CHAPTER FOURTEEN: RISK?
1022 Words
Lila POV
“This is my room,” Caleb states, stepping in front of me and into the bedroom before I stake any claim to it. “Finders keepers, songbird.”
“Stop calling me that!” I shout back as I walk away. In response, a door slams. Dammit, I need to come up with a good nickname for him that isn’t just an asshole.
Going to the next door, I find it’s a small bathroom, and every bit of it is green, including the toilet and bath. Even the showerhead itself is as green as the three cabinets and green-rimmed mirror.
I really hope it doesn’t push out green water.
Whoever designed this place needs to find the other colors of the rainbow.
I head to the next door, the one nearest the entrance, and open it to find the other bedroom—my new home far away from my actual home.
There’s nothing but a single bed lodged in the corner and an old chest of drawers that looks like it’s seen better days. One drawer doesn’t even have handles.
This room has a window, though, and I walk over, looking out through the pure glass framed with a green border. I try to push it open for fresh air, but it’s locked tight. No matter what I try, it doesn’t budge.
Dammit.
Giving up, I sit on the bed. It lets out a long squeak that sounds like a dying cat.
Even with the squeaky bed, broken window, and handle-less drawers, I smile.
It’s better than being out there. Better than being dead. And I’m lucky to have this—to have Caleb trying to keep me alive at all.
We both know that if the Alpha finds us, we are both dead.
I go out to the hallway to try the last door, which turns out to be an airing cupboard with several shelves. I found a few pieces of green bedding (because what other color would it be?) and some pillows. At the bottom is a duvet, which I grab to make my bed before lying back down, staring at the ceiling.
Almost tempted to close my eyes, there’s a sudden bang at the door.
I sat up to see Caleb. He walks past my room and puts a finger against his lips. I spot his other hand holding a dagger close to his side as he opens the door.
Unexpectedly, a girl throws herself into his arms, and he stumbles back, catching her with an arm around her waist so she doesn’t fall.
I stand and walk over. The red-haired girl wraps her arms tightly around his neck and peppers kisses across his face, but he tries to push her off.
“Hey, Dove,” he says, with a clear affection in a tone that I’ve never heard from him before.
He eventually manages to pull the half-naked girl off him, and she bounces on the spot in excitement. She isn’t actually half-naked now that I get a better look at her, but the small mini skirt and short crop top she’s wearing don’t hide much of her toned, slim body.
Of course, Caleb has a hot girlfriend.
I’m not jealous. Not even a tiny bit.
But I do wonder if I could take her down.
He runs a hand through his hair and nods toward me. The girl—Dove—finally turns my way.
“This is my new partner, Ava Foster, but I call her Lila.”
I hold out my hand to her. For Caleb to tell her my real name, he must trust she can keep quiet.
“Hi.”
She shakes my hand enthusiastically.
“Hello! I’m so happy to see another girl in the trials. There are only three of us this year, and we need to show these boys we are stronger than we seem.”
“Agreed. Dove, is it?” I ask.
“Yes, it is. I’m an old friend of the moody and gorgeous Caleb over here,” she says, her blue eyes twinkling with amusement.
Can she tell I was jealous? Her explanation feels a little too intentional.
“By the way, I’m totally jealous of your hair being such a dark red. Mine is always borderline ginger,” she adds, reaching out to touch a strand before letting it fall.
“I love your hair,” I say with a smile.
She walks inside and Caleb closes the door. I follow them into the living room.
“How long have you two been friends then?” I ask her.
She jumps onto the couch across from the weapon-covered sofa. Caleb shakes his head and heads back to his bedroom with a load of bedding in his arms.
“Oh, a couple of years here and there,” she says. “I was so upset when Caleb entered the trials last year. I thought he’d beat me to becoming a demon hunter. But here we are.”
“Yes, we are,” I say.
“Where are you from? I haven’t seen you around Stormfire before,” she asks.
Immediately, I feel nervous. We haven’t built a solid backstory, and I have to hope my lying skills have improved, because usually they are s**t.
“It’s a big city. I’m sure you’ve not seen everyone there. There are millions,” I counter.
“That’s true, but usually I make a point to notice the redheaded girls like me. There aren’t many of us around, you know?”
“Surprising, really, with so many red wolves,” I responded.
“True. So that means we’re going to have to be good friends, you and I,” she says, leaning closer. “Us redheaded girls need to stick together. Make sure the boys don’t one-up us.”
“That would be nice,” I answer, well aware I can’t let myself get too close to her.
Getting close to her would mean she could find out who I am—and that’s not something I can risk for a friendship, even if she is nice.
- Writer
