Chapter 12

12

CHARLOTTE

E xhausted, I force myself into a shower and stand under the powerful spray, letting the heat and pressure work its magic on my poor knotted shoulders. After my encounter with Killian, I couldn't sleep and spent far too long in the gym. I abused the weights and punching bag to vent the frustration I feel at the shit-show that is my life.

A few hours of restless slumber later, and I feel like I've been hit by a truck.

With a roll of my shoulders, I tilt my head back and let the water stream down my face, washing away any trace of the tears I shed last night, and Killian's scent, where he brushed them away.

I touch my cheek where his fingers tenderly caressed my skin and squeeze my eyes shut. Instead of remembering how broken he looked as the evidence of my pain ran down my face, I focus on how perfect he looked with my sister at his side and use that to turn my longing into anger.

I don't want him. He doesn't want me.

That's what I need to remember whenever the bond starts to cloud my mind with childish notions of happily ever after.

Splaying my hands on the white tiles, I grimace at my damaged knuckles, swollen and cut from the extreme punishment I gave them last night. I clean the dried blood from my fingers and wash my hair, making sure there isn't any hint of Killian's scent left.

As if that's going to help me stay centred when I have to face the man himself.

My wolf is quiet. She's stewing over his words last night.

Up to now, she was angry at me for running from him, unable to understand that it's not him I'm fleeing, it's the life that goes along with him. If he was anyone else, there would be no question about accepting the bond. But a prince? Possibly the future king? No. I just can't do it. I've spent years trying to get some independence from my mother. I'd become the focus of all her attention again if I mate someone important. She'd never leave me alone.

With a weary sigh, I rest my head against the cold wall.

She's going to see this as me trying to ruin Elodie's chances with him. Somehow, it will be my fault the fates saw fit to shove the two of us together.

"Are you planning on staying in there all day?" Theo thumps the door hard with his fist.

As the only woman on the team, I've been afforded special privileges. Meaning, I don't have to share the communal shower, and the boys have to wait all of five minutes until I'm done.

Apparently, even that is too much.

"I'm out!" I shout, snatching my towel off the hook on the back of the door before slipping it around me. "What's the big hurry?"

"Just come on." Theo sounds like a petulant child, hammering on the door again. "Zane wants us."

Taking a last look at the dark hollows under my eyes, I sigh at my reflection in the mirror and yank the door open, ready to rip Theo a new one. I doubt Zane meant he was to haul me out of the shower, not unless we're under attack.

"You couldn't wait two minutes?" I raise one eyebrow, as Theo looks me up and down with amusement as I stand there, hair pulled over one shoulder, bare legs sticking out from under my towel.

"You're dripping wet." Theo quips as I step out into the hall. "And you're not dressed."

"No shit, Sherlock. What do you think happens in a shower?" I frown when Theo grimaces, looking guilty as he casts a quick glance over his shoulder.

"I thought you had your clothes in there with you."

What? I'm starting to worry that Theo's sustained some kind of head injury, when through the steam pouring out of the shower room behind me, a scent carries to me. As my eyes widen, Theo mouths sorry right before Zane and Killian stride around the corner.

Theo and I turn as one, shoulder to shoulder, and stare at the two men before us.

Zane rolls his eyes. "Theo, I said to find Charlotte, not drag her naked out of the shower."

I don't look at Killian. I can't. But I feel his stare scorching my skin as he looks me over, from top to bottom, taking in the towel that's barely long enough to cover my ass, and the multiple shower heads he can spy through the open door to the communal bathrooms.

"I wanted to check out the facilities here for staff," Killian says by way of explanation as to why he's standing in the bunkhouse of his security staff, instead of doing princely things in the palace, like a normal royal would.

I'm sure he did want to check it out. Just like I wanted to sneak past his room in the dead of night to make sure he was alone in there.

A childish, triumphant feeling passes through me. Given he's here this early, scouting out where I'm sleeping, it seems I'm not the only one who's been stewing over our encounter all night.

"They're very comfortable. And the company has been adequate so far," I say, earning myself a shoulder from Theo, and a quirk of the lips from Zane.

"Would you be more comfortable with your own accommodation? Where you don't have to shower with your male colleagues." Killian's question sounds innocent enough, like he's genuinely making sure I'm happy living here among the boys, but that's not it at all. The vein bulging in his neck, and the way his eyes burn into mine suggests this is a problem for him. "Maybe we need to consider a room in the palace as part of our plans."

No, no, no. Bad idea.

"I don't want any special treatment," I announce, knowing I couldn't trust myself to be that close to him. "I'd prefer to stay here. That would be the proper thing to do, anyway."

If we're pretending to be courting as part of some arranged pairing, that would be the respectable way to proceed anyway.

Theo and Zane fade into the background as I stare into his piercing eyes, watching the conflicting emotions swim in the depths of his mind. Killian knows I'm right, but he doesn't like it. Slowly, his gaze turns back to the large shower room, with six showers around the edges, releasing me from his thrall.

The hatred with which he stares at the inanimate objects is terrifying.

"We're not to make any announcements, but Charlotte, you'll be by Killian's side at all times…" Zane continues to give instructions while I stand there, drops of water pooling at my feet, my mate only feet away, seething. A drip of water trickles down my neck and between my breasts, before soaking into the white towel.

Killian's eyes follow its path and then flick back up to mine, blazing.

I shiver under his watchful gaze, feeling my nipples straining against the fluffy material.

"Get dressed." Killian grits out through clenched teeth, before turning to Zane. "We can discuss this further when Charlotte isn't practically naked."

The anger in Killian's tone clearly surprises Zane, but he nods politely and tips his head toward my room. The urge to rebel against Killian's order is strong, especially when I can see how out of sorts he is. But I don't. Instead, I turn on my heel, letting him see just how short this towel is and enjoy the feel of his gaze travelling over my legs as I sashay away. I'm halfway down the corridor when I hear Killian barking orders.

"I want a separate shower installed for the females. Immediately." The door handle to the bathroom rattles violently in his hand as he inspects it. "And in the meantime, at least put a fucking lock on this thing."