The sun warms my skin once again as I step out into the daylight, a contented sigh leaving me. And to think I was just mopping, convinced that Nate hated me.
Things are truly looking up. There’s even a chance that I'll get better if I’m constantly surrounded by him, that is.
Life is so—
Strong arms wrap around my waist, and for a moment, I think Nate has come downstairs to convince me to stay. But then, cloth is being shoved into my mouth, and my feet are being kicked out from under me.
“Hmph!” I shout, but no one seems to notice. It’s either too early or no one cares.
A black van pulls to the curb, the back door sliding open to reveal a man in a sky mask. He waves, and whoever has me pinned—two guys, I believe—drag me toward the vehicle.
Oh, fuck. It’s happening. Everything my uncle warned me about.
I try to scream and kick and flail, even attempting to go limp and drag my captors down with me, but nothing works. And as soon as I enter the van, a needle is plunged into my neck, and I’m slipping into darkness.
The last thing I can think of as I’m being laid on the cold, metal floor is that Nate must have seen, right?
He’ll come to save me. I just know it.
Nathaniel
18
I HAVEN’T HEARD FROMLandon for two days now. I guess he was just as freaked out by our connection as I was. Well, am.
Shifting from hating him to maybe hating him, and then now, knowing damn well that all I feel is protective rage and minor affection, has my mind reeling.
I guess it shouldn’t bethatbig of a surprise. Normally, when you sleep with someone so frequently, feelings are bound to appear in some way. But the way I react to his gift, as if he’s stroking me from the inside out? How I’m suddenly much more paranoid about having to repress him?
I guess I didn’t expect this, at least not this soon. Because now I’m trying to figure out how to protect him, how to uncover more of those sad, terrified little secrets he’s holding onto.
You would think that a guy like Landon, someone so vicious and bratty, wouldn’t hold so much sorrow. But he does, andI’mthe only one who can stop the onslaught of pain.
And fuck, if that doesn’t make me feel ten feet tall, nothing else ever will. Landonneedsme. He craves me. And I…I want to give him that. Me.
I can’t very well do that, though. Not if he’s ignoring the call I made yesterday or the text I sent him this morning. But it’s fine. I’ll show up this weekend and demand his attention either way.
All I can do in the meantime is convince the council that Landon and his uncle aren’t a threat. That I’ve observed the Presley family—well, one of them—and I’ve made my decision.
Then, if the council can’t respect it, I’ll load Landon onto a plane and bring him here, where I can protect him.
We may not be in love, not the way Julian and Atlas are, but we aresomething. And knowing I can keep pushing him around, fighting and struggling with him, even as I get the softer side on occasion? Well, that’s just perfect.
I’ll take his nasty personality and hold it close to my chest where no one else can judge it again—no one but me.
My phone begins to ring, and for a moment I startle, thinking it’s myworkphone. But no, it’s my personal. And as I see Abraham Chastain’s name on the screen, I startle once more.
Why is he calling me at night? I left the castle several hours ago.
“Hello?” I answer, concern clear in my tone.
And as Abraham speaks, he sounds so exhausted and terrified that I sit straight up in my bed. “Nathaniel, don’t come in in the morning.”
“What?” I sound just as terrified as he is now. He called meNathaniel.
“You’ll still be paid—just don’t come, okay? Things are… Well, just stay away. Thanks.” And then the line goes dead.
I’m on my bike a minute later, speeding quickly through the dark, foggy back roads of Port Orford. I didn’t even change out of my sweats and my sweater; I just ran.
