Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Paige fixed me up in the med flat. Cleaned my wounds, gave me some antibiotics I didn’t need but she wanted to be safe, and ordered I rest in bed on an IV drip for a while.
There were reading materials left for me, but I could only stew and fume over Miko’s actions.
Paige came to check on me around two in the afternoon with a mug of packet soup and some crackers. She also popped a Snoopy toy on the bed to keep me company along with Wendy.
Sweet.
Amazingly, as she always did, my digital friend survived the dunk in the Thames.
“How are you feeling?” Paige asked, putting the food down on my bedside table.
Ready to leave. “I’m fine. Thank you for your help.”
She checked me over. “I’m glad.”
We still hadn’t talked about what happened, and I’d seen no sign of Miko.
“Is…” I sighed. “Is Miko okay?”
A faint smile spread her lips. “He’s tired, but okay. Being in wolf form expends a lot of energy. We try not to shift too often, only when we have no choice, or on the first midnight of every month. A night we can prepare for without losing our clothes.”
Had Miko told her what happened?
She gestured to the mug of soup. “Cream of vegetable. It’s actually quite tasty.”
“Thank you.”
Paige picked up on my negative energy. “I’m sorry you went through such an ordeal, sweetie.”
It took some serious willpower to not rant about her alpha. But all I wanted was to get better and get out of this tower.
“Would you like the soup?” Paige asked.
My stomach said yes. “Please. Thanks.”
She handed me the mug. “Whatever happened out there, Miko would never intentionally put you in danger.”
Yet he did…
“He’s not a bad man,” she added. “He’s a closed book, not the friendliest of people, but he…” She hesitated. “He’s been through a lot.”
That caused a painful flutter in my chest, close to my heart.
“Everyone has,” she said. “I know that. But…” She didn’t finish.
“But what?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. Enjoy the soup. I’ll come check on you again shortly.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
Miko. Miko. Miko.
I sighed, taking a sip of the soup. Wow. It actually was delicious.
Miko. Miko. Miko.
What was his story?
Who was the oracle?
Why did this have to feel so complicated?
The desire to leave Haven seemed to fade away by the minute.
Finishing the soup, I settled in for a nap. An hour or so would do.
I dreamed of Miko. A naked Miko in a storm, rain sluicing down his muscular body, rivulets running across the ridges of his abs, framed by the inky black of the night, thunder crashing, forked lightning adding a sprinkle of drama to the dream.
Chest rising and falling, he stared at me. Gaze piercing and hot and wild, exuding terrifying energy.
I’m your prey.
Take me.
Take me.
Take me in this storm.
I shot up awake with a dramatic gasp, clutching at my throat.
“What in the stars?”
“Are you alright?” Miko’s voice startled me.
“You…”
He sat on a chair beside the bed, arms folded, his complexion slightly ashen. And he wore clothes again.
“What are you doing here?”
“Checking on you.”
“Oh. Well, I’m fine.”
He barely blinked. “Were you having a nightmare?”
Oh, honey. Far from it. “I’m fine.”
“You’re angry.”
“Wouldn’t you be?”
“I’m sorry.” So cold, no feeling.
“Are you?”
He dropped his arms, leaning forward in the chair slightly, retaining his perfect posture. “I never meant for that to happen.”
“But it did.”
“And I’m sorry.”
“You don’t sound it.”
His nostrils flared. “Believe what you want.”
I shuffled up the bed to sit straighter. “Who is the oracle?”
He stood up. “Can we talk later.”
Frustrating assbug. “I might not be here later.”
“Why?”
“Maybe I’m leaving.”
“I see. That’s up to you.”
Okay, that was supposed to get him sitting back down and revealing all. “I will go.”
“You’re not a prisoner here. But if you could grant me the time, I’d like to speak to you tonight.”
“Why not now?”
“Because I can’t.” He started to leave.
“Who shot at us?”
Miko froze, eyes shifting back to me but offering no answer.
“Do you know?” I pushed.
“Later. If you’re still here.”
I clawed at the sheets, teeth so clenched they threatened to shatter.
How could one man be so infuriating?
By seven o’clock that night, Miko hadn’t come back to talk, nor did he invite me to join him in his flat.
I got in a thanksgiving to the stars before walking out of my front door. The painkillers were really helping me not to hurt so much. At least physically.
My anger spiked on the way to the recreation flat, every breath labored. I stopped at the end of the corridor, leaning against the wall, listening to the voices of Trev and the pack.
Maybe I should turn back and forget this second night of bonding.
But what if Miko was there? I could corner him, or he might offer to talk or…
Ugh! How dare that lump of coal treat me like this?
How dare he drop nuggets of information in my lap and walk away?
I didn’t care about his jobs and his pressures.
He could’ve approached this better, actually tried to be sincere in his apology.
Even give a hint of a crap at my suggestion of leaving.
Lumps of coal were friendlier.
Anything was friendlier.
And why would he care if I left or not?
That was Soft Orion speaking there. He liked sugar-crusted rims around dark truths, brushing aside bad news as much as he could to spare his feelings. Living in the sunshine, dancing in starlight, never a rainy day despite there being plenty of them in his past.
Denial could be so pretty.
Tempted to storm to Miko’s flat and yell in his irritating yet handsome face, I paced, I suppressed, I considered the good he’d done for me.
Welcomed me here. Carried me. Saved my life twice.
“Fine.”
Gathering myself together, refusing to be a sour-faced party-pooper, I joined the group.
“Are you okay, mate?” Trev asked, on his feet so fast his stool toppled with a boom.
There were snacks and gin again—the same supplies from last night.
“Sore,” I answered, holding up my bandaged palms. “Nothing some board games won’t cure.” I presented the group with my brightest smile.
The wolves were silent as Trev came over to me.
Miko wasn’t there.
“Cool.” The troll cautiously patted me on the arm. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
I felt James’s eyes on me. Did he know the truth of what happened?
I avoided eye contact. “Living to fight another day, my dear friend.”
“That’s what I like to hear.”
“Your timing is impeccable,” James declared, leaping to his feet. “We were about to open the gin. Although, I guess you don’t want any.”
The entire bottle to myself would be amazing. “I’ll try some.”
“Is it safe?”
I kept up with as much smiling as my lips could muster. “It’ll be fine. I could do with a shot.”
The tensions eased, though not fully. James went back to being the life and soul of the party. He poured out the drinks, no more than a finger in each beaker.
With our drinks in hand, James led the cheers. “To this second night of new friends and a new future.”
Trev clinked my beaker first, still beside me. “Amen to that.”
We all drank the sweet gin at the same time.
“This is good stuff,” I said. “Like strawberries and cream.”
“For real?” Trev questioned.
I wiped my lips with the back of my hand. “Yours doesn’t taste like that?”
“No, mate. I’m getting sharp gin only.”
Cate checked the bottle. “Definitely no strawberries or cream on the label.”
“Oh.” I shrugged. “Probably my fae tastebuds.”
“I’m jealous,” Cate responded.
With that, James dealt out some cards for us to play some hands of Gin Rummy.
Ha ha.
Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for the gin to overreact in my system.