“I shall tend to Kristina and be with you,” he went on, directing Shelley toward the vast glass panes.
He waited until she was out of earshot before he took a step in Kris’ direction.“You and I must have words, little one.”
Chapter Twenty
Kris
Kronos lowered to his haunches before her, and Kris’ heart thundered in response.His expression was stern, and she could rarely recall seeing his eyes as serious.
One hand reached for her, the same fingers that had coaxed Shelley, propping her chin in his direction.
“I must accompany Shelley on this journey.”His words were quiet.“And I expect you to be obedient while I am gone.”
Her heart skipped a beat at the news.He was going somewhere?Wait, what did that mean?
“Master?”
Apprehension swelled at the unsettling information.If he was leaving with Shelley, what would happen to her?Was his departure the best opportunity she’d had to finally slip from his grasp, or, as the knots tightening in her tummy suggested, was it a reason for her to panic?How would she cope if he stuck her back in that claustrophobic white cell again?
“I want to trust you.”His voice sounded pained, as though he was the one with a dilemma.“Want to believe that you will behave the way Shelley has done in my absence, but it’s still early days between us.”
He sighed.“That’s not your responsibility; it’s mine, but I fear it means you must return to your room and rest while I’m gone.”
“No, Master.”
The same pulverizing panic flooded her system, flashes of the curve of her small white room and its never-ending glow bursting into her mind.She couldn’t go back to that place, especially knowing he wasn’t even there to hear her panicked cries.
“Please.”She met his eyes, hoping hers conveyed her crippling fear.“I can’t stay there.”
“You’ll be asleep,” he promised her, as though coercing her into rest with his drug inducement was supposed to make her feel better.
“Please,” she repeated, reaching for his wrist and clinging to his flesh.“If I must sleep, then leave me to rest here, Master.”
She waved her free hand around to confirm where she meant.“I can’t be back there again.”Her breaths sped up.“I was so claustrophobic the last time.It was awful.”
She wanted to mention that she might also get hungry in his absence, or need to use the toilet again, but trepidation held her tongue.
His hazel eyes widened a fraction.“Claustrophobic?”
“Yes.”She nodded, wishing she’d just told him about the true extent of her terror in the first place.
It had seemed like a good idea to keep the fear to herself, her panic placating quickly once he’d roused her desire again, but when she’d made that choice, she hadn’t fully considered what would happen when he chose to return her there.
“That’s how I felt the last time I was there.”The explanation left her lips in one large rush of air.“Like the walls were closing in and I couldn’t breathe.”She squeezed her eyes closed as she relived the terror.“Please don’t make me go back to that.”
There was no choice but to throw herself on his mercy and pray he wouldn’t use the information against her.
He blew out a long, exasperated breath.“Why did you not tell me about this?I asked you for the truth at the time.”
She frowned, knowing she was potentially landing herself in yet more hot water.“I know.I’m sorry.I thought you’d think less of me if you knew I was scared.”
“Less of you?”Kronos shook his head.“Kristina, what have I told you?I always want the truth.”
“I know.”The weight of her miscalculation washed over her.If she’d only just told him about her panic.He might have been perplexed at her fears.Maybe he’d even have ridiculed them, but at least she’d have been honest, and he couldn’t have used the omission against her.As it was, she’d fudged the truth, revealing she’d considered fleeing, but not revealing why, and earning herself more of his displeasure.“I got things wrong, Master.”
“Yes, you did.”The disappointment gleaming in his eyes was harder to tolerate than she’d imagined.“And now I don’t have time to deal with your error.”He motioned behind her.“Shelley is waiting, and you just proved to me that I can’t trust you.”
A pang of regret stiffened in her chest.“I’m sorry.”Tears burned in her eyes.“But please don’t put me back in there.I always wake before you return.”
