Mending the Beast (Awakening Pride #10) - Lacey Thorn Page 0,54

led the way into the woods.

Ariel started to ask about leaving Rissa alone then saw Slade had slipped out and joined the other woman. Ariel followed Matheus, though she was certain she could find the cabin she and Daniel were staying in without help. Still, she walked behind Matheus and did her best to pay attention to what he was saying.

“These cabins behind the main lodge are for…” He paused as if changing his mind on what word to use midsentence. “Those who might want to be left alone. Seems to fit you so far.”

She nodded.

“You’ve got the one farthest out, so you’ll have as much privacy as you want. Meals can be taken at the lodge with everybody else, or I can bring them here if you guys want. Just let me know. Cabin is fully stocked. I took care of it earlier. Lots of snack foods and drinks, but not much in the way of making your own meals. If you wanted to.”

She smiled when he glanced toward her but didn’t say anything. Truth was she loved to cook. Found it calming. Sometimes, when she couldn’t sleep at night, she’d head to the kitchen. Often, while Daniel was gone, she’d stayed up the whole night baking. Then she’d give everything away. Sometimes, she’d sing, but really, she hadn’t felt like that in a long time. And drawing. God, when was the last time she’d picked a pencil up and sketched anything? Colorado. It had been in Colorado.

“There you are. Looks like your mate beat us here. Hey, Daniel,” Matheus called with a wave of his hand. “I’ll leave you here and wish you good night. Number’s by the phone if you want me to bring by breakfast in the morning. Night!”

The last was called to Daniel, but he didn’t reply back. His gaze was fixed on her, watching as she walked toward him. His feet were braced shoulder width apart, arms held loosely at his sides. His eyes glowed in the starlight, beckoning her to come to him.

“Everything good?” she asked as nerves got the better of her.

He held out his hand to her, and after a moment, she took it and let him lead them both inside. Once the door was closed and locked behind them, he pulled her into his arms and held her. Nothing more than his arms around her, holding her close as he seemed to breathe her in. And just like that, her nerves dissolved. Being in his arms was…peace. He was her peace, her calm in the storm of her thoughts and emotions. All this time, she’d been searching for calm and running from the one person who could bring it to her.

“He told me he liked my smile.” The words were out of her mouth before she realized the step she was taking. She’d never spoken of that day, other than to mention what they’d done to her. She’d shoved it all so deep inside her, doing her best to lock it away. But it kept spilling out, spilling over into the present. Climbing out in her dreams and drawing her back.

She felt Daniel tremble against her, but he didn’t say anything. One palm rubbed up and down her spine, offering support while she spoke.

“I refused to smile for the longest time…after. I… He liked my smile, then he took it from me.”

Daniel’s hand paused mid-stroke before slowly continuing.

“I thought he was attractive, and I couldn’t believe he was interested in me. I soaked up every lie he told me and—”

“Don’t even think to tell me that you were in any way responsible for what happened to you.” Daniel’s voice was a hard growl, though his touch remained gentle. “Nobody deserves what they did.”

“I went with him willingly.”

He eased her back then lifted her chin until their gazes met. “That’s what they do. It’s what they train for. To win your trust and bring you in so they can do unspeakable horrors to you. To so many of us. Because they take joy in our pain. Because they want to destroy us. Not just physically, but mentally. Emotionally. They inflict wound after wound and leave destruction in their wake. None of what happened was your fault, Ariel. Never try to say otherwise. Never think otherwise. It was done to you. Not with you. And I’d go back and kill every single one of them if I could. I’d go back and find you before you met the monster who made you