It was long enough and made of metal. I’d like to see him get his stupid fingers under that.
“You look upset, Little Bird.” The glimmer in Preston’s eyes did not help my mood any. “You didn’t think I was going to let you walk out of here, did you?”
I was definitely going to strangle him.
Let’s face it—a leash seemed fitting. I’d called a giant birdcage home for god knows how long now. The fact that he hadn’t started calling me ‘pet’ was astounding.
“What next?” I hissed. “Are you going to feed me blueberries if I do tricks?”
He smirked back at me. “Depends on what kind of tricks you do.”
Asshole.
I wouldn’t be shocked if Preston had a bag of treats tucked away somewhere.
“Besides, you don’t like blueberries,” he said while punching in a code on the panel by the door.
The blueberry comment was disturbing. I didn’t want to know how Preston came across that piece of information, but the code he used to open the door was worse: 0423. April twenty-third was my birthday, and I’d never wanted to slap myself more. I should’ve seen that coming. Of course, he used something personal to lock me away.
“Ready, Little Bird?”
Ready to get stabbed in the eye with the first sharp object I find?
“Why yes, Master. I’m so ready to meet your asshole friend. Please, lead the way.”
“Keep talking like that.” He pressed a button on the screen, causing my pulse to jump as the door clicked. “And Micha might have to wait.”
I didn’t have time to analyze the fire burning darkly in his stare. Nor did I care because this was it. I was finally leaving my prison.
Excitement made me want to bounce around and jump from one foot to another. Despite my insides screaming, I managed to stay still and act like I was waiting patiently. Only the sound of whooshing blood in my veins gave away the anxiety raging through my system.
Did the door always open this slowly? Why was it taking so long?
I practically squealed at my first peek of the stairway.
Preston paused to eye me. “Before you get any ideas, the code changes immediately after I use it.”
Uh-huh.
“So you can try and leave.” He stepped across the threshold. “But I’ll know if you enter the wrong code.”
Whatever, can we just go now?
Besides, who cared about the code changing? All that meant was that I had to figure out the right one, which shouldn’t be too hard. If Preston used my birthday, then he probably used others. Riley dragged me to a party Lana had for Parker, so I knew his birthday was March 10th. I’d done enough research on the Order to know that Louis was born in March, Dean in October, and Martin in August. I was pretty sure I knew them all except for Silas and….
“Your birthday’s in May, right?”
The corner of Preston’s mouth lifted. “No, Silas’s is in May.”
Well, that was one down.
“I’m a New Year’s baby.” He leaned in and whispered, “Wanna try that code?”
It was entirely possible that he was trying to throw me off track. One thing I’d learned about Preston Whitley, he liked fucking with people. Or at least he liked fucking with me. But not this time. This time, I would hold my head high and march out the door.
I said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” and walked out of the hell hole I’d been trapped in.
That first step was heavy, but the second lifted all the weight off my shoulders. I could smell what I thought was cinnamon and see the sun at the bottom of the stairs. It was so bright and inviting that all I wanted to do was feel it on my skin. I may have even smiled a bit until Preston snickered from behind me.
