To heal a Rogue

BONNIE

Delta walked in with a look on her face that I did not trust one bit.

"What?" I demanded, my cheek heating as memories of his kiss, his touch, and that wicked tongue came rushing back.

"Nothing."

The way she delivered it made it painfully obvious that it was anything but nothing.

"You’re doing the thing."

"What thing? I’m not doing anything."

"The face." I narrowed my eyes at her. "You know exactly what happened, and you’re waiting for me to admit it. But I’m not giving you the satisfaction."

As if to reinforce my point, I tugged the blanket higher, covering my breasts.

Delta pressed her lips together, valiantly attempting to contain her smile. She failed.

"Well?" Her eyebrows rose. "Did something happen?"

"Ew. No." I looked away. "Nothing really happened. Another royal drama just had to come along and ruin the moment."

Gosh, it actually hurt admitting that out loud.

So I changed the subject before she could make me regret it.

"Do you know much about what happened?"

"Yes."

"Oh." I turned back to her. "Then you have to tell me."

"There isn’t much to tell." The glint in her eyes suggested she was enjoying this far too much. "The rogue who tried to kill you, before Alpha Lysander put his own life on the line, was being treated in the royal infirmary. From what I heard, he’s most likely escaped."

My amusement disappeared.

I sat up straighter. "Escaped?"

She nodded. "Yeah... those rogues are moving overtime."

"So there are spies inside the royal house."

"It would seem that way."

"That actually makes sense." I drew my knees toward my chest, wrapping my arms around them as an uneasy feeling settled in my stomach. "Considering how the King was killed, and how easily a rogue managed to infiltrate the estate when I was supposed to be publicly shamed and painted as the killer of the late King."

The more I thought about it, the worse it felt.

"I worry about the lesser caste now. There’s going to be hate. Hostility. Fear does that to people."

"It’s the way of the world." Delta settled onto the edge of the bed. "Everyone has goals. Desires. And when they can’t achieve them honestly, it turns some people into monsters."

She paused, her expression briefly darkening.

"I’d know."

I glanced at her, but before I could ask what she meant, she continued.

"But I’m sure Alpha Lysander will figure this out. It might even help with how the lower caste sees him."

I snorted. "You glaze him a lot, you know that?"

"He’s put in the work." She didn’t even blink. "Like I said, you should see Lily of the Valley. So my glaze is valid."

I laughed.

"I’m sure he’ll manage here too." she added.

"Well," I stretched my arms above my head, "I definitely have to see Lily of the Valley for myself now."

I got to my feet, my joints protesting after the long day and even longer night.

"I’m going to take a bath."

"I’ll help set the temperature." Delta was already moving. "Is there one you prefer?"

"It’s just water." I waved her off. "I can manage that myself."

"You’re my mistress." She said it as though that settled the matter completely. "Alpha Lysander put you in my charge. It’s my job to keep you comfortable enough to stay awake until the danger is averted."

I laughed. "I appreciate that. Truly. But I wasn’t raised with luxury or comfort, and I don’t think I’ll adjust easily to having someone else run my bath for me."

I glanced toward the bathroom.

"I like doing simple things myself. It’s one of the few things that still feels like mine. It gives autonomy in a world where I don’t usually feel like I have a lot."

Something in her expression softened.

"I’m glad you’re here," I added. "I have a feeling we could actually become friends. But I don’t want a slave, Delta. Or a servant. I’ve never been comfortable with how brutal this caste system can be to people. Our people."

She nodded slowly, understanding passing through her eyes.

"Duly noted." She sat back at the edge of the bed. "I’ll be right here if you need anything."

I stepped into the bathroom and turned on the shower, twisting the handle all the way toward cold before placing my hand beneath the stream.

The water was icy.

It didn’t bother me.

I had gone without warm water for most of my life, and the shock against my skin felt almost grounding after everything the night had thrown at me. It was something familiar. Something simple. Something I understood.

After a moment, I shut the water off and crossed to the sink.

A new toothbrush sat on the counter, still sealed in its packaging.

Lysander’s doing, obviously.

He really was moving fast to make sure I had everything I needed.

I tore open the package and brushed my teeth quickly before stepping back into the shower.

My hand reached for the bottles lined up along the shelf.

There was a feminine wash first. I picked it up, unscrewed the cap, and gave it a quick sniff.

It was floral. Super light and pleasant.

Then my eyes drifted to the masculine bottle beside it.

I hesitated before picking that one up too.

The moment I smelled it, I knew.

Lysander.

It was the exact scent that clung to him, layered beneath his own naturally sweet scent.

Something low and deeply inconvenient twisted in my chest.

I immediately put the bottle back.

"Weird," I muttered to myself.

Then I grabbed the feminine wash instead, working it through my hair and over my skin beneath the cold spray, determined to think about absolutely anything other than him.

I wrapped a towel around myself once I was finished and stepped back into the room to find Delta already hard at work.

The windows had been thrown open, morning light spilling across the room in warm gold as the sun began its climb. Delta held up a dress, pink and delicate, giving it a little shake to smooth out the wrinkles.

"It’s a little wrinkled," she remarked. "I’ll find out where I can get a steamer."

I walked over and looked at it. "It’s not bad. I just don’t know if I should wear it."

My gaze drifted toward the covered photo frame on the wall, the one still hidden beneath its dark cloth.

"This is his mother’s room," I murmured. "I don’t know if he’d want me wearing something that belonged to her."

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