"Just because I was brought lunch doesn't mean you are off the hook Jiro." I pointed my fork at him before I stabbed it into the waiting steak. "I still have more questions for you."
I cut a piece of the very rare steak and when I placed it in my mouth an explosion of flavour danced across my tongue. It was so good that I let out a moan of pleasure as I savoured the taste.
"Should I leave you and the steak alone?" Jiro rumbled as he watched.
Admittedly I had forgotten Jiro was there the moment I started eating and my face heated as I flipped him off before taking another bite.
I heard his rumble of laughter as I continued to enjoy my lunch.
Once the last bite of steak was gone I whimpered in disappointment as I looked at the lone vegetables and wished they were meat instead.
I poked them with my fork as if they were about to jump off my plate then sighed as I stabbed a perfectly cooked carrot and took a bite. The moment it entered my mouth I knew it had been a mistake and promptly spit it back out onto the plate.
"Is there something wrong with the food?" Jiro raised an eyebrow as he watched the interaction between me and the carrot.
"No..." I sobbed. "There is something wrong with me." I pushed the plate away and pulled my knees up to my chest. "I can't even eat food I used to enjoy anymore."
I looked over at Jiro as tears finally spilled down my face. "Why did this have to happen to me?"
The room grew silent except for my quiet sobs as I buried my head in my knees.
I looked up when I felt a large warm hand on my back grounding me.
"I do not know Riley, but maybe you could put a little trust in Lord Kade so that he can help you. He can't undo what has already been done but he can help you find answers." Jiros voice was soft and it was the first time I had heard so many words come out of his mouth at once.
"Thanks Jiro." I whispered as I wiped at my face with the heel of my palm. "I guess you are off the hook for now, but Kade is going to get quite the lecture when he wakes up."
Jiro chuckled as he walked over to the food cart to retrieve a bottle of water and pushed it into my hand.
"Now drink some water and go take a bath to relax."
"Yes dad." I responded sarcastically before I downed half the bottle of water then dragged myself over to the bathroom.
When I closed the door behind me I took a deep breath as I felt some of the tension leave my shoulders. I was finally alone, or as alone as I could be here. There were already fresh towels and clean clothes set out for me on the counter, and the bath had already been prepared.
As I stripped off my clothing and walked over to the tub it took all of my willpower to not look at my reflection, to not see the changes that were happening too fast. The morning had already been too much and I didn't want to add to emotional upheaval by looking at the monster I was becoming.
I sank into the steaming water, letting it wash over me like a warm blanket. The heat seeped into my sore muscles, loosening the knots of tension that had been coiling in my back since I left Marcus and the pack behind. I closed my eyes, letting my head fall back against the cool porcelain of the tub, and for a moment, I could almost pretend I was back home, the familiar sounds of my mom bustling in the kitchen, my father in his study talking to Alex. But the silence of this place was different, unsettling. It wasn't the silence of an empty room, but a heavy, listening silence that seemed to press in on me and I knew that somewhere in this place Kade was sensing my fluctuating emotions. The scent of the bath oils wasn't the floral or citrus scents from home I was used to, but a rich, spicy aroma that reminded me of sandalwood and cinnamon, a scent that was distinctly Kade. I felt a shiver run down my spine, a prickle of awareness that had nothing to do with the cooling water as I felt a stir in the bond. Kade was awake, even though sunset was still hours away and I was sure that I was the cause of his distress.
After the water cooled enough to be uncomfortable I reluctantly climbed out of the tub. I dried off and put on the clean clothes that were laid out for me. Again they fit perfectly, and I was starting to wonder if Sebastian was some kind of wizard who could conjure the perfect sized clothing out of thin air.
I finally convinced myself to looked in the mirror so that I could tie my unruly hair back from my face. The person staring back at me was me, but not me. My skin had a pale luminescence that I couldn't deny any longer, my lips were fuller and a dark red. My eyes were still storm grey but the crimson flecks had spread and seemed to swirl in my irises. I also noticed that my hair had grown. Where it used to sit just past my shoulders it now curled halfway down my back, and was more vibrant than the dark russet red I was used to. I leaned in closer to take a better look at my features and against my better judgment I opened my mouth, and there glinting back at me were fangs. Not as prominent as a vampire's fangs, but still long enough to not be natural in a human's mouth.
"What am I becoming?" I whispered to my reflection as my hands started to shake. So much for having a relaxing bath. I knew I shouldn't have looked, but I did anyway and now I was even more upset than I was before I had a bath.
I left the bathroom and found that Jiro had vanished, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I padded over to the window and pulled back the heavy curtain to look out at the gloom that never seemed to leave this place. The only thing I could see was the dark woods that surrounded the manor, the trees like silent sentinels. I didn't see any wildlife, no birds, no squirrels, nothing that would indicate that there was any life here.
The silence was broken by a soft knock on the door. "Riley, are you alright?" Sebastian's concerned voice came from the other side of the door. "Kade felt your distress and asked that I check up on you."
"I'm fine." I lied, my voice cracking as I spoke. "Just a bit overwhelmed."
Sebastian opened the door and stepped inside, his brow furrowed with worry. "It is a lot to take in. Would you like me to make you some tea?"
"No thank you." I sighed and turned from the window. "How did you cope with the loss of your humanity?"
Sebastian was quiet for a moment as he considered my question. "I was deathly ill, and the change was a gift for me. It gave me a life I would have otherwise not had." He paused as he looked at me. "Your transition is different though. It started when Kade saved you by using his own blood yes, but the mate bond also influenced this more gentle change. When one is usually turned it is painful and some don't survive it. The Goddess is making you something strong that can stand beside Kade to protect both the vampires and shifters."
"The Goddess is making me into monster." I whispered as I looked down at my hands.
"No." Sebastian said firmly as he walked over to me. "The fates do not make mistakes. You were brought to this world for a reason. We just do not know what that reason is yet."
I let out a shaky breath. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to project. I didn't think he could feel anything while he was supposed to be resting."
"The bond is stronger than you realize. He has been awake since you got into the bath." Sebastian admitted with a slight smile. "He is fighting the urge to come to you."
"Why is he fighting it?" I looked up at Sebastian with my confused and tear filled eyes.
"Because he knows you need space to process everything. He also doesn't want to overwhelm you with his presence."
I nodded in understanding.