Page 60 of Wrathful King

“Nothing.” I turned on the faucet, then rushed to clean myself off. The cuts stung and blood refused to stop flowing. “Fuck.” My eyes darted around frantically until I found the first aid kit. I rifled through it, searching for some gauze and wrapping it around my wrists, then pulled my sleeves down to my palms.

Once done, I exited the bathroom and came face-to-face with my girlfriends.

“Jesus, I thought you drowned in there,” Raven grumbled, eyeing me suspiciously.

“Raven!” Athena scolded her, giving her a pointed look.

Tugging on my sleeves, I shook my head. “Nope, no such luck.”

Raven closed the distance between us and wrapped her arms around me. “I’m sorry, that was a shitty thing for me to say.” I shook my head. “We’re worried about you,” she added.

“Don’t be. I’m fine. I’d be even better if Phoenix were here.”

“I know. Soon.” Isla’s response was as vague as everyone else’s, and I was getting fed up with their placating.

“When?”

She grumbled a response, and I forced a smile—grimace, really—while the three of them shared a look. Ignoring their glances, I padded over to the arched doorway that led outside, the blue of the sea everywhere and clean ocean calming the demons inside me. I lowered myself to the cold marble. I braced my hands on either side of my hips and leaned over, watching my feet swing forward and back. I could almost feel the water under my toes, so I guessed it was almost high tide. This was the only thing that calmed me these days. One step out of my bedroom and you could dive in, swimming in the crystal blue ocean.

I felt safe out here. Not inside Amon’s mansion. Not when the windows were closed. Not when Papà and Amon lurked around.

That feeling of being trapped gripped me unless my feet were dangling above the blue waters.

“Jesus, this place is gorgeous,” Isla remarked.

“So majestic,” Athena added, kicking off her shoes and taking a seat next to me. Her shoulder bumped into mine. “How are you?”

I smiled, watching a school of fish rush by. “Good.”

Raven and Isla slipped their shoes off and took a seat on the other side of me.

“You’re not,” Raven declared softly. “But that’s okay.”

My lips thinned. Everyone wanted to talk about it, and all I wanted to do was forget.

“I still struggle sometimes,” Isla remarked, her tone hesitant. “It’s been months since I was taken, and I was only gone for a few days. It’s okay to admit you’re not okay.”

Two heartbeats of silence passed.

None of this was helping. I knew they were trying to make things better by wrapping me in cotton wool, but I almost wished they acted like assholes.

“Where’s Phoenix?” I asked, frustration bubbling inside me. “That would help me.”

The tension that permeated the air was thick. Isla smiled, but there were so many things off with it. For one, it didn’t reach her eyes.

“Maestro booked her for the season and insisted she not take any days off,” Athena elaborated.

My brows furrowed.Not even to come see me?I took a deep breath, recalling how Grandma and Papà evaded answering me too. The memory was fuzzy, but I couldn’t lose my shit like I did with them.Breathe, Reina.

I had to keep it together.

“Yes, he’s a real dick,” Isla added. “But a great opportunity.”

That didn’t sound like my sister at all. She never—fucking ever—put anything or anyone above us. We were always there for each other, through thick and thin.

“B-but she’s okay?” I whispered, struggling to come to terms with it. Phoenix and I always stuck together. When I planned to run before marrying Dante, it was going to be the two of us disappearing. It never occurred to me to leave her behind. Unless… Maybe Phoenix followed through on her own. “Is she really okay?” I added in a stronger, more challenging voice.

Only Isla and Athena nodded in unison, while Raven avoided eye contact with me.