Page 32 of Broken Fate
“You heard me. Get up.Now.”
Andi stared down at me, her golden-brown eyes alight with intensity and focus. All of which was directed at me. It was not a settling feeling. Somewhat uneasily, wary of what might come next, I got to my feet.
Was she going to hit me, kick my ass for running off like that?
I stood straight, facing her. She might hit me, but I wouldn’t just go down without a fight. I might be untrained, but I wouldn’t sit by idly, either.
Looking me up and down as if sensing my thoughts, Andi smiled. “Better. But relax, I’m not going to whoop your ass. You deserve it, but … I know what happened out there.”
Her face softened as she said it, acknowledging the fate of my parents. I clenched my jaw in an attempt not to cry.
“Now, get your ass in the shower,” the woman barked, pointing at the door to the bathroom. “Get cleaned up. You look like shit, and you stink almost as bad.”
I stared, trying to fathom what Andi was trying to do. “Why?” I asked numbly. “What point is there? Everyone’sgone, Andi. They’re all dead. Because of me!”
Andi shook her head, sending her thick mane flying. It was almost as animated as she was. “First off, that isn’t true. You didn’t order their deaths. You didn’t burn the house. That was your Alpha. That was Arcadus, and through him, Andracis, his little bitch.”
“You don’t understand,” I said hoarsely. “They’redead, Andi. Because of me. Because I don’t think. All of them.”
“Your sister died because she wasprotectingyou,” Andi growled. “Not because of you.”
My head snapped up at her counterpoint, a fresh spike of anger and adrenaline flowing through me. Howdareshe say that? Moreso, how could she possibly know that?
“We do our research,” Andi said calmly, ignoring my angry, questioning stare.
Translation: Clive must have told them. My sister’s death was no secret, but the circumstances behind it, that must have come from him.
Yet I couldn’t feel any more hurt today. I was full up. Any betrayal I might have felt slid on by. It couldn’t compare to the absolute gut-wrenching emptiness of knowing I would never be able to see my parents again.
Never be able to confide in my mother. Never get a big, rib-creaking hug from my father. Laughing around the dinner table. They would never see me grow up. Wouldn’t be able to meet their grandchildren. Nothing.
A slow groan escaped my lips.
Surprising me with her tenderness, Andi laid a hand on my shoulder. “You can cry. You can mourn. If you really insist on it, you can have your pity party, too,” she said. Her grip stiffened, and she propelled me forward, the gentleness disappearing. “But you’re going to do it from the shower, got it?”
She guided me into the bathroom and even turned on the shower. I stared at it in surprise. Showers were rather rare. Most of the time, it was hand-pumped water for a bath.
“The cisterns are on the roof,” Andi explained. “The previous owner spared no expense. We don’t have many amenities, but this is one we do have.”
I didn’t complain as she pushed me under the flowing water. Once I was in, she sat on the toilet and crossed her arms, watching me. I stood, drenched by the cold water.
“I’m not into women,” Andi barked when I didn’t start cleaning myself. “I’m making sure you don’t do something stupid, like cut your wrists. Now, get clean.”
Slowly, I went through the motions. As the soap began to sluice the remains of the fire from my body and my hair, I had to admit that itdidfeel nice to get clean.
At some point, Andi got up, fetching towels and fresh clothes from elsewhere in the room. Apparently, she’d seen enough to know I wouldn’t hurt myself.
The outfit was black, baggy sweatpants and a matching long-sleeve shirt, but fashion wasn’t even on my list of priorities.
“Now, what?” I asked, toweling my hair dry as best I could. The silver hairs seemed to enjoy staying damp for hours, no matter what I did.
“Now?” Andi echoed. “Now, you’re going to march out of this room and find Kiel. Then you’re going to swear the oath we all have, and you’re going to join us.”
I stared. Andi’s eyes hardened to amber as she returned the look. With interest.
“Did Kiel tell you to do this?” I asked.
Andi shook her head. “No. He did ask me to come make sure you didn’t kill yourself, but that’s it.”
