Page 10 of Deadmen's Queen

“I don't care about the car or your clothes or any other material possession,” he stated flatly. “They're just things and they can be replaced or fixed.”

He paused, reaching up to brush a lock of hair away from my face.

“What matters is you... your safety... your wellbeing.”

I nodded, tears welling up in my eyes again because of the painful memories that resurfaced. An overwhelming feeling of shame washed over me.

“I'm not used to...”

“To what?” He asked softly when I trailed off.

“To someone being...this nice to me,” I admitted quietly, almost whispering out the words. I felt Bast's arms stiffen around me for a moment before he let out a sigh and pulled me even closer against him.

“You don't have to get used to it. You just have to accept it, alright? We're here for you. Yes, your position means you serve us, but this goes both ways, and we will protect you, Paige. All three of us.” His large hands gently cupped my face, tilting it upwards so our eyes met. The intensity in those dark depths took my breath away. “I mean it, Paige,” he said, his voice firm but gentle. “You're not alone anymore.”

The tears prickled at my eyes again and I blinked rapidly trying to stem the flow. I didn't want him to see me cry. But Bast only gave me a soft smile, wiping away a straying tear with his thumb.

“We've got you, alright? And nobody,” he added, his gaze hardening into something fierce. “Is going to harm you ever again.”

I could barely believe it. Here was this man who I barely knew offering me safety and protection when all I had felt for so long was fear and isolation.

“Okay.”

He sighed. “Good. Now, there’s new toothbrushes and toothpaste under the sink. When you’re done, come out, turn left and two doors down is the kitchen. Let’s get you a drink and something to eat.”

I did as he said, brushing my teeth and heading down the wide hall to the kitchen. It was stunning. Handmade wooden painted units in black with black granite countertops and copper accessories to match a beaten copper splashback behind the range cooker. A large centre island stood in the middle with four stools on one side, and it was currently covered in an array of plates and dishes of food.

“Are you expecting people over?” I asked, hanging back in the doorway, not quite sure if I should go in.

Bast looked up out of the fridge and glanced at the island top. “No, I just wasn’t sure what you like, and Tristan likes to cook so we always have leftovers and more food than we need. Are you going to keep standing in the doorway, or come in?”

“Yes,” I said, moving into the kitchen. “Can I sit down?” My legs still felt a little shaky, but my stomach had calmed, and I was suddenly starving.

He frowned. “Of course. You don’t need to ask permission to sit down, Paige.”

I nodded, sliding onto one of the stools and looked around at all the plates. Bast sat down on the stool next to me and reached for an empty plate.

“What would you like? There’s tropical fruit, Greek yogurt, and homemade granola, and pastries, though they might need warming up a bit as they’re from yesterday… I would offer to make you bacon or pancakes, but I’ll confess, I have no idea what I’m doing in the kitchen beyond warming stuff up.”

I laughed. “I’m the same. I was never allowed in the kitchen in my house. My mother made everything, and she decided what I got to eat.”

Bast looked at me. “You weren’t allowed in the kitchen at all? Not even to get a drink or a snack?”

I shook my head. “No, I was called in to sit at the table at mealtimes, but she controlled my portion sizes, and I wasn’t allowed snacks. I had a water bottle, and I could fill that from the bathroom tap, so there was no reason for me to be in the kitchen.” I looked over at the plates. “What can I have? What won’t you eat later?”

“Anything,” said Bast, his voice sounding strange. I looked up at him.

“Did I say something wrong?” I asked.

“No. Come on, what would you like to eat? Anything, Paige. Don’t think about us. We’ll buy more food. Just choose something for yourself.”

I bit my lip. I’d practiced this at coffee shops, and the few times I’d been out with Bast and Tristan at restaurants, but that was easy cause I usually picked the cheapest thing on the menu. This was food that belonged to them though, so that was harder.

“What’s going through your head right now, Paige?” he asked gently. “Be honest.”

I sighed. “Ok, so the fruit salad looks lovely, but tropical fruit is expensive. Then again, it’s also fresh so it might go off and be wasted before you guys finish it, so maybe I should pick that, and the same applies to the yogurt. That has an even shorter use by date, which means if I eat it and someone else wants it, someone would have to go out and buy more, so I’m causing inconvenience…” I trailed off and looked up at him, realising he hadn’t said anything. “I’m sorry.”

He stared at me, dark eyes burning with intensity, but said nothing. Instead, he stood up and grabbed a bowl, filling it with fruit, yogurt and granola to the brim before setting it in front of me with a spoon.

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