Page 24 of Aine

Shutting off the water, I rip back the curtain and search for a towel, mentally cursing myself for not having grabbed one earlier. There are none visible from where I stand in the tub, and I hesitantly step onto the bath mat so I can reach into the small closet door to the left of the shower.

My muscles relax when I spot them inside, and I pull the top one out.

Like everything in this house, the towel is high quality. If I weren’t so afraid of losing shower privileges, I’d take it with me to my cabin. It’s soft against my skin, and it feels like a crime when I part with it so I can get dressed.

Clutching my dirty clothes to my chest, I crack open the door and peer into the hallway.

My eyes lock with Damien’s, and I let out a shocked gasp before stumbling back into the bathroom and slamming the door. My forehead drops against the wood as I reevaluate my reaction, knowing it made me look foolish.

Plastering a large smile on my face, I push open the bathroom door again. Damien stands outside his bedroom waiting for me, his eyebrow raised as he watches me walk out.

“You can leave your dirty clothes in the hamper. My laundry gets washed once a week.” He gestures to the small basket behind me and watches as I throw my items inside. “Come to my office tomorrow after work.” He takes his sweet time eyeing my outfit before turning into his bedroom. “We have much to discuss.”

Damien leaves the door open behind him, and as I walk past, I can’t resist peeking in. His back is to me, and his front faces a woman lying on his bed. I haven’t seen her before, but she’s as tall and beautiful as all the other beast women I’ve met.

Even when she looks disheveled, her clothing half off and her hair sticking up at odd angles.

I don’t risk taking another look or eavesdropping on their heated conversation. What he does is none of my business, and with quiet footfalls, I leave his house and return to my cabin.

Chapter Seven

AINE

“I’m both adoctor and happily mated, Aine. I don’t care about your tits.” Jenna laughs, letting the door swing shut behind her.

I shake my head in a sad attempt to clear the grogginess clouding my brain. What’s she going on about? My fingers dig into the soft fabric of my comforter as I tighten my hold on it, the material conforming to my hand as I lift it just below my chin. The lack of pajamas provided by Damien led to me sleeping naked last night, which I was fine with until Jenna came bursting into my cabin with no warning.

She continues to laugh as I struggle to catch my breath. I thought she was a murderer.

“You could’ve knocked!” I snap, watching through narrowed eyes as she moves farther into my home and makes herself comfortable at my table.

She looks around the place with interest, her eyes darting everywhere before she reaches out and runs her finger along the windowsill. The action kicks up some of the dust coating the surface, the particles highlighted by the sunlight filtering in. They float through the air before sinking to the ground.

I should probably clean that.

“This is where he’s got you staying?” she asks.

Assuming she’s talking about Damien, I nod.

A displeased hum emerges from her chest as she continues to look around, her disapproval of my cabin painfully evident. “I heard he has you working in the gardens?”

“You heard correct,” I respond. “I’m working with Alex.”

“Alex is nice. You’ll like him. How’s Damien been treating you?”

Jenna’s question makes me pause, wondering what direction she’s heading with this. How a man is treating a woman is not typically discussed back in my old village, and when it is brought up, we’re expected to lie.

“We haven’t spoken much.” I figure that’s a good way to share the truth without expressing any outward dislike for him.

She clicks her tongue against the roof of her mouth before glancing out my window. I’m not sure if the noise means she doesn’t believe me, but if I had to guess, I’d say it does.

Taking advantage of having her back to me, I snatch the clothing I left on the floor last night. She remains still as I slip them on and move to join her at the table.

Her attention is elsewhere as I approach, and I follow her gaze toward Damien’s house. He stands on his front porch and looks furious as he stares at Jenna through the window. His eyes briefly flash to me as I come to stand next to her, his frown deepening.

We only lock eyes for a second before he turns and walks back inside.

“If he ever does anything to upset you, let me know,” she murmurs, slowly turning to face me.

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