my parted lips. “Choose to defy me and a fate worse than death awaits you. Do you understand?”
I was hypnotized by him, trapped in the path of a juggernaut with his sights set on me. It was as though I was on the cusp of a steep drop, anticipating its arrival and dreading it at the same. I knew there was no way for me to win this fight, not yet at least. For now, I had to play the game. I dipped my head, stepped back, and left the room, taking as many steps away as I could from the man who embodied the devil himself.
I ’ve never been a glass-half-full kind of girl, but even I had to admit things could have been worse. After how badly things had gone last night between Kieron and I, I’d expected to be dragged down into a cold cell and left to sleep on the dirty floor with only dry bread and stale water to comfort me. My lavish accommodations surprised me. I’d been taken upstairs to the second level and shown an elegant, warm, and inviting bedroom. Deep purple walls with ivory crown molding adorned the room. A beautiful crystal chandelier hung over the center of a bed covered in white and gray silky sheets. Several pieces of elegant white furniture, including an enormous vanity with a crystal encrusted mirror and a long velvet chaise lounge chair, filled the rest of the room.
I’d cried so many tears—a nonstop mixture of angry sobs and uncontrollable weeping. It didn’t matter how beautiful or comfortable my room was, being alone in a strange place was even more frightening than I’d imagined. Sleep evaded me. I was too afraid, too confused, too everything to find any comfort. I’d spent much of my time planning how to proceed going forward. So far, I’d only come to one decision. I wanted to live. I wasn’t exactly sure how to achieve that goal except by learning everything I possibly could, not only about the Relic but about the Council, the Black Walker and the First Realm. The Dark Summoner may have been behaving like an asshole, but he wasn’t lying when he’d said they weren’t looking out for me. I was pretty damn sure I had to look out for myself.
It was already evening again, and I still hadn’t left my room. I didn’t know if I could or if I even should. I hadn’t had the nerve to get up and check to see if I’d been locked in, afraid that I was too emotionally fragile to handle the reality of being a prisoner.
Over the last twenty-four hours, I heard a lot of different voices through the floor below. There was laughter, yelling, and everything in between. I’d also decided that since being around Kieron had a funny way of playing with my head—and my hormones—my goal was to stay hidden from view for the next few days. Which would have worked out perfectly if I hadn’t heard it.
Knuckles tapped against my door, firm yet gentle.
Without waiting for me to answer it, the door cracked open and a head peeked in. Last night, I hadn’t bothered to get up or turn on any lights. It was now much too dark to see a face across the room. I held the duvet cover tightly in my hands as a very insufficient form of protection.
I was about to scream when I heard Reagan’s voice. “Abby?”
All of my anger and resentment melted away at the sound of her voice. I flipped the switch on the lamp beside my bed. My heart swelled at the sight of her just inside the door. “Reagan!”
She rushed across the room and hugged me, causing me to fall backward onto the bed. Even though we’d seen each other yesterday, it was under very different circumstances.
She gave me a wide smile and inspected my face, hands, and arms for any signs of harm. She then spun me around and continued her inspection on my other side.
I laughed, my heart warmed by the gesture. “Rea, honestly I’m fine.” I took her hands in mine and squeezed them. “I’m sorry about yelling at you and being angry with you and—”
She covered my mouth with her palm. “Stop. I’m the one who is sorry. I promise if I could have told
I was hypnotized by him, trapped in the path of a juggernaut with his sights set on me. It was as though I was on the cusp of a steep drop, anticipating its arrival and dreading it at the same. I knew there was no way for me to win this fight, not yet at least. For now, I had to play the game. I dipped my head, stepped back, and left the room, taking as many steps away as I could from the man who embodied the devil himself.
I ’ve never been a glass-half-full kind of girl, but even I had to admit things could have been worse. After how badly things had gone last night between Kieron and I, I’d expected to be dragged down into a cold cell and left to sleep on the dirty floor with only dry bread and stale water to comfort me. My lavish accommodations surprised me. I’d been taken upstairs to the second level and shown an elegant, warm, and inviting bedroom. Deep purple walls with ivory crown molding adorned the room. A beautiful crystal chandelier hung over the center of a bed covered in white and gray silky sheets. Several pieces of elegant white furniture, including an enormous vanity with a crystal encrusted mirror and a long velvet chaise lounge chair, filled the rest of the room.
I’d cried so many tears—a nonstop mixture of angry sobs and uncontrollable weeping. It didn’t matter how beautiful or comfortable my room was, being alone in a strange place was even more frightening than I’d imagined. Sleep evaded me. I was too afraid, too confused, too everything to find any comfort. I’d spent much of my time planning how to proceed going forward. So far, I’d only come to one decision. I wanted to live. I wasn’t exactly sure how to achieve that goal except by learning everything I possibly could, not only about the Relic but about the Council, the Black Walker and the First Realm. The Dark Summoner may have been behaving like an asshole, but he wasn’t lying when he’d said they weren’t looking out for me. I was pretty damn sure I had to look out for myself.
It was already evening again, and I still hadn’t left my room. I didn’t know if I could or if I even should. I hadn’t had the nerve to get up and check to see if I’d been locked in, afraid that I was too emotionally fragile to handle the reality of being a prisoner.
Over the last twenty-four hours, I heard a lot of different voices through the floor below. There was laughter, yelling, and everything in between. I’d also decided that since being around Kieron had a funny way of playing with my head—and my hormones—my goal was to stay hidden from view for the next few days. Which would have worked out perfectly if I hadn’t heard it.
Knuckles tapped against my door, firm yet gentle.
Without waiting for me to answer it, the door cracked open and a head peeked in. Last night, I hadn’t bothered to get up or turn on any lights. It was now much too dark to see a face across the room. I held the duvet cover tightly in my hands as a very insufficient form of protection.
I was about to scream when I heard Reagan’s voice. “Abby?”
All of my anger and resentment melted away at the sound of her voice. I flipped the switch on the lamp beside my bed. My heart swelled at the sight of her just inside the door. “Reagan!”
She rushed across the room and hugged me, causing me to fall backward onto the bed. Even though we’d seen each other yesterday, it was under very different circumstances.
She gave me a wide smile and inspected my face, hands, and arms for any signs of harm. She then spun me around and continued her inspection on my other side.
I laughed, my heart warmed by the gesture. “Rea, honestly I’m fine.” I took her hands in mine and squeezed them. “I’m sorry about yelling at you and being angry with you and—”
She covered my mouth with her palm. “Stop. I’m the one who is sorry. I promise if I could have told
Similar Books
