Page 44 of Shadows of Nightshade
“No,” I said again. He spoke from a place of concern—but still. “I can’t go to the hospital. I hate them. You’re almost a doctor, aren’t you?”
“That’s not how it works.” Julian sounded so sad.
It made my heart ache because I didn’t want to disappoint him. But he didn’t understand.
I bit my lip until the copper taste of blood filled my mouth, and goosebumps broke out all over my skin.
Damen suddenly leaned over my shoulder and wrapped the blanket more fully around my frame. I was startled and craned my neck to look at him.
Our eyes met.
I wasn’t sure what he saw, but his face grew even more serious.
“She’s scared,” he told Julian, then addressed me, “It’s all right. The only place you’re going is upstairs for a bath.” He held up a small, clear bottle.
It was sealed by a cork, and inside were various colored herbs and flower petals.
“Use this,” he said. “I’ll help you relax.”
I held on to the gift even as I protested. “I can’t take a bath. I can’t just leave you alone.”
“Go.” Damen tugged my hand until I was standing and movedbehind me. “Just take that,” he was saying, leading me to the door. “Pour it into warm water, and you’ll be fine. Make sure to soak for at least twenty minutes.”
He sure was bossy.
I glanced at Julian, but he looked away as he pointedly stayed out of the conversation. Past his initial reservations, he seemed content to let Damen handle the instructions.
“Don’t worry.” Damen stepped closer to me, whispering in my ear, so low that I could barely hear it, “I’ll talk to Julian.” I looked up at him, and he continued. “I can fill him and Titus in on our conversation earlier, so they can understand your history with Finn. Is that something you’re okay with?”
Did they always tell each other everything? Although in this instance, it made sense.
“I guess.” I sighed. I didn’t have much of a choice. “If you think it’s important.”
“Hey.” Damen gave me an even look, searching my face. I wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but he must have found it because his mouth dipped. “It’s not about what I want. It’s about what you’re comfortable sharing. I’m only suggesting this because we work as a team, and it’s better if we’re all on the same page. We’re your friends, no matter what you want to disclose.”
My face heated. This whole concept was going to take some getting used to. Heck, it hadn’t even been a day. I needed time to come to terms with everything.
My eyes focused on Damen’s necklace—the charm’s symbol was still unreadable even from this distance. “It’s all right. Honestly,” I whispered, and it was true.
“Do you want to tell them?” he asked.
My pulse spiked at the suggestion. It was an option, but I didn’t want their pity.
I shook my head. I didn’t want to know if they reacted badly.
“I don’t have to tell them at all.” Damen nudged my chin up with his forefinger, and his eyes captured mine. “But there’s nothing cowardly about relying on others. Even I have people I depend on.”
How ominous. But then again, what was it that had me already wanting to trust them? It almost felt like I’d finally found a place to belong.
Slowly, I nodded. “Please.”
“Good.” He nodded, then touched my nose. “Then take a bath,” he said. “And that’s an order.”
13
Despite Damen’sreassurances that this was okay it still felt like I was hiding from my responsibilities. However, I attempted to follow his directions.
He’d wanted me to take a bath.Relax. I had lived with anxiety for so long that I wondered if my body would even know what to do in such a state.
