I let go and fade off to sleep, telling myself to just see how the morning goes.
EIGHTEEN
Astra
I wake up alone.
A part of me expects it. Donovan doesn’t owe me anything, after all, and I already know I didn’t mean anything to him that first night. What would make me think this time had been any different? The fact that now we’re basically stuck with each other? Yeah, I’m not that naïve. Yet, there is some small flicker of hope inside me that dies the moment I feel the cold sheets. It’s stupid and silly, so I push it away along with the sense of dread that flows through me.
I bet he fled the moment my breathing evened out. I laugh in spite of the irritation I’m feeling. The image of him gathering up his clothes and creeping out of here as quiet as a mouse is just too funny. I’m sure it’s not far off.
I slip on my shorts and my tee. That’s when I notice his shirt is still on the floor. I snatch it up and toss it in the small waste bin in the corner of the room. Petty and childish, but I don’t care. Now all I have to do is take a shower, and I can basically wash last night away.
A chill runs down my spine as I reach for the handle of the door. I hesitate, looking over my shoulder to see if the doors to the outside are still open. I don’t remember closing them last night, yet I don’t feel a breeze. Seeing how they are all shut, I’m confused at this sensation, and it causes goosebumps to pricklethe skin on my arms. I do my best to shake it off as I open the door and step into the hall, gasping when I nearly run into Torrin. I tilt my head back to meet his eyes. The reason for the chill becomes clear as I take in his stern expression.
He isn’t my friend.
He isn’t here to look after me.
He’s here to make sure I don’t go anywhere.
And as if that isn’t clear enough, Andre is waiting in the background, not a single hint of emotion on his face. I turn my head and catch sight of the light spilling from the doorway that is always closed. Donovan’s office. The only time I’ve been in there was when I barged my way in because I needed to feel him. We’d been apart too long. And even then, I hadn’t used the proper door to the room.
The light is a blaring alarm warning me to run. I don’t know what I’ve done wrong, but it’s clear Torrin and Andre are to collect me for their puppet master.
Suddenly, waking up alone doesn’t seem like it’s going to be the worst part of my day.
Whatever is ahead…
I take in a deep breath as I turn my attention to Torrin once again. Pulling back my shoulders, I hold his gaze.
“What?” I ask, voice tight with anger.
“Boss wants to see you,” he tells me. He’s angry. I can feel it.
Donovan being pissed and ill-tempered toward me is not surprising, but Torrin? What could I have possibly done for him to hate me?
“Can I use the bathroom first?” I ask. I raise a brow and force a sense of calm to wrap around me. I have no clue what’s going on, but I refuse to cower, no matter how scared I am.
Donovan could kill me. A part of me thinks that even if we find a way to end the curse, he’s going to have to silence me forall the things I’ve seen. I’m not ready to die, from the curse or by his hands. Or by any other means, for that matter.
Torrin doesn’t answer with words, but when he steps to the side and jerks his head in the direction of the bathroom, I skirt around him and dash down the hall.
“Nope,” he tells me. His foot blocks me from shutting the door. “Hurry up.”
“You’re going to watch me?!” I glare at him.
He shrugs, not a care that he’s violating my privacy.
Iama prisoner. I was kidding myself that I wasn’t.
I huff out a harsh breath as I plop down on the toilet, trying my hardest to keep my parts covered. To his credit, he’s not staring at me directly. Still, I try to rush through. Then I brush my teeth quickly and run a comb through my hair before gathering it up in a high ponytail. If I have to fight, I don’t need my hair getting in my face.
Not that I’m kidding myself. There’s no way I could take on any of them, let alone all three of them. They’d have me dead before I even figured out which one I was going to attack first.
Torrin and Andre guide me by crowding my back. I want to roll my eyes because they are treating me as if I don’t know where I’m headed or like I’ll run. Please, I know I don’t stand a chance. So, on to the execution room I go.
I lose my breath for a second the moment I see Donovan sitting behind a big, dark wood desk. He looks angry, but also sexy. It messes with my head. Torrin and Andre give me no space as I stop five feet in front of the desk.
