Chapter 9
Aaliyah
"You know, you could just say the word, and I would prepare another room for you," he murmured.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. "I thought you left for something important."
"Well, it looks like my sister does not want to see me tonight," he said. "Tomorrow, when she's sober, I will talk to her."
"Why do you do this?"
"Do what?" he asked.
"Kill people," I replied.
"When someone is good to me, I won't kill them," he said.
I shuddered. "Does that mean if I do something bad you will kill me too?"
He chuckled.
"What's funny?" I asked.
"Why would you think I would want to kill you if you do something wrong?"
"Because you just killed your sister's mate," I said.
"He tried to kill me too. That's his punishment."
"And that's your—"
"Shush," he brushed his thump on my lips, silencing.
"Do more you blabber on, it makes me want to kill you."
My eyes fell on his lips, and I gulped softly.
"I want to bathe."
He leaned closer, whispering in my ear, "Let me help you."
"I can…" My breathing hitched as I felt his hand trail down to my navel. I gasped.
"Can what?" he asked. "Just say it, and I will help you."
The word "no" rose in my throat, reaching the tip of my tongue. I almost spoke it, but when his hand moved farther, I found myself nodding.
I raised my arms as Tristan helped me out of my gown. He leaned closer, his warm breath falling on my skin. I felt the cool air brush against the wound on my back, and I clenched my hands.
Before I knew it, Tristan lifted me from the ground, carrying me into the bathroom. He placed me inside the tub, letting the water flow as he prepared the bath.
Tristan knelt, placing shampoo, body wash, and other essentials nearby.
"How bad does your back hurt?" he asked.
I gulped softly. "A lot. It feels like my flesh is burning."
Tristan's jaw clenched. "I did a terrible mistake not bringing him here for slow death."
My breath caught in my throat as my hands clenched with the urge to punch Tristan, but I managed to control myself.
"Lower yourself into the bathtub," he said, and I did as he instructed.
"This isn't the first time he's publicly humiliated you, is it?" he asked.
"Why do you want to know?" I asked.
I closed my eyes as he began washing my hair, the soothing feeling dulling the pain in my back.
"Because I care about you, little mouse," he murmured.
I turned, shooting him a glare. "Why do you care? You haven't known me long enough to understand who I truly am. What if—"
"I don't need to be with you long to care about you," he said.
I wanted to say more, but the way his fingers worked through my hair made me drift off, though the pain in my back kept me awake. He moved on to scrubbing my body.
"Do you always do this?" I asked.
He looked up, a smile on his face. "I've never brought any girl to my house."
"Why?" I asked.
"I love my privacy," he replied.
"And your family? What about them? Where do they live?"
"My sister's house is located behind this mansion, and my brother's is next to hers."
"You have a brother?" I asked.
"Yes," he replied, returning to scrubbing my skin.
"There are some things we need to discuss when we're done," he said. "But there's something I want to make clear—you are now my wife. We will officially get married soon."
I raised my eyebrows. "So you just decided you need a wife after I healed you? I find that strange."
He smirked. "The way you keep looking at me, it's as if you want to pluck my eyes out."
I frowned. "Because I really do. Now I wish I hadn't healed you in the woods."
Tristan laughed, the sound echoing around us.
I narrowed my eyes. "What's so funny?"
"You."
I frowned.
He leaned closer. "It's not what you said, it's your honesty. I find you rather fascinating," he said. "Truly, after our interactions in the woods and now, you're not what I expected—not in a bad way."
"You don't know me well enough to judge," I said.
"What I saw the first time we met was enough," he said. "And when I saw you the second time, whipped by your brother…"
I stiffened.
"Close your eyes," he murmured. "I'm going to rinse you now."
I complied, closing my eyes as he poured water over me.
"What were you saying about seeing me the second time?" I asked.
His touch was gentle as he rinsed the soap from my skin. "It told me everything I needed to know—that you were being tortured by your brother every day of your life. It showed me that you've never known love, not even from your brother or your pack."
My muscles tensed at his words. I felt him move to my legs, rinsing the water away. His touch sent a shiver down my spine.
"So you could read all that just from seeing me in that moment?"
Tristan's eyes softened. "It's not just about seeing you. It's about understanding what's beneath the surface. You're brave to endure all of that."
"My brother wasn't always like this," I said. "He used to love and play with me when we were young—until he found out the truth."
"What truth?"
I shuddered, squeezing my eyes shut as memories of that night with Jack storming into my room flashed before me.
"I understand. Sorry for asking."
"My…my mother died giving birth to me. Jack has loathed me ever since he found out she sacrificed her life for mine," I said, shaking my head. "He says I'm cursed and that everyone around me will suffer because of my bad luck. And as the days pass, I'm starting to believe him. First, it was my mother, then my father, and then my personal guard. Now it's my brother. I think…I think…"
Tristan pulled me into a hug, pressing my body against his. I tried not to cry as I stayed in his arms for a while.