The moment Ansel left, I threw up a quick prayer to the goddess and rolled out of bed. My body still ached, but I needed to clean up if I was going to be anywhere near him. The carpet brushed my toes before the chill of the bathroom tile made me shiver.
The shower hissed to life, steam filling the air. The first rush of hot water hit my skin, washing away the mud, the blood, and the stench of fear that had clung to me since the forest. I closed my eyes and let it run down my face until the world felt quiet again. For the first time in hours, I could breathe.
When I stepped out, the mirror was fogged, and my hair clung to my shoulders in damp curls. I wrapped myself in the towel and felt a little closer to my normal self. That’s when I saw it… Ansel’s clean shirt folded neatly on the bed,
