Page 45 of Mate Me

“Yes,” she answered in exasperation. “And I would like to change your sheets and make your bed now, so ...”

“Right.” I got out of bed, moving out of her way as she began to silently pull off the sheets. She wasn’t outwardly aggressive, but something had clearly transpired between us, and I wanted to remedy the situation. I subtly lifted my chin and scented the air. She was a shifter, but I wasn’t sure which kind. A note of pine was there, earthy, with a final sharpness that reminded me of a winter frost. I've never smelled such a combination before, which ruled out all the ordinary breeds of shifters that I was familiar with.

It was an unspoken rule back home that we didn’t ask what kind of animal someone shifted into. It was considered rude, and I wondered if the same sort of rule applied in Tartarus. Jana already didn’t seem to like me, so instead of potentially sticking my foot in my mouth, I thought it best to not ask.

Looking around for my satchel, it was nowhere to be found. My heart skipped a beat. “Jana, do you know where my bag went by chance?”

She lifted her eyebrows at me, seemingly unimpressed, before pointing to the bathroom door on the opposite wall. “It’s by the tub.”

I opened my mouth to thank her, but her frosty demeanor was too much for me to ignore. “Have I done something to offend you?”

She stopped, turning to face me. “No, miss.”

I hummed. “See, I would believe you, except you seem put out by my being here. I assure you, it’s not by choice. I’m sorry for intruding on your space or whatever is happening that’s caused?—”

Jana scoffed, pursing her lips with a subtle shake of her head. “Unbelievable,” she muttered.

“What?” I asked, caught off guard.

She schooled her features, and smoothed out the smock that covered her uniform. “Our king is a good man. He’s kind, and generous, and treats his subjects well. Then there’s you.”

“Me?” I repeated, completely taken aback by the force of her words. “What the hell have I done? You don’t even know me.”

“Word travels fast here, miss. And your words? They traveled quite quickly. We all know you’re his mate, and we all know you’ve had no problem shutting him down in public. You didn’t even give him a chance.” She sighed, appraising me from head to toe. “Isobel was right. He deserves so much better than you.”

My jaw dropped, and I stood there, unable to defend myself. Too much had just been said for me to even process it. He came to my world with the intention of killing me.Hewas a good man?Hedeserved better? I was the shithead in their scenario?

How dare they.

I’d been dragged to Tartarus and cajoled into staying here for six months. I was being held hostage. These people had blinders on. After mentally counting to ten, I gathered my thoughts.

“Look, Jana,” I began, knowing full well my voice was terse. “I actually agree with you. He deserves someone else. I understand your allegiance to Caius, or whatever it is you want to call it. There are things at play here you and Isobel and everyone else don’t understand. If you don’t mind, I’d like some privacy now.” I pointedly gestured to the door.

Jana narrowed her eyes and her nostrils flared, but she curtsied and did as I’d asked.

I scrubbed my hands down my face and groaned, turning toward the bathroom. Last night I was too tired to do much of anything. My clothes were clean enough, but my body still had a layer of grime on it left over from my dying episode. If I could smell myself, everyone else could too.

Cold tile floors nipped at my bare feet. The bathroom was elegant, but dark, and inside a dozen candles had been lit. A large basin was already filled to the brim, with a selection of soaps and bottles on the edge. I dipped my knuckles in to find the water was as frigid as the floor.

This place just keeps getting better, I thought to myself.

Quickly scrubbing my body first, I managed to figure out which bottle was shampoo, and which was conditioner. I washed my hair as quickly as I could, not wanting to sit around here any longer than I had to. My teeth were already chattering.

Giant fluffy cream towels sat next to the silver tray of soaps and cleansers. I wrapped my hair in one and my body in the other, quickly drying myself. My bedroom was significantly warmer than the bathroom, and I had a good mind to burrow beneath the covers to regulate my body temperature.

I tucked the cream towel under my armpits, wrapping it tightly around my chest and re-entered the main suite. Only a few steps in and I felt the instant sensation that I was being watched. I looked up to find Caius leaning against the wall, one hand in his pocket.

Physically, he looked delicious. His posture was relaxed, but it was somehow sexy, and that didn’t escape my notice. I reminded myself he was my captor. I didn’t want to give him that satisfaction of knowing that he affected me in any way. So instead of turning and going back into the bathroom like a pansy, I kept walking until I got to my suitcase next to the bed.

“Apparently I was late for breakfast," I said, attempting to sound nonchalant despite my pounding heart.

Caius shrugged. "You were exhausted. I told them not to wake you. Although I’m surprised your cousin’s voice didn’t carry from the atrium. The shouting match she had with Pol this morning could have woken the dead. Something about switching his water out with some sort of homebrew hard liquor." My lips twitched. She must have come in here and gotten a jar of my moonshine for the sole purpose of annoying him. How very Clara.

“I was exhausted. Still am. So, what are you doing here?"

I didn't want to look at him, but the silence left me with little choice. Dark eyes threatened to swallow me whole as he appraised my body, everything from my towel-wrapped hair to the ends of my chipped toenail polish.

“Jana told me that you'd woken up. I wanted to come check on you and make sure that you slept all right.”

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