Page 43 of Demon Shock

“Can you get my suitcase for me?” I asked Gyrik. “It’s in the back of the truck.”

Gyrik grunted, set the brush aside, and left.

I stood and let the blanket drop away. The heat from the fire sent a shiver through me as the dampness evaporated from my exposed arms and legs. But the air was still cold on my back. Especially my wet hair.

Gyrik returned a minute later with the suitcase, which he set down and opened for me.

I quickly pulled on some underwear under the towel and a T-shirt over the top. All the while, Gyrik watched me. But not in a creepy way. More like he was making sure I could do everything and didn’t need help.

Once I was covered, I tossed the towel aside and tugged on some sweatpants, a sweatshirt, and socks.

“I don’t know how you can walk around only wearing shorts when it’s still cold in here.”

He reached for the brush, but I stopped him.

“I’m going to grab some food first.”

The only stops we’d made while driving were aftermath cleanups. While Gyrik washed in the snow, the rest of us went to the bathroom and refilled our bottles with the clean water from the back of Will’s vehicle. So lunch had been a protein bar while driving, and I was hungry.

The conversation the other three were having at the table stopped when we entered. I looked at the big pot of stew with noodles on the side then at the three men.

“Why do you all look guilty? Where are Pete and Repeat? That’s not cat stew, is it?”

Zach snorted a laugh. “Your dark sense of humor is going to fit right in.”

“Who said I was joking?”

Zach lifted Pete from his lap, and Bram held up Repeat. “We already fed them, but they’re begging for more.”

“Don’t give in. If they get too fat, they might look more tempting.” I took the bowl Will offered me. “Seriously, though, what was up with the expressions when we came in?”

All three looked at Gyrik. I did the same and saw his dark cheeks.

“Is there something you’re not telling me?” I asked him.

“No, it’s nothing like that,” Will said, heaping my bowl with noodles and stew. “We’re just worried that he’s not respecting your boundaries.”

It was the sweetest thing he could have said and helped put me at ease.

“I don’t feel like any boundaries were intentionally crossed. But your concern means a lot to me. Thank you.

“If it’s all right with all of you, I’m going to eat this by the fire so my hair can dry.”

They nodded and waved me away.

Gyrik stayed behind.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

GYRIK

In silence,we all watched Ava leave the kitchen. With guilt heavy in my heart, I faced the men who’d taken care of me as much as I’d cared for them. The disappointment in their gazes didn’t surprise me. The entire time I’d brushed Ava’s soft hair, I’d listened to their softly spoken reprimands.

“You’re lucky she’s still talking to you,” Will said quietly once she was gone.

“I thought you were going to try to get to know her first and wait to put the moves on her until we were home,” Bram said. “What happened?”

I rubbed the back of my neck and glanced at the doorway to the living room. I could hear Ava settling near the fire and wanted to join her, but I also needed advice.

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