Chapter 15

 

 

Hugh proved he was the gentlest giant alive by drying my body with a towel and running it through my hair while I tugged on clean underwear and a pair of pink jeans. I’d chosen a top covered in grenades and nunchucks as a warning to the trial lest it try to kill me, [76] and as I tugged it down my torso, Hugh gathered my hair into two braids, sending frissons of pleasure across my scalp as his fingers wove and twisted.

I could reaaaaally get used to this kinda treatment. He made me feel like a queen.

“There,” he murmured, satisfied as he tied off the second braid with a bobble I’d handed him, giving a gentle tug on the pigtail and sending a flash of heat through me.

No , I warned my body. No more sex. Only battles and potential murder if someone tries to kill me again.

Speaking of battles … I needed to see Brannigan. Not just because he hadn’t shown last night, but because he might know what to expect in my next trial. Being the co-founder of the whole damn hall and all.

“Thirty minutes until dawn,” Hugh said, checking an app on his phone.

He gave me serious caregiver vibes, and I was pretty sure he was the dad of our little family. I half expected him to hand me a packet of snacks and a water bottle so I kept hydrated, followed by a warning to be good and play nice. [77]

Instead, he clasped my hand and guided me out into the corridor in the pants he’d slept in, still gloriously shirtless.

Blake Hall always smelled of furniture wax and whiskey [78] but with Hugh this close, his woodsy scent filled my senses. Relaxed and happy, I swung our hands as we crossed the building’s quiet corridors.

“Get a room,” a female voice stage-whispered, and Hugh spun around with a growl of warning in his throat.

A gorgeous blonde strolled towards us with a croissant in one hand and a coffee in the other. Normally I would have sneered at the evidence of her being a morning person, but since I was also forced to be conscious at this ungodly hour, I stifled it.

“It’s all good, big guy,” I reassured him, patting his huge, bare chest. [79] He was conscious of the scarring down his side, but my steadfast worship of his burns was giving him confidence. I was proud when his body only slightly stooped when Vasiliki’s eyes travelled down his scars, her eyebrows going up in surprise. Like she hadn’t expected them to be so extensive. “Vasa’s a friend.”

I pressed into my Hugh as we walked, giving him a look of adoration and pride when he straightened and held me tighter.

“Hello, Rebel’s friend,” he greeted politely as we passed.

Vasa waved her coffee, her mouth stuffed full of pastry. My kinda girl. “Nice to meet you,” she said when she’d swallowed. “Rebel, we’re having a girl’s night soon. You should join us.”

“Yes!” I gasped in delight. Had it finally happened? Was I one of the girls? I’d always wanted to be one of the girls!

“I’ll tell you the details later; you’re in this next trial, right?”

Ugh. My mood sank.

“Yep,” I agreed gloomily.

“Well, good luck! Don’t let it kick your ass,” she replied, waving what was left of her croissant as our paths diverted.

That was easier said than done. I might have been deadly and reckless and brave as hell, but I was also getting beaten down with every attack.

First the trials, now the bounty on my head. I was … tired. Fed up. I just wanted to know who was after me so I could stab them in the throat and get it over with.

Murder was so much more fun when you weren’t on the receiving end.

“I’ll get you food, my scorpion,” Hugh offered, pressing a kiss to my hair like he knew how I was feeling. With the bond, he probably did. “You go see your new mate.”

I squeezed him before he could let go, drawing a last ounce of comfort from my big guy to shore up my bravery. Why hadn’t Brannigan come last night? Had he changed his mind? Did he not want me?

Hugh’s lips pressed to my forehead, interrupting my frantic thoughts. “Talk to him, Rebel. Don’t scare before you know truth.”

I gave him an extra long snuggle for that, honestly not wanting to let go. But I made my arms drop from around his waist, and stepped back, eyeing the short corridor that led to the library. The last time I’d been here, there’d been screaming. Now there was silence.

Hugh tugged one of my braids, his gaze gentle. “You’re badass assassin, remember?”

He was right. I could do this.

“I come back with food,” he said, and nudged me down the corridor, continuing on towards the dining hall.

Ugh. I could do this. It was just Brannigan; why was I so nervous?

“ Will come back,” I called after Hugh before he vanished from earshot. I just about caught his dreamy sigh. That man was so strange, but he was mine, so I loved him.

Wait, I loved him? When did that happen?

I stalked down the corridor toward the library just to outrace my realisation, my heart beating fast in my ribcage as I shouldered open the door and—halted at the low moan that came from one of the stacks.

Oh.

Right, okay.

That’s why he hadn’t come to my bed. He didn’t need to; he had someone else.