I nodded. “Thanks.”
She gave me a short nod in return, her eyes kind but assessing. “You’ll do just fine here, Kat.”
Then she walked off, leaving me with my bags, a key, and the faintest hint of pine and peppermint in the air.
A quick shower did the trick. Sort of. I scrubbed off the hospital smell, tied my damp hair into a low knot, and pulled on a pair of dark jeans and a clean white sweater. Comfy, simple. Passably presentable.
Hator hadn’t calmed down. Not even close. She was pacing behind my eyes, growling low, dragging claws against the inside of my soul like she wanted out. My temples throbbed from the effort it took to keep her contained.
“Not now,” I muttered under my breath, gripping the edge of the sink. “Nobody can see you here. We’re too close to him, and we just got here
