Page 29 of Knight’s Absolution

She needed that now more than ever.

Luna dressed, feeling less vulnerable, stronger almost instantly. And after using the bathroom mirror to apply heavy eyeliner and lipstick, the terrible grip in her belly, the weight of the unknown, lessened just a fraction.

She attacked her tangled hair with the brush. The thin bleached strip of hair she liked to dye different colors, usually red, had almost grown out, and her thick black hair was almost waist length now.

She gripped the edge of the counter and looked herself in the eyes.

Whatever comes next, you can handle it.

With her armor back in place, some of the tension left her body.

A soft knock sounded against the bedroom door. “Okay in there?” Gunner’s deep voice was muffled.

She gripped the edge of the counter harder, her skin flushing hot just from the sound of the male’s voice. Her mouth watered, but not from the memory of his blood working its way down her throat, soothing and healing, but from the scent of his skin, the texture, the heat of it against hers.

“Y-yes…” Barely a sound left her, her throat suddenly impossibly tight. “Yes,” she forced herself to repeat, stronger this time as she walked to the door.

You can’t hide in here forever.

Gripping the handle, she made herself open the door.

Gunner stood on the other side, towering over her, concern in his deep gold eyes. He smiled gently, and the scar through his upper lip made his mouth curl on one side more than the other.

She’d been away from him for less than an hour, and the impact of him, his size, his handsome face, that indescribable thing in him that drew her in a way she didn’t understand, was stronger than it had ever been.

His nostrils flared as his gaze moved over her from head to toe, and for the first time in her life, she desperately wanted to know what someone else thought of her appearance. She wanted someone to notice her.

Did Gunner like the way she looked? Or did her armor work on him like it did on almost everyone else?

His smile curled a little deeper. “Now this is the girl I remember.” His hand lifted as if he was about to reach out and touch her hair before he remembered himself and dropped it again. “Feel better?”

He really did remember her from the one time he’d seen her. Yes, she’d been more than aware of his existence, had seen him on numerous occasions, and sometimes…she’d actually sought him out on her own. She may have followed him a time to two as well.

But he’d only seen her that one time. The time he’d punched a hole through a car window and held her by her throat while Grace’s mate rescued her.

She didn’t bring it up, though. She understood why he’d done it. He thought she was the enemy. And she was, wasn’t she? Even if she hadn’t wanted to do the things Sir made her do, she’d still done them. “Yes, much better.”

“You feel up to a tour? I’ll show you around the place, introduce you to my brothers’ mates and the other demi staying here.”

She nodded. It’d be rude to say no after everything they’d done, even if the idea of meeting so many made her break out in a cold sweat. “Sounds good. So where will I be staying?”

Gunner frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I assume you have separate quarters for the demi you bring here?”

His frown grew deeper. “I thought that maybe you’d stay here, with me? You’re still recovering. If you need to feed again, if you need to…”

“No.” The word burst past her lips with far more force than she’d intended.

Gunner flinched, his body freezing in place.

Feed from him? No goddamn way. The humiliation was too much for her to bear. She didn’t want this male, of all people, to see her like that ever again. Nothing but a slave to her hunger. Once was more than enough.

Gunner was watching her, his jaw working.

What was he thinking? Probably how ungrateful she was. Here he was offering her his vein, despite how awful it must’ve been for him, and she’d recoiled as if he was the monster.

“I’m sorry,” she rushed out. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but I won’t burden you any longer. I sure as hell don’t expect you to feed me again.” She looked down at the floor, unable to meet his penetrating gaze.