I gave her a nod before turning and heading toward the bathroom and closing myself inside. As soon as I was alone, I rested my back against the door and closed my eyes. I felt like my mind was spinning, unable to catch up with all the changes in the last hour.
I’ve been around a lot of very powerful people. I’ve been around a lot of cruel assholes too. But none of them were anywhere near the level of dominant force like President Belvini. I wasn’t even in his presence anymore, yet my skin still felt itchy with nerves.
I looked around the bathroom, noting a huge circular tub with steaming water rising out of it. There was a wraparound bamboo bench, with stairs built into it to easily climb into the tub, and all over the bench were various soaps, oils, razors, and towels.
I looked over, noting the huge window letting in light at the far end of the room. It would be all too easy to shatter the glass and attempt an escape. I wanted so badly to be out of Spector’s grasp. But right now, someone on Belvini’s payroll was probably watching my aunt’s every move. One tip. That was all it would take, and then enforcers would overrun her and take her away forever.
Gritting my teeth, I turned away from the window and stripped off my clothes before settling into the tub. I immediately hissed at the heat, but that hiss turned into a sigh as my skin got used to the temperature. I dunked my head under and then relaxed back, letting out a sigh as the hot water soothed my exhausted muscles. I was already feeling better after the training, since both my vamp genes and my hybrid side made me heal super fast. But Oz had pushed me way over the limit today, and I was still sore.
As I washed, scrubbed, shaved, and oiled, I thought about the job that President Belvini was making me do.
I have a job for you, Miss Coven.
His words from earlier echoed in my head.
I knew it was going to be dangerous. As soon as he made me test my lure on him, I knew that whatever job he had planned wasn’t going to be easy or innocent. Right before I was dismissed, he told me that I would receive the details for my mission after I met with his team of women to get groomed. Those were his words. As if I were a dog to be primped and showcased.
Belvini didn’t need to spell it out for me. I had a pretty good idea of what he was going to make me do, and the thought had me freaking the fuck out.
I dunked my head under the water again, letting out a scream beneath the water. Crow’s and Tomb’s faces swirled in my mind. The way they’d tried to protect me earlier, the way they’d stood by my side, it made my heart swell. I wished that I had more time with them to explore this connection between us. I felt safety in their presence and an instinctual connection that couldn’t be denied. But I wanted to know them. Their pasts, likes, dislikes. It was strange knowing my spider had picked them for mates when I truly didn’t know much about them.
I just hoped that I’d have the chance to know them better before Spector ruined us all.
I emerged from the water and gnawed on my lip, anxious about everything that was going to happen.
“Psst. Motley?” a familiar voice called. I whipped my head to the side and stared wide-eyed at Stiles’s back. Where had he come from?
“Cover up, will you?” he said, his tone rushed.
“Oh my gods. Why are you freaking in here?” I hissed, scrambling for a towel.
“Trust me, this is fucking awkward for me too,” he snapped, his shoulders tense. He was practically kissing the wall, standing as far away from me as possible and keeping his face nearly smashed against the wallpaper. “This this is the only chance we have to talk alone.”
“What do you want to talk about?” I asked before stepping out of the bathtub and wrapping myself in a fluffy robe.
He still didn’t turn around, but answered me. “I heard you got put on a mission. I wanted to make sure you weren’t planning on doing anything stupid, like trying to defect.”
I walked over and tapped him on the shoulder, letting him know it was okay to turn around. He flinched at my touch but finally faced me, and I gasped at what I saw. He had two black eyes, what had to be a broken nose, still with blood caked to his swollen nostrils, and greasy hair. My brother always seemed so put together and refined, but right now he looked utterly beaten.
My heart gave the slightest twinge.
“What happened to you?” I asked.
“I don’t have time to get into that. Let’s just say I got an unimpressive demon and our father expects only the best,” he said in a dead voice while shaking his head. “Look, we probably only have five minutes at best. I’ve tried coming to see you before, but they have you on lockdown, and Dad doesn’t like it when I mingle too much with the other hybrids.”
I assessed him with a frown, not sure why he was even bothering. I remembered what Cheryl said, about Stiles not liking some of the things Spector was doing. Maybe she was right. “Okay...So why are you here?”
“I’m here because I want to make sure you do whatever they ask you to do, Motley.”
“Why?”
Stiles sighed and scrubbed his hands down his face. “I’m working on something, okay? And I’m so fucking close to figuring out how to do it. I just need more time. Then you, me, and Cheryl can get the fuck out of here. Play the game, do what you need to do, and don’t give them any more
