Page 114 of Marked

The brothers moved as one unit up the familiar stairs, Derek and Caleb flanking Marcus as if they couldn’t bear to let me out of their sight. I should have felt overwhelmed by their hovering, but something deep inside me felt oddly safe.

The suite’s bathroom had always been impressive, but tonight it felt almost magical. Steam rose from the enormous tub, where Maria was still adding herbs and checking the water temperature. The air was thick with soothing scents, and fluffy towels were arranged perfectly on the warming rack.

“Maria has gone overboard again,” I mumbled against Marcus’ chest, watching her fuss with various healing herbs and salts.

“Enough now,” Maria said, giving the water one final stir. “The temperature is perfect, and I’ve added everything you need for those bruises.” She dried her hands on her apron and headed for the door. “Call if you need anything, pequeño. I’ll be right down the hall.”

“She’s been waiting years to properly take care of you,” Caleb said softly, adjusting his blanket as Maria closed the door behind her.

Marcus set me down gently on the padded bench near the tub, his hands lingering as if afraid I might collapse. My battered body protested every movement as I tried to shrug off my torn clothes.

“Let us help you into the water,” Derek murmured, his voice gentle in a way I’d never heard before. “Then we’ll get cleaned up ourselves.”

I nodded, too exhausted to argue. They helped me out of my ruined clothing and into the perfectly heated water. The warmth enveloped me immediately, and whatever Maria had added to the bath was already easing the ache in my muscles.

“Call if you need anything,” Marcus said. “We’ll be quick.”

“Maria’s right down the hall,” Caleb added. “And we’ll be back as soon as we’re cleaned up.”

I watched them file out, still maintaining their careful grip on their blankets. As the door closed behind them, I sank deeper into the warm water, letting the herbal-scented steam rise around me. Alone for the first time since the woods, I could finally breathe.

The water was perfect—hot enough to ease my aching muscles but not scalding. I let my head fall back against the tub’s edge, fragments of the night playing through my mind. Theother pack’s attack, the three massive wolves that had come to my rescue, and that surge of strange power that had coursed through my veins…

“What am I?” I whispered to myself, sinking deeper into the water. It wasn’t just tonight—there had been signs all along. The way I could sometimes hear conversations from impossible distances, how I always seemed to know when the brothers were near, that pull I felt toward them that defied explanation. But instead of answers, I only had more questions.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. “Cariño?” Maria called through the door. “Do you need help?”

“I’m okay,” I called back, realizing I’d been soaking for a while. “Just… processing.”

“Take your time. I’ve left fresh pajamas and towels by the door. The boys are almost done cleaning up—they’re worse than cats about getting dirty, I swear.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that, the familiar exasperation in her voice making everything feel a bit more normal. With effort, I reached for the soap and started washing away the night’s grime, careful of the bruises that were already starting to fade faster than they should.

By the time I heard another knock, I was clean but reluctant to leave the warmth of the water.

“Kai?” Marcus’ voice was now steady and controlled. “We’re back. Do you need help getting out?”

“I…” I looked at my trembling arms, realizing I might have soaked a bit too long. The water had cooled, and my muscles felt like jelly. “Maybe?”

The door opened just enough for Marcus to slip in, now properly dressed in dark silk pajamas. His hair was damp from his own shower, and he looked almost normal—if you ignored the lingering crimson tinge in his eyes.

“Let’s get you out before you turn into a prune,” he said softly, holding up what looked like the world’s fluffiest towel. “Can you stand?”

I gripped the sides of the tub and tried to push myself up, but my arms shook with the effort. Without comment, Marcus stepped forward and lifted me from the water, immediately wrapping me in the towel.

“The others are waiting in the bedroom,” he said, helping me stay steady as I dried off. “Maria left you something to wear.”

The silk pajamas were ridiculously soft and new. I managed to get the pants on but my hands were shaking too much to handle the buttons of the top.

“Here,” he murmured, turning back to help. His fingers were quick and impersonal as he buttoned the top, but I could feel the tension in his movements, the careful control he was maintaining.

Marcus kept a steadying hand on my elbow as we made our way back into the bedroom. Derek and Caleb were already there, both in similar silk pajamas, their hair still damp. They’d been pacing—I could tell by the way they immediately stopped when we entered.

The massive bed looked impossibly inviting, its thick duvet turned down and pillows arranged in the exact way I preferred. Jorge set down a fresh mug of his special tea on the nightstand.

“Drink this before you sleep,” he said, his usual cheerful manner softened with concern. “It will help with the healing.”

“And the shock?” I asked weakly as Marcus helped me sit on the edge of the bed.

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