Her hand fisted and she gritted her teeth. “I don’t like being threatened. I don’t take kindly to it.”
I smirked. “Even so, I tend to get my way.”
A slow smile spread across her face and I paused. My brows furrowed and twitched. I didn’t believe for a second she would give in this easily. Before I could react, she screamed.
“Help!” she shouted. “Help me! I’m being kidnapped!”
I quickly covered her mouth and she bit down on my palm so hard, I ripped my hand away and stumbled in my haste to move from the little feline.
“By the immortals!” I shouted as I cupped my bleeding palm, the indentions of her teeth plain as day on my skin. “Are you insane?”
Blood coated her teeth as she bared them at me with a snarl. “You haven’tseencrazy yet!” she threatened. “Did you reallythink you could just snatch me from my own bed in the middle of the night and I’d let you? Get the fuck out of here!”
“The screams are coming from Lady Arya’s room!” the guards yelled from the courtyard.
I didn’t have much time left. I needed to leave before I was caught, but I didn’t want to leave without her.Without my mate. When I stepped toward her again, she snapped her teeth at me and I froze.
“Try me again!” she shouted.
I snorted. The situation was almost comical. “All right, kitten. You want to play? I’ll play.”
I blew out the candle, encompassing the room in darkness. Darting to the only window in the room, I opened it and jumped down a split second before her doors were thrown open by the guards.
I grinned and slunk away into the shadows.
14
CAT
The morning sun streamed through the high windows and cast rays of light across the polished wood. The formal dining room was a blend of old-world elegance and a certain austere grandeur, with heavy drapes framing the windows. I was about to eat breakfast with my doppelgänger’s family.
“You caused quite a commotion last night,” Lord Zacharia said as he sat with his two daughters at the dining table. It was the first time that we’d sat down for a meal together since I arrived in this insane world.
“I could hear you screaming from my courtyard.” Gianna shuddered and sipped her freshly squeezed orange juice.
I snorted. “Let’s not be so dramatic. I just had a bad nightmare.”
I didn’t know why I lied. When the guards burst into my room, I was standing in the middle of the room with blood in my mouth. But if I told them Damien had paid me a visit, it would cause more trouble than I needed in my life, as well as trouble for Damien since he wasn’t supposed to be off the island. I didn’t know why I was protecting him, but I was.
“If you’re not well, sister, I know of a witch who concocts astounding remedies—”
“No thanks,” I cut off Gianna quickly, holding up a hand. “I believe in western medicine.”
“Western medicine?” she repeated with a frown. “I don’t believe I’ve heard of that.”
“Yeah, well, Dr. Oz is much better than Sabrina the teenage witch, so I’d rather take my chances.” I took a bite of hideously under seasoned food and tried to pretend I was at my favorite restaurant back home.
Gianna furrowed her brows. “What?” she murmured in confusion.
“Are you unwell, Arya?” Lord Zacharia asked cautiously, his eyes volleying between me and Gianna.
I chuckled. “I’m perfectly fine, Father.” I took a sip of my orange juice and winced at the sour taste. I swear, if it wasn’t because I was starving, I would refuse to eat the food here. I wanted McDonalds so damn bad. I never thought I’d ever say that, but Jesus Christ I even missed fast food.
“Father… about the luncheon…” Gianna started, but Lord Zacharia stopped her with a raised hand.
“Enough, Gianna,” he said. “I don’t want to hear anything else about it. His Majesty made himself extremely clear. He doesnotwant you involved with the third prince.”
“But—”
