Page 46 of Spirit Trials
“Are you safe here? From harm? Yes. From me. No?” His words don’t make any sense, but I feel warm and pain free for the first time in days. I close my eyes and put my head back and give in to the floating feeling.
I’m not sure how long I sleep. It takes effort to open my eyes because they feel so heavy, but I finally get them open. I stare up at the unfamiliar ceiling for a moment before movement out of the corner of my eye catches my attention. I stare at the large wolf standing next to the bed. I yawn and try to fully wake up. “Hi, Shade,” I say softly. He doesn’t move, and I’m not sure whatto do. I look around Rysden’s room, wondering why I’m still in here. I climb to the side of the humongous bed and put my feet down. I close my eyes at the feel of the soft fur beneath my cold toes and stand up and take stock of my body. I feel good.Really good. I run a hand over where the arrow penetrated my leg, shocked that I don’t feel anything. Even my wrist feels so much better. It’s definitely not healed all the way, but it’s nowhere near as painful as it was. It’s been reset; I can tell. I walk over to the fire and put out my hands to warm up. I keep a wary eye on Shade, but he doesn’t move any closer. Still, it unnerves me to be in a room with a predator. There’s a quiet knock and then the door opens.
Rysden closes the door behind him. “Shade told me you were awake.”
“How?” It’s the first thing that comes to mind.
“Through our bond.” His tone is all business. He’d told me that before, but it’s another thing altogether to actually see it take place.
I glance down at the largest wolf I’ve ever seen. “And he won’t hurt me? Or anybody else for that matter?” I ask when Shade’s mouth opens, and his fangs pop out.
“You? No. Anybody else? I can’t be sure.”
I wait for Rysden to say he’s kidding, but he doesn’t. “Why?”
Rysden finally meets my eyes, and I nearly flinch at the anger there. Then I take in the rest of the details—the dark circles under his eyes, the pale skin. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” His words are almost harsh. I let it go. “How’s your pain level?” His words are little more than a growl.
“Much better. I guess I have you to thank for that,” I say, looking at Shade. He stares at me, and I feel like his eyes can see into my very soul.
“Who did that?” Rysden nods at my wrist. I glance down in surprise; I hadn’t realized I was rubbing it.
I pause a moment before answering. “I just hurt it while I was out there.”
He stares at me, and I get the feeling he doesn’t believe me. “I’m not going to ask you again. Give me a name.”
I lift my chin. “I’m not giving you a name.” I hold up my good wrist “I don’t even know his name anyway. And what are you going to do? Hurt him? You can’t do anything to any contestants when we’re not in the trial.”
“Youcan’t.”
I stare at him. “What?”
“Youcan’t do anything to him; I, however, find it completely within my jurisdiction to end his life.”
I stare at him in horror. “What? You can’t do that?”
“Stop telling me what I can and cannot do.” His words are slow, each word distinct, almost guttural even.
“Okay, then stop acting crazy,” I return.
He stares at me so intensely; I turn away and stare into the fire. “The trials are a lot. How are you handling...everything?” He asks, breaking the silence.
I don’t really know how to answer him. “My wounds are healing,” I finally settle on.
“Your outward wounds,” he points out.
I don’t have a response to that, so I try to lighten the mood instead. “No spirit wolf yet. Of course, we both know that’s not going to happen. But I made two friends; so that’s a plus.”
“They’re from the banished community.” There’s no emotion in his voice, and I can’t tell if he’s okay with it or not.
“Yes, they are, and they’re my friends.” I turn around and face him head-on.
He does that thing where he just stares at me before he finally opens the door and leaves. I blow out a breath because he’s a little...no, a lot intense. I notice that he left his wolf here, and I stare at Shade a moment.
“I’m going to go take the longest bath ever recorded. Don’t let anyone disturb me.” I stare at him a moment before laughing deprecatingly. I’m not really sure what I expected the wolf to do. I shake my head and make my way to the bathing room. I stare at Rysden’s huge tub with wide eyes as a slow grin fills my face.
Minutes later, I decide I’ve died and gone to Heaven. I'm pretty sure nothing in my life can compare to the bliss I’m currently feeling. When I'm sufficiently prune-like, I wash my hair and my body before finally climbing out and wrapping in a long fluffy towel and peeking into his room. When I see that he’s not in there, I walk back into his room in my towel. I’m planning on returning to my room for clothes. I just need something to wear to get there. My old clothes need to be burned from my four days in the wild. I open his wardrobe, hoping to find a shirt I can wear. I stare in surprise at several pieces of clothing that I recognize as pieces the tailor made for me. I choose not to think too hard about why they’re in here and not in my room and put on some underclothes, a soft cream tunic top, and a pair of soft black trousers. The clothes are nicer than anything I’ve worn before. I wander back into the bathing room and find a comb. After getting the tangles out, which takes way longer than I want to admit, I braid my bright red hair and flip the braid over my shoulder.
