Page 91 of Twilight of Embers
Cillian watched me warily. “You will always have a choice, Little Flame. But know that we were made to love you.”
My head thrummed in a staccato beat. “It’s not possible. My mom would’ve told me.” The protest was weak at best.
“Your parents could’ve been hiding you to protect you,” Knox said, voice gentle. “They likely wanted you to have a normal life.”
I sucked in a sharp breath as memories assailed me. “Where is she?” The stranger’s words echoed in my mind.
Cillian moved then, striding into my space. “What do you remember?” he ordered.
My eyes filled with tears, and they spilled down my cheeks. “The man that killed my mother. He kept asking where she was. Were they looking for me?”
Cillian shared a look with the rest of the guys, and I had my answer. Nausea swept through me. Suddenly, my sweater felt heavy, sticky with my drying blood.
“I need a shower. Please. Can someone take me to a shower?” I begged.
Pain swept across Knox’s expression. “Of course.”
“She can use my room. It’s closest,” Cillian gritted out.
Knox pressed a hand to my back, guiding me out of the room and down the hallway. I didn’t register anything at all as we walked. Not until we were in a black marble bathroom and Knox was turning on a massive shower.
He sent me a pained look. “Do you want me to help you?”
I shook my head. I didn’t want anyone to touch me. I didn’t want anyone to be close to me. I just wanted everyone and everything away.
Knox hovered for a moment. “Okay. Just call out if you need something.”
I didn’t say anything. I didn’t nod. I just stood with my arms wrapped tightly around myself as I waited for him to leave.
The moment the bathroom door shut, I let my arms drop. I needed this sweater off, everything gone. I battled with the cashmere until it fell to the floor. I kicked off my shoes and pulled off my filthy jeans. I let my bra and underwear fall, too. Then I made a beeline for the shower.
The hot water scalded my skin, but I didn’t change the temperature. I watched as the water swirled red around the drain. Then it faded to pink. And finally, it ran clear.
Only then did I move. I reached for the shampoo on the little shelf cut into the wall. Opening it, I sniffed. It smelled faintly of Cillian. That just made my chest ache.
Were they right? Was I their mate? My throat constricted at the thought.
I scrubbed my scalp with the shampoo and conditioner as my mind whirled. I felt drawn to all five of them. Attracted on a level that was more than sexual. Even to Easton.
My eyes burned as I rinsed the conditioner. How could this be real? None of it made any sense.
An image of my mother filled my mind. Her panicked face as she hid me away in the attic. Had she died because of me?
Pressure built in my chest. Pain swirled all around.
I forced myself to stay focused on the task at hand. Clean. I had to get clean.
I grabbed the bodywash and squirted some into my palm. Rubbing my hands together, I created a foam and spread it over my arms and then my chest. My fingers stilled on the faint scar.
Marcus had healed me. I’d been cut open, bleeding, and he’d used magic to stop it all.
I wanted to believe I was having some sort of psychotic break, but a small voice inside me told me that wasn’t true. It told me that the guys were right. That they were dragons, and I was one, too.
The laugh bubbled out of me, harsh and hysterical. A dragon. A million questions swirled in my mind. None of which I had the answers for.
Shutting off the water, I stepped out of the shower and grabbed for a towel. I knew it must’ve been one of Cillian’s, but I didn’t care. I wrapped it around my body and found another for my hair.
Looking around the steamy space, I found my bloody clothes gone and a pile of fresh ones by the door. Interfering dragons.
