Chapter 20 Lies and Liberties
LIES AND LIBERTIES
For the first time in longer than I can remember, anticipation pulls me out of bed. Today is my first day at Thornhurst. My first time testing the binds that make Mysthaven feel like a prison.
I dress for my morning workout and slip into the hall. No one opens their door. Maybe it’s because, despite exposing me to the elements again yesterday, I had zero reaction—my power still undetectable.
“This is going to be a fucking shit show,” Lochlan’s hushed words have me stopping just outside of the gym’s double doors and flexing my mental shields.
“It’ll be fine,” Holden says. “If she steps a toe out of line, we’ll intervene.”
“And what about Daire and Griffin?” Kai’s voice is a low rumble.
“We’ll go back tonight,” Lochlan says. “We have to be missing something.”
Back? Back where?
“We have to be careful.” Holden’s voice is tighter than usual. “If the Council discovers we’re investigating her background—”
“They won’t,” Lochlan cuts in. “We’ve worked too damn hard to ensure they won’t.”
“They trusted my father, too, until they didn’t.” Holden’s voice drops so low I have to strain to hear it.
“This isn’t the same,” Kai interrupts. “We’re not questioning orders. They don’t know about her.”
“If they find out, she’ll be treated as a threat,” Holden says.
“It would make our lives easier,” Lochlan says, almost wistful. “Everything we’ve worked for, everything we’ve sacrificed—she could destroy it all. And for what? A few rounds of fucking?”
Offense has me glaring through the door.
“The imprints—” Kai starts.
“I don’t know, yet,” Holden says.
Lochlan sighs. I can practically see the brand of irritation I bring out in him, from his flexed jaw to steely eyes. “Just remember, we protect the Vestra first.”
Their words become rushed whispers, punctuated by harsh silences that send goose bumps trailing down my arms.
They know I’m here.
I take a step back, prepared to retreat upstairs when the door jerks open.
Lochlan stands there, jaw flexed, silver eyes sparking with anger—exactly as I’d imagined—reminding me of the first time I saw him at the healing center.
And like then, invisible manacles encircle my body.
They pin me to the wall as he closes the distance, boxing me in so that even without the restraints, it would be impossible to escape him.
“What did I warn you about?” His eyes shift between mine as I struggle to keep my shields in place.
Fear tightens my throat, but I refuse to let it show. I meet his gaze and pray my glare holds a fraction of the fury reflected back at me. “You’ll have to be more specific about which threat you’re referring to.”
The bindings around my wrists tighten, ensuring I can’t lift them as he leans closer.
Initially, I had thought he smelled of citrus.
Of orange blossoms I’d once encountered on a field trip to a horticultural conservatory.
Over the past week, I’ve realized that citrus scent has many layers, both sweet and deep, with floral and herbal undertones that constantly have me trying to label it.
I still can’t place it. “Cross us, and you won’t be able to breathe a word. ”
His dark hair is tousled, wind-blown perfection that makes me scowl. I refuse to find him attractive, especially when he’s threatening my life.
Again.
Holden and Kai exit the gym, each holding a large duffel bag. Holden’s hard gaze skims over my invisible restraints. Kai refuses to so much as acknowledge me. Even through the tight weave of fear blanketing me, humiliation trickles in, taunting me for not fighting back, for not even trying.
“Spy on us again,” Lochlan warns, “and I’ll stitch bells around your godsdamned neck.” An invisible thread slips against the side of my neck—a clear warning—before the three disappear upstairs, leaving me stuck in place for several minutes as the binds slowly fade.
Daire finds me in the gym a few minutes later. His eyes narrow as he takes me in. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I lie again.
He exhales, his frown deepening. “Griffin’s busy with work, so it’ll just be us this morning.”
Relief washes over me. I don’t think I could face Griffin today—not only because of what he said yesterday, but the vivid dreams I had last night of him coaxing me toward ecstasy, my core aching as I begged him for the release he kept edging me toward before completely retreating.
Daire maintains a wide gap as we begin stretching, as though uncomfortable being here. He pulls his sweatshirt off, and I hate myself a little for glancing at his bare arm, and a little more when disappointment pangs in my chest when I note his imprint is gone.
“Let’s get started.”
Ninety minutes later, I drag myself to my room, muscles fatigued and skin slick with sweat. Either Griffin’s been taking it easy on me, or Daire’s a sadist.
Maybe both.
I’m still shocked that I don’t stink. Not even like the never-ending supply of herbal teas.
Still, routine dictates my movements. I shower, then dress in clothes that aren’t sweatpants or workout clothes for the first time since arriving.
I stare at my reflection for a second, trying to recognize myself in the jeans and casual black top that dips just enough to show a hint of cleavage.
I abandon my attempts to prepare myself for today, and head for Scarlet’s room.
I nearly collide with Kandi. I haven’t seen the liaison since my first day here when she made her interest in Griffin as clear as the sun.
This morning, she’s dressed in a candy-apple red suit that plunges low, revealing the top of her full breasts.
Her light blue eyes flash across my wet hair and bare feet before she forces a smile that is neither sincere nor friendly.
“I didn’t expect to see you here.” She straightens her blazer, drawing attention to her unease, which has me shielding in record time.
Likewise. I swallow the reply, struggling to recall proper etiquette.
“Where are you coming from? Are you looking for something? Someone?” She folds her arms over her chest.
I hesitate, unsure how to navigate this interaction, especially since the guys clearly placed caution tape around her. “I’m going to see Scarlet,” I finally say, gesturing toward her closed door, still twenty feet away.
“She resides here?” Kandi’s clipped tone reveals confusion and the barest hint of jealousy.
“She works here.”
Kandi’s gaze flicks to my open door. “Is that your room?”
Alarm blares in my head as I stare at her, trying to process what she’s asking. What she’s not asking. “Did you need something?”
Her chin snaps forward. “Why are you staying in their private wing?”
Lie, self-preservation demands.
I lift a shoulder. Casually. Dismissively. “I don’t have a handle on my element yet and still need a lot of sunlight for recovery.”
Her eyes rake across my face as though searching for a lie, and though her gaze isn’t a shade of purple, I keep my shields locked in place.
“It’s temporary,” I add.
Kandi pulls in a heavy breath that’s followed by an even heavier sigh. “I’ll find you another room, so you don’t encroach on their privacy while you’re a guest here.” She pulls her shoulders back.
Her insinuation that I’m an inconvenience—unwelcome—shouldn’t sting, but it’s been a constant in my life, so deeply ingrained I’m sure it’s scratched across my soul.
Griffin appears behind her. His well-fitted dark blue tee enhances his sapphire eyes and toned chest. And those damn broad shoulders—the ones that bracketed my thighs while he feasted on me in my dream.
I try to ignore the tickle of butterfly wings brushing my stomach as he takes me in. “That isn’t necessary. Brielle’s staying in this room for the sunlight, as she mentioned.”
I debate whether he breached my shields or was close enough to hear.
Kandi whirls around, a hand pressed to her chest as she releases a breathy laugh. “Griff! I didn’t realize you were home.”
I barely resist the urge to roll my eyes.
Griffin’s gaze slips to mine, glimmering with knowing amusement, before he turns back to Kandi.
I hate considering what Kandi might mean to him—what any woman might mean to him—when I don’t want to mean anything to him.
To my horror, Lochlan strides into view, shirtless and sweaty like he just finished working out—though he never returned to the gym.
His torso looks like it’s sculpted from stone, every inch chiseled perfection that I tear my gaze away from, refusing to admire him.
“What’s going on?” His voice is lyrical.
Kind. So unlike it is when directed toward me.
Kandi straightens. “We have a meeting first thing this morning. I wanted to go over a few things but found your guest wandering and assumed she was lost.”
“It’s short-term while she acclimates. Today’s her first day at Thornhurst,” Lochlan says. “Hopefully, they’ll teach Miss Breslin how to read a clock and follow directions, so she doesn’t require a personal escort to breakfast.”
I wish I could send him my thoughts because I’d be mentally flipping him off a few dozen times in the most vulgar of ways.
Kandi releases a shrill laugh and playfully swats Lochlan’s arm, confirming bad flirting looks the same here as it does on Earth. To my great relief, my teeth don’t clench and my heart doesn’t arrest like they do when she acknowledges Griffin.
“Let’s hope they have enough time and crayons,” I mutter.
Kandi’s smile tightens. “I thought that perhaps a room in another part of the house would be more suitable? The east would allow plenty of morning sunlight.”
“That’s fine,” I say, exhausted by the conversation.
Victory shines in Kandi’s eyes as she reaches for her crystal link.
I turn toward Scarlet’s room.
“She’s untrained,” Lochlan interrupts. “While at Mysthaven, she will remain near us to ensure her element doesn’t create any… unforeseen issues.”
Kandi blinks with that same note of feigned innocence that scratches my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. “She’s hardly a threat—”