Chapter 15

Chapter

Fifteen

brIANNA

T he weekend passes way too quickly. It’s one of the best weekends of my life. I’ve never had a friend to share my true inner self with, no one to tell my secrets to, and now Ellie and I are closer than ever. And as a bonus, I learned so much about shifters, about death-battles, but we’ve just barely scratched the surface.

Even with the weekend being a wild success, I still can’t wait to get back to Declan.

There’s no way for me to contact him when he’s in the cell. Ellie tried a lot of different techniques.

But I know in my gut that if he’d been made to fight, if he’d died, that somehow, I would know. Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking.

“Okay, next time you’re with Declan, copy down as many runes as you can. Anything on the cell walls, doors, the cuffs, on Declan himself. If the other shifters will let you into their cells, make notes of anything different between the guys.” Ellie’s driving much slower back to the compound than she did to get me away from it. “If you can convince your dad to let me sleep over sometime soon, I want to meet this dragon of yours, see the set up for myself. If there’s fae magic that may have the potential to break him and the others out, I’ll find it. In the meantime, be careful.”

As we pull up to the gate, she reaches into her purse and pulls out a smoky grey crystal pendant. “I’ve woven some extra magic into this, but the smoky quartz itself should help dispel any unwanted eyes and ears trying to find what you’re up to. You’re damned lucky if you two haven’t been found out yet, but that’s no reason to push the limits now. Keep the crystal on you at all times. Wear it in the shower, when you’re working out, when your man’s making your toes curl during an orgasm. Always.”

I slip the chain over my neck and nod. “I can’t tell you how awesome it is to have someone I can share all this with. Seriously, you’re amazing.”

Ellie just laughs at me. “You’re just getting your feet wet in the supernatural world. I’m sure you’ll find that I’m fairly mundane, all things considered. But I appreciate the compliment, nonetheless.”

I stare at my house as we pull up the drive. It seems darker, more gothic in the grey afternoon light. It’s like it’s leering down at me. Has my father enchanted the house? Or more likely, it’s because I don’t really want to leave Ellie, not wanting to go back to being under my father’s thumb, even with the prospect of seeing Declan.

God, do I want to see Declan though.

I’ve slept fitfully all weekend, wondering if he had to fight. Wondering if he’s even going to be downstairs when I sneak down there tonight. Wondering if he’s missed me as much as I’ve missed him.

Mate! The sound echoes in my head, as loud as fireworks, and I instinctively cover my ears, before I realize that it won’t do any good.

At least I know Declan is here.

Ellie parks in front of the stairs leading up to the main door, taking up the best space on the horseshoe shaped drive, and she leans over to give me a quick hug. “See you in class tomorrow?”

“For sure.” I grin, trying to focus on her, not on the voice in my head that still feels entirely too loud.

The dragon clearly doesn’t want to wait to see me, and I don’t blame him.

I’ll see you tonight. Hush and let me say goodbye to my friend.

I have no idea if I’m projecting anything to him or if he can even hear me, but it’s worth a shot.

At least Ellie doesn’t seem to notice. Or if she does, she keeps it to herself.

My father’s waiting expectantly in the foyer when I walk in, carrying my duffle bag over my shoulder.

“Get upstairs and clean up. The Lees are coming over for dinner, and I expect you to make a better impression tonight. I don’t want to hear anything contrary from you all evening.” He crosses his arms over his chest, over the charcoal grey suit he’s wearing even though it’s Sunday afternoon.

I’m not even entirely sure he sleeps in something other than a suit, with as often as I see him in them.

“Of course. Anything to help the family.” I force a smile, not really caring if the look comes off as remotely sincere. He’s forcing me into something I want no part of, and if he’s insisting on a second dinner, it can only mean one thing.

Peter Lee wasn’t discouraged from my impertinence the last time. He might even like me. Or maybe his parents don’t care if Peter likes me. I know my father doesn’t care about my feelings.

All of it makes my stomach churn, and I head straight for the stairs. If I’m going to throw up, I’d prefer to just do it in my room. I don’t want my father to think anything is getting to me. There’s a ticking going on in my head like a clock. If my father makes me marry Peter Lee, my window to get Declan and the other shifters out of here is closing and faster than I anticipated.

“Wear something worthy of being my daughter, Brianna.” He purses his lips as he looks me up and down, undoubtedly judging my jeans, my t-shirt, the crystal around my neck. “I don’t know where you got such a gaudy piece of jewelry, but I don’t want to see it again. Honestly, I don’t know how you’ve gone so far off the expected path I’ve tried to lay out for you since birth.”

That path is not meant for me. I don’t want it and if you can’t see that, I can’t help you. I bite back the thought, still fighting a wave of nausea as I take a couple steps up toward the second floor. “It’s just a necklace, Papa. But if you don’t want to see it, I’ll make sure you won’t.”

It’s as close to a promise as I’m willing to make, but it seems to appease him. He nods once, as dismissively as he would to a member of the household staff.

There’s no way I’m not wearing the necklace tonight, but at least I should be able to hide it in the bodice of any number of the high-necked dresses of my father approved of wardrobe.

As long as I’m wearing a string of pearls, look the part, and more importantly play the part of the doting, perfect daughter, he won’t be looking for other flaws.

I hurry up the stairs, each jostle of my bag against my back and bounce of my steps making my stomach feel like a dinghy on the open ocean, swirling and churning like waves.

Maybe I’ll throw up and have an excuse not to join in on the festivities tonight. I’d honestly rather spend the evening hugging the toilet, rather than seeing Peter Lee again, listening to him spew political rhetoric against shifters and other supernaturals.

But if I throw up, I’m not going to want to risk exposing Declan to a stomach bug. He may keep claiming he doesn’t get sick, but I doubt even the strongest of constitutions could fend off every illness in the conditions they’re being kept in. If he can’t heal easily from his wounds, why should I trust that he could heal from an illness?

I don’t run right to the bathroom, even though I consider it. Instead, I curl up onto my bed and try to reach out again to my dragon.

Declan? Can you hear me?

Mate. This time, his voice is closer to a warm, hearty purr, that settles into my bones and makes everything else melt away. You’re home.

I won’t really be home until I’m in your arms again.

Just knowing he’s there, knowing that I can feel him in my mind, feel him in my soul as acutely as I feel him when he’s inside me, calms the riot in my stomach. No matter what he faced this weekend, no matter how much we’re going to have to face down to both be free, I’m happy to face it, as long as he’s on my side.

When can you come down, then?

I can feel the warmth, the humor in his words, and I want nothing more than to sneak down there right now.

Not until after dinner. My father’s forcing me to entertain his guests tonight. Apparently, I didn’t embarrass the family enough the first time these guests came over.

It’d be so much better if I could just disappear into the basement. Trace all the markings I can find on his skin, his cuffs, anything that looks even remotely magical.

Hell, if I could, I’d bring Ellie in, let her see the spell work for herself. Maybe she’d be able to get the cuffs off quickly. To set him free.

The only way I’d be able to do that, though, would be to sneak her in during the day, and with my never-ending parade of drivers and spies watching my every move, I just don’t see how I’d get an entire person into the house undetected.

Getting up, I start to pace the room, imagining that Declan’s doing basically the same thing, just two floors down. What would you do right now, if we weren’t being held prisoner?

I need something else to think about, something else to occupy my mind, so that I don’t have to think about the awkward dinner I’m about to be forced into.

Besides feasting on the one person who’s kept me sane these last few weeks? I can hear his chuckle reverberate through my mind, as warm and as real as his embrace is. I want to take you far from here. Introduce you to my brothers, their mates, my little sister. Everyone important in my life. I want to find my heartstone, so that I can use its power to keep you safe, and to show the world you’re mine.

How in the hell did fate somehow know to bring Declan here, to the house we’re both trapped in? How did fate know that I would need him, as much as he would need me?

I’m yours, huh? What exactly does that mean?

Declan chuckles again. Come down here, and I’ll show you. All night long.

My core clenches just from the suggestive tone he’s using.

Soon. The minute our guests leave, I’ll find a way to get back to you.

Now that I know that I can connect to Declan’s mind, that I can talk to him, even with floors separating us, I’m tempted to send him every thought I can. I don’t like him being alone down there, even with Ewan and Kayden in the adjacent cells.

Papa knocks on my door a few minutes before the Lees are due to arrive, and I know it’s another one of his completely irritating checks to make sure I’m perfect. Everything a submissive, duty-bound wife could be for their son.

“Just a second.” I run my fingers through my hair one last time before slipping on the petite kitten heels.

It’s taken every last minute I had to put on this stupid dress, to get dolled up for a guy who would have no trouble at all making me suffer as his wife.

Especially if he were to find out just how many ways I’ve let Declan claim me already.

Papa doesn’t wait to be invited into my room, and he throws the door open just as I get the second sling-back strap into place.

“You shouldn’t keep people waiting, Brianna.” He crosses his arms over his chest as he strides around me, taking in the outfit, the jewelry, the subtle, barely-there makeup. “I wish you’d put more effort into your hair. It looks like you’ve barely brushed it. Don’t you have curling irons or something?”

“I’ll make sure to curl my hair more next time.” I hate I even have to make such promises, especially because there’s not a hair out of place on my head, even if it is straight right now.

It’s probably a preference that Peter Lee holds, which makes me even more irritable about it.

At least I can say with some certainty that Declan’s favorite way for my hair to look is sex-rumpled.

“You better. There are far worse matches you could make than Peter.” He grabs me by the elbow and tugs me toward the door, clearly not in the mood to play nice until he has to.

Not that Papa’s ever been the type to play nice, in fact he gets off on playing control-freak asshole.

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