Chapter 6

Melanie

“What do you plan to do with me then?” Tara asks.

Lorez is a pig. Slaves are a sickening trade that both Silas and I hate. What I plan to do with her is free her from this disgraceful place. The sliver of lycan in me has demanded that she is mine. My mate as I know the wolves call it. What is mine shall never stay in chains like this.

Silas speaks up before me, “You may shower and sleep. I’m sure you need it.”

I imagine myself smacking my palm against my head. Without realizing, he basically insinuated that she smells and looks exhausted. He really has no tact. I see an weary look in Tara’s eyes, and I know she is taking it the way I feared.

“What he means is that we are sure you are not treated properly here and want you to take this time for yourself. Use the bathroom in any way you wish and sleep in a comfy bed.”

Turning to Silas, I add, “I’ll be taking the couch. You, the floor for that stupidity that came out of your mouth.” Silas doesn’t know what he did, poor sense man, and gives me a look of confusion. Regardless, he agrees and turns to handle his luggage.

I eye the girl from the corner of my vision, watching indecision war within her. I move to my luggage and fish out some toiletries for the bathroom. Walking to the bathroom door, l call out, “I’m going to go ahead and put my soaps in the shower, feel free to use them, either of you.”

I see Tara begin to inch toward the bathroom. Silas goes up to her, keeping a healthy distance, and extends his hand hold a large shirt. Shit, that’s smart.

“For after, if you want it.” With a small hesitation, she takes it and continues walking my way. I finish up placing my things around the bathroom and near the tub. After that, I go back to my luggage and grab some underwear. I hear the shower begin to run and approach the now cracked bathroom door. Gingerly, I open it a little further and slip in to put the underwear on top of Silas’ shirt. I mumble an apology when she speaks up.

“Why are you two being nice to me?”

It hurts me to hear the distrust in her voice. She thinks we could turn on her at any moment. It is beyond sad and angers me. The beast inside riles it’s head, and I have to work on calming it down before I answer.

“We are not like others. We know how it is to feel hurt and be hurt, to live chained and live free but in invisible shackles. We may be privileged in most ways, but we both did not start out that way.” I say this softly. I still carry the emotional damage from my past. It haunts me in my dreams. I put up a good front, but Silas has always known. He is the only one to know. Maybe one day, I will be able to share it with her.

Exiting the bathroom, I see Silas still as a statue in the chair by the bed. He turns his head in my direction and nods to the sofa in front of him. I walk and sit down. Damn, this couch is pretty comfy. Maybe I’ll put a hex on it for anyone that sits on it after, makes them have butt warts or something. I smile to myself, and I feel his knowing eyes on me.

“You can’t plan to hex everything in this house just fyi,” Silas sighs.

“Only a few things then,” I say back with a smile.

“I don’t know what to do.”

“Clearly.”

He glared at me but continues. “I’m afraid that I will need to verify the book tomorrow, and it will be valid.”

“That is a potential problem, but that means that one of his lackeys has to win. Not to mention even if they win, the odds of the goddess granting their wish is extremely low.”

“Low, but not impossible. I think the goddess like chaos, and this certainly would cause chaos. I can just feel it.” We both sigh st that and then look toward the door.

“How do we free her? She is the other half of my soul, and I assume your wolf calls to her?” He asks in a weary tone.

“Yes, she does.” I respond, still unsure how to answer the first question. “One day at a time. We at least can give her safety tonight. That’s worth something.”

“Will she ever trust us?”

“Have a little faith, Silas.” I say. I don’t really hold much myself, but it is better to coax a small flame than let it burn out forever.

****

Morning comes, and I yawn and stretch. Sunlight streams through the window, and I sit up. Looking over to the bed, I see Tara asleep with eyebrows creased in worry. Scanning the room, I see Silas still passed out on the floor. Padding over to the bed, my anxiety over her anxiety increases. I can feel the dark energy around her. She must be having a nightmare.

As gently as I can, I shake her shoulder. She doesn’t wake but tosses her head to the side. A lock of hair tumbles across her face, and I go to move it back behind her ear. She startles away in the middle of moving it back and stares glassy eyed at me. Tears flow, and I’m struck with pain. I climb into bed with her and wrap my arms around her, chanting a calming spell under my breath. My magic envelops us, and she burrows into me. After a few minutes, she drifts back to sleep.

If nothing else, I could make a charm to ward off nightmares. It does not always work, but it can lessen them. I have a few blank talismans in my luggage, so I can make one today. I do hope she’ll accept it, and I hope she’ll accept us. It just will take time.