Page 35 of A Trial By Blood

“Ronan?”

I couldn’t speak or I’d fall apart in a way I wasn’t sure I’d ever recover from.

She held me tighter, weeping silently. “It’s not your fault,” she whispered, answering the question that lived in my heart. “None of it is your fault. He killed our mother, he took us from our home, and he manipulated us. We were only children, just trying to survive.”

I couldn’t speak, but at her words, something in me cracked open—it wasn’t a bad thing. It was something else, something I couldn’t name yet.

I lifted my arms and wrapped them around her in return, holding her just as tightly.

CHAPTER 12

Rose

I smoothed my hands over my new shirt. I’d gone for a quick shopping trip with Mags and Iris the day before, since nothing I owned fit anymore. I’d needed everything. I didn’t even own a bra, I’d never needed one. Now that I had options, I was trying to work out what my style was. Willow and Mags were similar, favoring jeans and dark colors, some leather thrown in. Iris was more eclectic. Yes, she was a jeans girl, but she loved color and more often went for comfort, though everything looked awesome on her. I realized yesterday that I liked things that were flowy, soft colors, but I also kind of wanted to show off my new curves a little. Nothing too out there, but nothing that felt like a sack.

I looked at myself in the mirror again. My blue jeans hugged my long legs. Over my tube top, I wore a white thermal and a pale pink sweater. It was soft and fitted, coming down to my butt, and not skintight, but it had a deep V that showed the tiniest bit of cleavage. I was warm and comfortable and felt feminine. Something I hadn’t ever felt in my life. I really hoped I didn’t have another of my random wing-unfurling incidents and destroy my new look.

I also had on some silver earrings, a couple bangles, and a fine silver chain with a small heart on it. The necklace was mine, but Mom had eagerly let me raid her jewelry box this morning for the rest. The vine markings on the side of my throat were also visible, but I was okay with that, it’s not like they were going anywhere, and I guess they were kind of pretty really. I tugged my sweater down at my shoulder. They hadn’t changed or gotten any closer, thank the goddess. I had no idea how much time I had, but so far, I seemed to have had a reprieve.

I picked up my new lip gloss and smoothed it on. I’d also gotten a little makeup, and I’d put some on this morning. I’d had trouble sleeping last night, so I should look tired, but somehow I didn’t. I’d had this restless feeling inside me, telling me to leave the house, to go into the city. I’d fought it, afraid it was a bat thing—a blood thing.

What if I went into the city and drained a bunch of unsuspecting humans? I mean, I didn’t feel murderously hungry, but what did I know? What I’d been feeling had definitely felt instinctual, though. So I’d resisted, too scared to move. I’d tried to take my mind off it by studying. There were books on spells, incantations, and potions piled all over my bedroom. When I’d finally gone to sleep, I dreamed, well, it’d been a nightmare, not Death. I still hadn’t heard from him, thank the goddess. No, I’d dreamed of a demon. Everything had been dark except for firelight and a twisted hideous, horned demon that had stared at me with terrifying red eyes.

I shook it off. It was just a stupid dream. I had enough visits from Death to know the difference between a nightmare and something he’d created to torment me. I’d take the former every single time.

I fixed my hair, brushing my now-thick locks. It was glossy and healthy. So different than how it had looked only a short time ago.

What would Ronan think of the way I looked now?

Would he care?

I’d been trying to imagine him, not as the stoic, emotionless male who’d visited me every day for months but as some new version of himself. Luna said he’d regained his emotions. What would that look like? Would he be completely altered?

I had no clue, but I was seriously impatient to see him and nervous as hell.

Luna was due back today with more blood. She’d been once more since our talk. We hadn’t spoken about Ronan the last time, and she hadn’t been able to stay. Anticipation filled me because, even though I knew it wouldn’t happen, I secretly hoped it would be Ronan coming to see me today. That instead of sending Luna, he’d come and offer to feed me himself.

My body heated and my cheeks burned.

Being as starved as I was for so long, puberty hadn’t ever really kicked in, but it had now. I was a hormonal mess, and I didn’t know what to do about it.

The sound of a car reached me from the street, and I walked to the window. Warrick and Willow pulled up, Relic behind them. They usually rode their bikes, but the snow had forced them to park them for the winter. I spun away, rushed down the stairs, and yanked the door open. I hadn’t seen my sister in a couple of days.

She grinned and strode over, giving me a hug. “Love the new threads.”

“Thanks.”

Warrick joined us, and the massive hound hooked me around the back of the neck and shoved me against his chest, patting my back awkwardly.

I looked up at him while Willow chuckled.

He shrugged a colossal shoulder. “Still shocks the shit out of me every time I see you. So you gonna have to put up with me acting fucking weird for a bit longer.”

I laughed and squeezed him back. “I’m cool with that.”

Relic sauntered over. The male was close to seven feet, and like most of the hounds, was heavily muscled and covered in tattoos. His long, dark hair was tied back, and his jaw was clean-shaven. He gave me a head to toe, as only the cocky hound could. “Damn, female.”

“Hello to you, too, Relic.”