Chapter 607 Chapter 607
Journee looked at the door again and then the window. There were four men standing with Asher outside it talking. Every few seconds, one of them would glance in at her. Each of them had come to look at her when she was stuck in cat form. She wondered if any of them were the king. None of them seemed to treat one of them differently. The big man could be, but he was pretty scary, and she hoped not. Closing her eyes, she breathed through another round of shooting pain in her leg. Shaelan had asked if she wanted more medication, but she wanted to be clear-headed.
She had tried not to shift back, as Shaelan had suggested, but her cat suddenly gave her no choice. Journee didn’t know if it was because of the medication she’d been given. It was strange how it made her feel, and she probably hadn’t slept as much as she had in the last few days, but her cat had had enough. It was the first time she’d had that much trouble with her animal. Then again, they were both in agreement when they were on that island that staying off everyone’s radar was the most important. She was panicking until Asher had come into the room. She didn’t know why, but her cat immediately calmed down and allowed Journee to control the shift more. If he hadn’t been there, she may not be able to shift again. Ever. What was it about him that had done that? Was it because she knew him when they were kids? That had to be it, surely. What other reason would there be for her cat to trust someone that was technically a complete stranger suddenly?
She looked around the room again. There was nothing in here but a table and three chairs. She had no idea where she was, and the walls were starting to close in on her. She had never been inside anywhere very long, and both she and her animal were uncomfortable without fresh air and open space.
Turning, she looked back out the window. A small redheaded woman was there now. She handed Asher a plate. Her mouth watered, even though she had no idea what was on it or who it was for. She was hungry. That wasn’t anything new, but she hadn’t been alert very much in the past few days, and her stomach was reminding her of missed meals.
Two of the men walked away, and the other two turned and looked at her. She didn’t like being looked at. Turning away from them, she adjusted how her leg was resting on the chair. Fionna had brought her in a chair with wheels on it but had taken it when she left. Journee stared at her leg like it had betrayed her by breaking. The women looking after her were nice; it had been the first time since she was a child, being around other women for more than a stolen moment. Fionna was harder than the rest, but Journee knew it was from something she had gone through. A few times, she had a softer look in her eyes, and then, without warning, it was shut off, and a cold look would replace it. Mika was the same, except hers turned to sadness. Journee knew that she had lost someone; she understood that feeling all too well. She did wonder about the scar on the woman’s face. It was old and faded, but something had happened that put a scar down her face and neck, and she wondered what that could have been.
She sucked in a breath and held it when the door opened. Asher came in, and he had the plate with him.
“Gia thought you might like something to eat.” He set the plate on the table and stood there.
Journee looked down to see the plate was filled with cheese and crackers, and she didn’t know what kind of meat that was, but her mouth started watering.
“Do you want a coffee or tea?” He stood there looking as uncomfortable as she was.
“Water, please.” She rested her hands on either side of the plate, not sure if she should just eat it now or what.
He nodded his head once. “I’ll be right back.”
The door had barely closed when she gave in to the urge and picked up a piece of the meat. It was rare that she had meat, unless her cat killed it. It was a bit spicy and made her tongue tingle, but it was so good. Next, she took a cracker, and after she sniffed it, she put some of the meat and cheese on it and took a small bite. She smiled as she chewed; cracker plates, as her mother had called them, had always been Journee’s favorite. There were so many things you could put on a cracker, which was always good.
The door opened, and Asher came in with a bottle of water. He set it on the table, pulled the chair back until it almost touched the wall, and then sat down.
“How’s your leg?”
She glanced at it and then picked up another cracker, “it hurts, but not like it did before.” She put the cracker in her mouth and chewed it quickly in case she had to speak again.
“Shaelan is good.”
Journee nodded and undid the lid on the bottle. She wasn’t used to water in a bottle but had noticed that it tasted strange. Maybe others didn’t notice it, but it carried the faint taste of plastic. “Yes. I’m glad she was able to set it without cutting me open.”
“Yeah.” He crossed his arms over his chest and watched her take a drink. “Where have you been all this time?”
Swallowing, she put the lid back on and leaned back from the table. She wanted to eat the rest, but she didn’t want to be rude by eating and talking at the same time. “I need to tell the alpha or the king.” She nodded. “I can’t tell anyone else.” It was true. If there was one thing that she’d learned in all the time she’d been gone, it was to trust no one.
“Neither are here right now.” He continued to stare at her.
“When will they be?”
“I don’t know, but,” he motioned to the window where the man with the black hair and green eyes and the large man stood, “if you don’t talk to me, they’re going to come in, and you’ll have to explain to them how you came back after eighteen years.”