Bitten (Once Bitten, Twice Shy #1)(33)

"Oh? And you two have been perfect gentlemen? Please. You calling that girl out on her attitude is laughable."

It seemed that Sophie, at least, was sticking up for her and Katherine couldn’t help but feel a twinge of gratefulness towards the blonde.

Caleb spoke up next – in what was perhaps the sternest voice she’d heard from the seemingly timid man. "At least she has an excuse for her unfriendly disposition. Being attacked by those hunters and then again by those men at the gas station, and now this huge, life-changing revelation."

The death of her family, Katherine mentally added to the list. She clenched her fists tightly as a spasm of anguish rocked her body at the traitorous reminder.

"What's your excuse?" she heard Caleb demand and she forced the pain to the deepest recesses of her mind. She didn’t want to think about them – her parents.

"Are you trying to say that our lives haven't been effected by this? Bite me."

"Too late!" she heard Markus mock loudly in response to Zane's comment. "Bastian's already bitten her!"

“Precisely, and it's changed everything for us."

"Would you two shut your mouths?" she heard Sophie explode. "For God’s sake, we don't even know if... well, if she'll even..." Katherine pressed her ear to the bathroom door, but couldn't make out the rest of the woman's words as her voice trailed off weakly.

"An even better reason to ditch her – to let her find her way back home!"

"Her home is in shambles! Besides, I told her earlier that we are her home now. And I meant it."

"Oh please, she doesn't even want to be here!"

"Shut up, Markus!"

"And we don't want her here either! So what's the problem?"

We don't want her. Katherine could feel her stomach flip as the words reached her ears, but she refused to identify the feeling in her gut as hurt. After all, what right did she have to be upset when everything Markus and Zane said was true? She didn’t want to be here with them. And they... well, they'd made it clear that they didn't want her around either. That was just fine with her. If everything went her way, she’d be gone come morning anyway.

"Stop." Even Katherine's thoughts obeyed and ceased at the command. She couldn't prevent the shiver of something from rushing through her body at the sound of Bastian’s low timbre.

"I think we've all put up with your vulgar mouth for long enough Markus. It doesn't matter if you don't want her here. It doesn't matter if I don't want her here."

This time, Katherine couldn’t deny that the words stung – hit her hard where her heart was supposed to be. But after a moment, she was able to brush the comment off and concentrate on an emotion more productive than hurt – anger.

"No amount of yelling and complaining, from you – or her for that matter – will change what has been done. She stays. That's it."

Bastian’s words sounded final, but Katherine still waited for more protests from Markus. When only the quiet sound of the television met her ears, however, Katherine backed away from the flimsy bathroom door and quickly dressed.

Looking for an excuse to remain in the privacy of the bathroom at least for a few minutes longer, she searched the cabinet under the sink and found some travel-sized toothpaste. She squirted some onto her finger and used it as a tool to rub the mint concoction against her teeth. Avoiding looking into the mirror, even as fogged with steam as it was, she rinsed and spit. Then, taking a deep breath to compose herself, she stepped out of the bathroom.

She saw that a chair was now available – Caleb was currently sitting on the same bed as Markus and Zane, none of the trio looking too happy about it. Deciding not to question it, she immediately made her way towards the open seat.

Before she’d taken more than two steps, however, Bastian was in front of her, inspecting her critically.

"Why is your skin so red?"

Katherine used her hands to try to cover up the exposed skin of her arms. "The water was hot," she mumbled before stepping around him.

Her back was turned so she couldn’t see how the man frowned at her answer, but his tone of voice made it obvious that he was displeased with it. "And what? You didn't notice it scalding your skin?"

Katherine rolled her eyes as she settled herself into the chair, but managed to withhold the sarcastic response that was on the verge of escaping her lips.

"You need to learn to be more careful," Bastian continued despite her silence.

"Or what?" Katherine snapped. "You'll send someone in to supervise?"

A tinge of red spread across the man’s face, but Katherine couldn’t tell if it was from anger or embarrassment. Maybe a combination of both. "Don't think I won't," he threatened under his breath.

Katherine pretended not to hear. In fact, she spent the next few minutes trying to drone out all of their voices. She refrained from socializing except for a small “thank you” when Caleb answered the door for the delivery man and handed her one of the hamburgers that Zane had ordered.

Although the thought of food still didn't appeal to her, she couldn't resist devouring the entire sandwich within minutes when it’s delicious scent hit her nose. She ignored the look she got from Bastian – though judging by his expression, he was just pleased to see her eating.