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"Thank you," I said as the door closed behind hi like I was ninety asoff the soiled clothing took an indecent amount of time, and as I turned the water on and steam filled the bathroom, I stepped in Hot water dousedhthe tub with red and circling the drain like a grotesque raspberry swirl I washedmechanics until I was satisfied when I didn’t see a hint of pink in the bottom of the tub

Only then, as I turned off the water and felt the spray lessen until it dripped down the plastic walls, did I look down at my body From my toes to my collarbone, with only a few places where there were no bones to break, I was covered in the thin lacing of pink scars

Good gods…I’d never seen anything like this before I looked like one of those patchwork dolls

I stepped out of the shower, legs shaking as I twisted to the side My back wasmy spine, where many of the vertebrae had been smashed Had all these bones broken the surface, or had the injuries burst blood vessels? There had been too much pain when it’d happened for me to tell

Apollyon or not, I couldn’t believe I’d survived this None of it seemed real

The numbness in my chest spread like a weed Maybe I was struck stupid by what I saw, because I had known it was e had only sunk through a layer or two

A strange ht my attention Colored like a pale pink rose, it didn’t follow the typical pattern of the rest of the scars

Swiping the et a better look at the mark onhockey sticks, it was the shape and distinct form of a hand

"What the hell?"

"Alex?" Aiden’s voice came from the bedroorabbed a towel off the rack and wrapped it aroundthe door, I forced what I hoped was a reassuring expression "Yeah, I’m fine"

The look on his face said he didn’t believe aze dropped It wasn’t the towel that had caught his attention or the fact that so much flesh was exposed Deep down, I knehy he stared and why his lips thinned I knew that, when he saw me, it wasn’t my body that held him immobile

It was the patchwork of web-like scars that now covered almost every inch ofto see thelory

Embarrassment flooded s and, of course, the stab wound--but never like this It was ugly, really ugly No way around that

His gaze flicked up,in his silver eyes or go through another conversation like before

Hurrying across the roo he’d set on the bed and stuht out"

"Alex--"

I shut the door on whatever he was going to say, which would be so ridiculously supportive and typical Aiden, but I knew better

It wasn’t okay This body sure as hell wasn’t beautiful anyh to believe that

Tears clogged my throat as I ripped the toay and threw it to the floor It was stupid to get upset about this, because it surely didn’t ht now, but damn, it burned like a fire in my chest

Once dressed, I stared at the door The tears never fell, but the invading nuer and pain

And fear and anxiety

CHAPTER 2

Who kneing eyes could set an entire rooe? Everyone, evenOr maybe it was my face that held them morbidly fascinated From a distance, the scars weren’t so noticeable, but after Aiden assured the group that I wasn’t psychotic, everyone got all up close and personal

The hugs were…uh, aard

Even Deacon’s e jokes oraround I didn’t know if it was because they orried aboutto Apollyon-out on them and snap their necks when they least expected it I wished Lea were here She would’ve just co without having qual to stride into the roo that accoht hadn’t lessened one bit

We were in the co It was almost identical to the one I’d found Caleb in the day I returned to Deity Island, except this one was outfitted with nicer furniture and a er TV

Olivia’s caramel-hued cheeks were a shade paler than normal as she stepped back froht ponytail on top of her head "How are you feeling?"

"I’ht" and "fine"

Her gaze met mine and quickly flitted away "We’ve all been so worried I’lad that you’re…okay"

I didn’t knohat to say to that

Laadan was a lot more tactful, but while she’d always remained a picture of cool collectiveness, the linen pants she wore looked like she’d slept in them and strands of raven-colored hair had escaped her twist She ed to keep the sympathy in her expression to a minimum

Aiden stayed close to uard or just wisely within tackling distance He was unusually quiet while everyone settled into chairs or took spots against the wall Unable to stand still, and figuring I needed to work the ache out of s, I paced, and Aiden never strayed more than a step or tay from me

I asked the first question that popped intohas it been since Ares was here?"