Page 49 of Blood and Thorns
“Elena…” he growled, and she was unable to hide her flinch when he reached over. Stepping back, he gave her a little more space. “This way,” he said, his voice gentler.
I looked at Caden, who’d clenched his jaw so tight I wasn’t sure whether he was about to break a tooth. I followed them both towards my room, watching how Caden always kept a gap of air between himself and Elena.
As soon as we reached my bedroom he paused, allowing Elena to move forward. She stepped inside and immediately dropped her suitcase with a thump.
“Perfect,” she hummed, the earlier commotion seemingly forgotten. Bending down, she unzipped the suitcase to reveal folded fabrics, a sewing machine, and other strange instruments I couldn’t name. “I’ve brought you some underwear.”
That was it. Elena was my new best friend.
Reaching for the bag she held out, I checked through the numerous lace pieces in my size, and of course all in black. “Thank you.”
“Elena’s here to make you a new wardrobe,” Caden said, leaning against the door. His tone clearly indicated his displeasure of playing babysitter, and I took some sick amusement in that. But he still kept his voice quiet.
“Thanks for the escort,” Elena said, smiling over at Caden. When he remained where he was, she pursed her lips. “I’m going to ask Ara to undress.”
“I’ll be out here if you need me,” he grumbled, disappearing down the hallway.
Elena closed the door anyway, her smile still in place once she’d turned back to me.
“Do you and Caden have a history?” I asked, sensing a warmth between them despite her flinching. Pulling off my dress, I held it to my front. Luckily I’d handwashed my underwear, so I wasn’t completely nude with a woman I’d only met a few minutes ago. I had some standards.
“With Caden?” Elena laughed, reaching out for my dress so she could place it neatly on my bed. “No, definitely not. I don’t think my husband would be too pleased.”
Elena would be around the same height as me if not for her heels. She held herself with such elegance, everymovement as delicate as her. Taking some measuring tape, she held it across my body.
“Do you need help?” she whispered, her expression serious when she met my eyes.
“Help?”
“I can get you out of here,” she added carefully.
I laughed, the sound a little on edge. “I can’t leave.”
“Seriously, I know they’re scary, but I can ask–”
“No,” I cut in, ignoring the way my stomach twisted. I couldn’t leave. Not yet. Not until I figured out what I really wanted. This damn debt still hung over me like a noose, and the truth was, I was scared.
Scared that if I ran, Sebastian would follow.
And I wasn’t sure what terrified me more. The thought of him chasing me, or the part of me thatwantedhim to just because he made me feel less… hollow.
Elena gently touched the bruise on my ribs, the colour a lovely yellow.
“Sebastian didn’t do that.” In fact, he hadn’t really hurt me at all.
For such a gentle woman, her eyes of pale blue had hardened to ice. “Then who?”
I swallowed, surprised with the change. “They’re dead.”
After a moment she nodded, as if approving. “Even bad guys need to fear someone. I hope he made it hurt.”
Okay, bloodthirsty was not a character trait I’d expected from her.
“How do you know Sebastian?” I asked, holding out my arms when asked so she could measure. “He doesn’t seem the person to have many friends.” Not that I really knew him more than the man who wore a mask. Even without his mask he spoke very little, his eyes always watching me with an intensity I didn’t know how to deal with.
“He was acquaintances with my stepbrothers.” Her skinpaled a little, the colour draining from her face. “They weren’t good guys, so I went to Sebastian.”
“You asked Sebastian for help?” I clarified.
