of the cereal. My stomach still hurts, but I set the bowl aside, undress, and step into the spray.

Black splatters spray the shower wall, but I don’t bother cleaning it as I focus on my skin. Smoke still clings to my lungs, the dry taste of bitter, acrid char coating my cheeks and tongue. I open my mouth to the spray, swish water around, and spit it out.

It’s a little better, but not much. I have a feeling I might need to gargle with alcohol to take it away completely.

After rinsing, I step out onto the bathmat. A robe hangs behind the door, so I take it off the hook and pull it on. I’m not about to go anywhere in this house naked. Combing my hair through with my fingers, I wring out the excess water in the sink and then place a bit of toothpaste on my finger to brush my teeth. Luckily, the taste in my mouth is getting better and better.

Looking through Sean’s drawers for some mouthwash to really do the job, I spot his toothbrush. Pulling it out, I smile at it before walking to the toilet and dunking it into the bowl. “There, you fucker,” I whisper.

It won’t make up for my attempted murder, but when he cleans up, I’ll smile knowing he put toilet water in his mouth. I briefly think about peeing on it…and decide why the fuck not? That’s even better revenge. I pull up the robe and squat over the seat, snickering to myself. Afterward, I walk it carefully back over to the drawer before dropping it in the same exact spot I found it.

There’s just something about my little act of revenge that makes me feel a little lighter after everything that’s gone on.

I’m full-on smiling when I leave the bathroom and make my way toward the kitchen. He’s finishing his breakfast, sliding his empty plate into the sink.

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