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Realization hits me like a sharp slap to the face.
I have to leave before I become more entangled in his web than I already am. It won’t be easy, but if I can make myself undesirable to him while staying on his good side, he could potentially help me.
I’ll tell him I’m infertile.
It’s not like he can hold it against me. He said he doesn’t like torturing people who don’t deserve it, and I hardly think that would render me deserving.
Because I’ll no longer be eligible to be the mother of his children, he could help me get back to my storage closet. Perhaps even give me a few MREs to take with me.
The door creaks open, and my heart nearly stops, I’m so anxious.
He’s standing with his massive arms folded over his chest, fixing me with a hard gaze.
For the longest time, neither of us speaks. I wish I knew what he was feeling, but he’s difficult to read.
Finally, I ask, “How’s the torture going?”
He cracks a smile. “You’ll see, soon enough.”
The hairs rise on my arms as my heart quickens.
“You have nothing to fear from me,” he says quickly. “I didn’t mean it in that way.”
“Then how did you mean it?”
“You’ll see.”
“You’re an asshole.”
“I prefer the term monster. You know that.” He shifts in place, almost looking nervous.
“Are you bringing me to your Keep today?”
“No. I’m taking you somewhere much worse.”
“You say I have nothing to fear from you, then you say something like that. How do you think that makes me feel?”
“How I intend for you to feel.”
“And how’s that?”
“Scared.”
“Of you?”
He nods.
“Why would you want that?”
“Because I’m a terrible man.”
We’ve danced this dance before. He’s shown me who he is, and while he’s not pretty and light and kind, he is effective.
And in this world, effective is better than good intentions.
But I can’t stay with him. Not if I can’t trust him completely, and the secret down the hall is too great.
“You’re not going to want me,” I say.
