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“He’ll live. He’s too ornery to die from a tiny hole.”
“Tiny? Did you see the size of it?” I gasped.
“Bah. You should see the scar on my thigh from the time we had an incursion of rock scorpions. Three feet tall and nasty. Boiled up through the sewers and caused quite a bit of damage.”
I blinked. “Is it wrong that I’m curious about what that looks like?”
Serena laughed. “And this is why Sebastian will find a way to be with you, because you’re not like everyone else.”
“Neither are you.”
“Trust me when I say he’s never looked at a woman like he stares at you.”
I wanted to believe that. But I remained scared, the memory of the cell fresh. Still, I followed her outside and only briefly debated fleeing on foot.
Serena read my mind. “You do realize once winter hits, you’d freeze to death if you don’t know how to make a fire.”
If there wasn’t a button to press, then no, I didn’t have the slightest clue. I followed Serena to a small transport that was more open to the air than I liked. The fact I was strapped in didn’t reassure me, nor did the helmet she offered.
We zoomed into the air with nothing to protect us. Somehow, we arrived alive and landed on the roof of the medical center, where I was treated with an accelerated healing booster that eased the aches of my bruises. The serum applied to my cuts sealed them.
From there, Serena took me to Sebastian’s apartment building.
“Why are we here?” I asked.
“The commander said to put you somewhere safe.”
I could have mentioned he’d probably meant a cell, but I preferred Serena’s plan for my incarceration. She placed me in Sebastian’s bedroom, a place I’d not yet seen, given we’d always used my bed.
It proved larger than mine, the bedding, carpet, even the walls a dark red. The bathroom, though, proved to be a surprising white. Everything in it gleamed, including the giant basin that could have fit at least two of me. Rather than possibly drown in that tub, I showered, wondering what would happen to me. How long would this reprieve last?
I wasn’t about to put that filthy yellow suit back on, so I raided his closet. The shirt I found was large on me and hung to midthigh. When I emerged, I found Sebastian there, his expression tight.
“I thought you were gone,” he said.
“Kind of hard to escape with no clothes.” I eyed him as I spoke, noting he wore a fresh shirt, not one of his, considering it was bright red.
“You want to escape?” He practically barked the question.
I arched a brow. “Depends. What are you planning to do with me?”
“I’m not sure.” He shrugged.
“Oh? Don’t you have laws that tell you exactly what to do?”
“I’m discovering that some laws might need to be more flexible.” He stared at me. “Why did you save me?”
“I didn’t so much save you as ensure someone worse wouldn’t end up in charge,” I hedged.
“You could have escaped.”
“To go where? To do what? I don’t want to live in the sewers or spend my life hiding and struggling.”
“Is that the only reason you stayed?” he pressed.
“I don’t know what you want me to say,” I murmured, whirling from him and marching to the window to stare blindly outside.
“I want to know the truth.”
