Vain (The Seven Deadly, #1)(40)

“For what?” he whispered toward the same sky.

“For teaching me. Seeing them reminded me why I wanted to be able to defend them. They’re defenseless. If it’s ever up to me to guard their lives, I’d do it in a heartbeat. I couldn’t possibly hesitate.”

Dingane turned toward me and I faced him almost afraid of what he’d say, or more truthfully, what he wouldn’t.

“You’re welcome,” he stated simply, disappointing me.

But then his gaze raked my face with such powerful intensity, I could feel it melt into my throat and shoulders, sending chills through me.

He closed the distance between us. “Will you be showering tonight?” he asked, surprising me.

“What? Why do you keep asking when I’m about to shower? Do you watch me or something?” I teased.

His face turned bright red. “Of course not!” he exclaimed loudly, which made me laugh.

“Then why?” I asked again.

“Goodnight, Soph,” he said grinning, using that nickname again and heading toward his hut, which just so happened to be happily situated right next to mine.

“Goodnight, Ian,” I told him.

He turned around and fought a smile, biting it away with his teeth.

I wasn’t tired so I thought I’d help the women bathe all the girls. The chattering females made me smile as I approached the communal bathrooms. Seven stalls lined the walls as well as seven showerheads with poor plastic coverage. They always bathed the babies first and any girl who could properly wash herself was told to do so. The women just supervised. I joined Karina’s and Kate’s side. They were laughing about something when I approached them.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

“Oh, nothing,” Karina explained. “So you learned how to shoot a gun, did you?” she asked wryly.

I bent my face toward the tile floor. “Yes.”

“I’m glad.”

My head whipped up. “Yes, I am glad. Every adult here should be able to. Though I wished I’d been informed,” she chastised.

“I’m so sorry, Karina,” I began, but she cut me off, wrapping her arm around my shoulders.

“Stop. I know you’re sorry. That’s the last you’ll hear of it from me.” She kissed my temple and I felt so incredibly loved.

“Karina?” I asked after a few minutes of silence.

“Hmm? Just a moment. Christine! No, dear,” she said, stopping Christine from splashing Kate, whose back was to her. Christine frowned. “I’m sorry. What, my love?”

“Oh, I was just curious about something.”

“What about?” she asked, distracted by Christine again.

“Why is Dingane so interested when I shower? I thought maybe you might know.”

Her answer shocked me speechless. “He sweeps all the bugs out for you. He heard you say how you hated them,” she absently remarked. “Excuse me, dear,” she continued, heading for Christine.

I walked away in a daze, not believing it. But he hates me. He may be attracted to me, that’s obvious, but he doesn’t care for me.

I hit the dirt outside and made a beeline for the showers, the small outside light illuminating it in the middle of our makeshift village. When I rounded the corner, I shone the flashlight I carried with me into one of the rudimentary stalls. Insects. Everywhere. The wood walls were covered with them. I almost couldn’t believe my eyes. Every inch seemed infested. I accidentally dropped my light and bent to pick it up. That means he’s been waking up extra early every morning and sweeping them out. Why would he do this?

“He likes you, dumbass,” I said out loud.

My lips twitched at the corners and I stood. I practically sprinted to our huts but just stopped myself from banging my fist on Ian’s barely-there door. My hand fell to my side. I couldn’t bring myself to confront him with the evidence. If he’d wanted me to know he was doing it, he’d have let me know. My teeth couldn’t fight the smile plastered on my face. It was time for bed.





CHAPTER FIFTEEN





It was the best night’s sleep I’d had since I arrived. I awoke early, grabbed my shower bucket and I ran across the cool morning air to the wood stalls and stared inside.



Clear.



I searched the grounds and spotted Ian’s back on the other side of the baobab tree. His head raised as if he felt my stare and turned around, scouring the landscape around him. His eyes caught mine and the morning sun glinted off his bright blue eyes, making them even more vibrant. I inclined my head toward him and he nodded subtly in return. Butterflies drowned my empty stomach in flutters.

I showered, not even recognizing how cold the water was that morning like I did every other morning. When I dressed in my room and began plaiting my hair, my hands felt clumsy and nervous. I was so flabbergasted at myself. I couldn’t believe I was acting the way I was. Me, the queen of control. The queen of attraction. La Fée Verte. The old name crept into my conscious and I dropped my hands, studying myself in the mirror. The prior giddy feeling I was so happy to enjoy a moment before felt terrible now. I realized I didn’t deserve Ian. Recollecting all the terrible things I did back home made the wonderful butterflies die and nausea take their place. I steeled my hands, fighting back the feeling I was being swallowed by a black hole and finished my hair.