I swallowed hard and forced a smile to my face. “Bella, I know you must have a thousand questions for Tavlor, and I know he has questions of you two, but my head is spinning and I need a shower desperately after fighting the wolf shifters before we came.”
The excuse was shit and I knew it. I was running from the situation. I needed a place to be alone. I needed to cry without my sisters fawning over me, without Tavlor scrutinizing me. I didn’t need him thinking I was weak. Not after everything we had been through.
Courtney’s mouth dropped open. “You fought... what?”
She shot a look at Bella, who lifted her shoulders as though to say had no clue as to what I was talking about.
My smile this time was genuine. It eased the pain that had stalled inside of me, poisoning me into a paralysis. “As I said, ask Tavlor anything you need to know, but I need to retreat for a little.” I tilted my head to the staircase. “Is there still a room built for me or...”
I wasn’t quite sure how to finish that sentence. I highly doubted my sisters wouldn’t have a place for me for when I returned home.
Bella got to her feet and nodded. “Yes. I built you one after you left.” She moved past me so she could take me there herself. I almost wished she could have just told me where to go. I still wanted some time to digest everything with Tavlor and I wasn’t going to do that until I was able to be alone. “It’s not very luxurious yet, but it has a bed and its own bathroom. You won’t be disturbed.”
Perfect.
I grabbed my sister up in a hug. “Thank you,” I said. I left my hand on her forearm as she turned for the stairs. “I’ll find it.”
Tavlor got to his feet as I walked away and I waved him down again. “Please, stay for a bit. My sisters will want t
o talk to you. I won’t be too long.”
He looked like he was going to object, so I simply smiled and walked away. I didn’t want to hear anything else he had to say. I was in too much pain at the moment and I was afraid of what would come out of my mouth if I spoke again.
I walked along the corridor and found a door with my name on it, quite literally. I smiled as I ran my fingers over the AVA inscribed in the wood.
“Oh, Bella.” She had such a kind, beautiful soul. I was so lucky to have a sister like her.
I pushed open the door to reveal a large bedroom. Bella had been right, it was rather sparse. As I closed the door behind me, I began to throw some magic around. It felt good to focus on something that wasn’t Tavlor and his rejection of me.
My heart hurt just thinking about it. A spark of magic shot out, creating a large quilt that fit the bed. Tavlor wasn’t the sort of guy that got entangled with someone like me. I didn’t want his life to be ruined because of me.
Then why are you so bothered by his answer, a voice questioned.
That was the part that annoyed me. I shouldn’t be annoyed by it because I knew he was right.
I flicked my wrist again. A chair with a purple cushion appeared exactly how I pictured it. I was tempted just to collapse on top of it and let myself take a small nap.
But I couldn’t leave Tavlor there by himself. As much as he was curious about my sisters, I knew he wouldn’t last long in their presence. They were far too intense for a man like him.
I pressed my lips together. Something was missing. I glanced up at the ceiling. The smooth oak was a chestnut brown, almost red depending on how the light hit it.
Lights...
Maybe some fairy lights to soften the overall look.
I reached over my head and wiggled my fingers, twirling fairy lights appearing above me and making the whole room relax.
I sighed as I looked around, then spoke one more word and a fluffy rug appeared beneath my feet.
“Much better,” I said.
When I had left, I stayed in a few different places. Some were nice, others were small and filled with tension. But nothing felt like home until now.
I took a seat on the edge of my bed and smoothed out the quilt, the soft material running against my skin. The air was cool even inside and I glanced over to the window, considering, for a moment, if I should open it and let fresh air inside.
I reached up, unconsciously ready to hold my locket in my hand, the heaviness helping me find my center.
With a snap of my wrist, I created a jewelry box next to the bed and carefully took off the locket. My skin suddenly felt cold, almost like I was removing an important part of me. I frowned, hesitating. I didn’t want to get rid of my mother just yet, even if I knew it was important to stow her away for now.