Page 56 of Ghost

I screeched out a protest as Julian fumbled to hold me before I fell onto the floor.

“Titus!” Miles sounded horrified, but there was a gleam of amusement in his eyes that contradicted his words. “Why would you do such a thing? How uncouth.”

“Shut up.” Titus pointedly didn’t look in my direction, and fixated his focus toward Damen instead. “She’ll be fine for a while. I’m going outside.”

He didn’t even wait for a response before he sullenly stalked out of the room.

Damen and Miles were both snickering, and I couldn’t imagine why. Titus was angry at me. “Don’t laugh! He hates me now!”

My statement made them graduate from giggles to full out laughter.

“Why are you laughing?” I glared at them, angry they could find humor in my misfortune. “None of this is funny.”

“It’s alright, darling.” Julian tilted my face toward his. His eyes seemed to be searching for something. “Titus only has a problem that he needs to get under control.”

“Is it work related?” That was a suspicious reason, but Julian had mentioned work earlier. “Because of what happened with the hyenas? Should I go after him and offer to help?”

The laughter stopped instantly, and all three boys stared at me. Expressions I couldn’t place leveled in my direction.

I didn’t like those looks—it made me feel as though I disappointed them. “What? If you’re going to be mean, I’ll just go take my shower now.”

The three of them jumped into action as if my question was a signal. Damen covered his face with his hands, Miles fled from the room, and Julian began to blink rapidly.

“You need to bathe…” Julian said, his voice weird.

“Yes…” I replied just as slowly. Perhaps they didn’t realize how disgusting I felt. And I was still in pain. Hot water would help tremendously. Titus had said I’d be fine, there was no better time.

“I’m not used to this much activity,” I pointed out. Had they forgotten I was almosteaten? And none of them even seemed tired. “I need to work on my stamina. I’m very sweaty and dirty. Can you please turn off the bathroom cameras?”

Damen made a whimpering noise, his face still hidden behind his hands. But it was Julian who responded. “Damen will turn off the cameras. Let’s get you clean.”

Damen, who still hadn’t looked up, only waved his hand in the air without a word.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Bianca

Reflections

Julian had not only escorted me upstairs, but proceeded to follow me into the bathroom.

My mind was so full from earlier, I hadn’t even noticed him at first. It was only after I turned on the water when I realized he remained in the room.

He stood near the door, shifting uncomfortably. His arms were crossed, and his focus fixated on the window on the other side of the room.

“Julian!” I snapped, pointing at him.

He jumped, and an instant later he was in front of me. “What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong?” I couldn’t keep the disbelief from my voice. “What’s wrong is that you can’t stay in here.” Grabbing his arm, I attempted to drag him toward the door. “There’s only glass separating the shower from the rest of the room.”

“I know,” Julian replied, shooting a curious look toward the shower. He hadn’t moved an inch despite my attempts to pull him forward.

I froze, dropping my hand from his arm. Perhaps he hadn’t realized. “I would benaked.”

“I know,” he repeated, his face darkening. His gaze turned from mine and he stared at some point over my shoulder. And when he spoke, his voice was a pitch lower than usual. “People are naked while bathing. I’m trying not to think about that. The last time you spent any length of time away from us, you were attacked.”

Why did he have to remind me?