Page 23 of Out of Nowhere

It was hard to even argue with that, even if I secretly wondered if he was doing it to screw with me.

“Fine. I’ll sleep in this.”

I turned around just in time to see him eye up my outfit and give me a look that said,Suit yourself, but you’re going to be miserable.

I lay down on the bed, nearly hanging off the edge. “Stay on your side.”

He laughed in response.

Chapter Eight

Kaden walked into the bedroom, looking as if he’d already been up for hours as I was just waking. It had taken a while to fall asleep last night, and even then, it had been fitful. Nightmares hadn’t woken me this time. The air had grown cooler, and I’d tired of my damp shirt and pants tugging at me in the middle of the night.

He nodded toward a pile of clothing on a nearby chair and a pair of boots sitting on the ground. “Those are for you. We’ve got a lot to do.”

I sat up, clutching the blanket to my chest, feeling every bit as naked as I was underneath it. “What are we doing?”

His eyes seemed to fixate on my bare shoulders for a moment before he turned away. “There’s a price for vengeance. We need to be ready. Herrick won’t waste any time coming for us. He can’t. The longer he gives us, the stronger we’ll be.”

“What are we…”

He was already out the door before I finished asking what he had planned. If that was any indication of how today was going to go, I’d better lower my expectations more than they’d already been. The only way to do that was to pick up a shovel and start digging, because it was tough to get lower than rock bottom.

I got dressed in cotton pants and boots. They were definitely fitted to someone with fewer curves than me, hugging a little tight in the breasts and butt, but I was just happy to have an extra set of clothing. Beggars couldn’t be choosers, and right now, my tin cup was empty.

Laughter rang out from the kitchen as I made my way downstairs. There were plates heaped with food on the table where Tiber, Luisca, and their daughters sat. Marina, the younger daughter I’d met last night, was joined by another, darker-haired girl who looked more like Tiber.

Kaden was standing on the other side of the room, leaning on the counter and drinking tea. He took in my outfit, seeming to pause in the areas where it didn’t fit as well, and his mood seemed to be darkening. If he didn’t think the clothes looked good, he should’ve given me more time to pack. For now, this was what it was. If I looked bad, or made a bad impression, so be it.

“Billie, come eat and meet my daughters,” Luisca said. “That’s Marina, who you saw last night, and that’s Chelsie, our oldest.”

“Hi, girls.” I waved and smiled.

They smiled back but looked speechless. They probably didn’t get too many guests.

“Sit and eat,” Luisca said, pulling out a chair for me.

Kaden straightened and put his tea down. “Get something to eat and then meet me in the field just south of here.”

No hello, no smile. That was it before he walked out.

I took a seat at the table, not really wanting to sit anymore. Not wanting to eat, either. What the hell had I done now?

Marina was looking my way. “Is he mad at—”

“Why don’t you two take your dishes in the other room?” Luisca said to her daughters.

Both of their mouths gaped.

“Really?” Marina said. “But you always say—”

“Go in the other room,” Luisca said,giving them a motherly stare.

They took their plates and scrambled out of their seats, seeming quite willing to embrace the novelty of the morning.

Marina stopped short at the door. “Can we take our breakfast over to—”

“Go wherever you want,” Tiber said, waving a hand.