CHAPTER 20
I know something is up with Abigail, the way she stared at Elora and the panic I felt coming from my mate confirmed my suspicions.
I watched their strange interaction. Trying to filter through Elora’s thoughts, I felt her shove her walls in place, blocking me out.
It has been playing on my mind all day. What are they hiding?
What did Abigail do that caused the panic in Elora?
Abigail has avoided us since the day she overheard our conversation in the library.
Something is going on. Sitting in the library, I try to figure it out when Dragus and Matitus walk in.
I growl at them, pissed off. I know what they were doing up there with her.
I can feel their arousal through the bond.
It makes me angry, and I can smell her scent all over them.
“What’s wrong?” I ask when Dragus sits in the chair next to the fireplace. He runs his hand through his hair, sitting back, an annoyed expression on his face.
“You! You need to fix this, Silas,” he sighs, resting his head on the headrest. Matitus sits across from him, putting his feet on Dragus’s legs.
“We will, don’t worry about that now.”
“No, you will fix it. She is pissed and we are being punished for it,” Matitus retorts.
“Didn’t feel like you were being punished,” I growl back, not even hiding my anger at what they were doing without me.
“Yeah, until she kicked us out for defending you,” Dragus snarls at me.
“Well it can wait. I have something I want to check out first.”
I explain seeing Abigail and Elora’s weird interaction in the bedroom.
“Maybe Abigail was just worried about her; Abbie is her only friend,” Matitus says.
“True, but I have a way to find out for sure. I want you to go get her mother and daughter bring them to the castle,”
“No, you promised Elora no harm would come to them, and I know you, Silas. If you want them, go get them yourself,” Dragus says. Looking to Matitus, he shrugs.
“I will send Taylor, to get them”
“You’re not seriously entertaining this idea, Matitus. What is wrong with you? I won’t be a part of this,” Dragus says, getting up and storming out.
“Where are you going?” I demand, but Dragus ignores me and keeps walking.
Turning to Matitus, he nods. “Better to know for sure. Your instincts are usually correct. If something is up, we will find out.”
“Good, meet me in the dungeons. I will find Abigail.”
I follow Matitus out then turn toward the kitchen while he goes to the front of the castle in search of Taylor. Checking the kitchens, I find she isn’t in there. I pull Peter aside. The young boy stares up at me petrified as I drag him into the corridor.
“Where is Abigail? I know you’re close with her,” I ask him.
He looks like he is about to run, and I grip the collar of his shirt, pulling him closer.
I can feel him shaking, so I let him go.
I don’t want to scare him; he is only a boy.
Stepping away, he relaxes slightly. “Abbie, where is she?” I ask again, trying to not shake the boy.
“She went to check on Elora,” he stutters out.
I growl. Abigail was warned to keep her distance from her, and she has disobeyed me.
“Go,” I tell him and watch him take off back toward the kitchen.
Turning on my heel, I stalk up the stairs and I can hear them talking in hushed voices.
Throwing the door open, they both jump, and Abigail’s eyes go wide.
I stomp in and grab her arm. Elora jumps to her feet.
“Let her go. What are you doing? She wasn’t doing anything wrong, Silas,” she says glaring at me.
“I just need to ask her some questions, Lora. If she answers honestly, she has got nothing to worry about, right, Abigail?” I ask, staring down at her.
Abigail’s heart rate picks up, thumping loudly.
I can smell her fear as she stares back at me with frightened eyes.
Ripping her from the room, Elora tries stopping me.
She almost makes it to the door before the chain catches on her leg.
It’s long enough to reach the bathroom, but not long enough for her to follow us out.
Slamming the door on her screaming, I drag Abigail down the stairs.
She has to jog to keep up and my hand stops her from stumbling as we move down the corridor.
“Where are you taking me to?” she asks.
“The dungeons.”
She tries to fight against me.
“Abigail, just because you’re friends with Elora, don’t think I won’t hurt you,” I snarl, opening the basement door.
She stops struggling, and I shove her in front, letting her go so she can walk down the narrow stairs.
Abigail creeps down, entering the cell and sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall.
She folds her arms across her chest, trying to warm herself.
Hearing footsteps on the stairs, I glance over my shoulder and see Matitus coming down.
“No one is there, and it looks like they left in a hurry,” Matitus says.
That piques my interest. Turning, I stomp into the cell, closing the door behind me. Abigail jumps to her feet, moving to the other side, her eyes darting toward the door.
“Where is your family, Abbie and why have they left?”
Something seems to click in her head at my words and I hear her heart rate pick up telling me something is surely going on with her.
“I don’t know?” she says, but her heart skips a beat, and I know she is lying.
I cock my head to the side and I tug my lips into a grin.
I haven’t tortured someone for some time, and even I must admit it feels great.
I’m going to enjoy this. Matitus steps forward.
But I made sure I locked the door when I pulled it shut.
“Silas, no,” Matitus screams, trying to rip the cell door open, but I have the key, and I snort at his attempt.
He jumps back, the bars burning his skin.
Abigail’s fear jumps to maximum levels, and I feel my eyes change as heat takes over, the air sizzling around me.
I can feel heat pulsating out of me, making the temperature rise.
“You have three seconds to answer, Abbie,” she steps back at my words, glaring at me.
“One…two…”
“Do your fucking worst, Silas,” she spits.
I sadistically grin. Brave little Abigail wants to play. She must have forgotten she is playing with a beast.