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I shook my head, unable to articulate the emotions threatening to choke me, but absolutely not about to put myself through that again.
“Okay, will you think about it?”
“Will you go?” I asked and he shook his head, leaving us at an impasse. My fingers curled around the door of his cage and I swore they bent slightly under the pressure.
“I’m not leaving without you, Princess.”
I looked up at him, terrified for us both, and his head came down, slowly enough I could turn away, but I didn’t. His lips touched mine, his fingers gentle on my chin as he kissed me thoroughly, each press of his mouth against mine a promise, one I was scared he’d both keep and break. He eased his head back, a bittersweet smile on his face. “That should have been our first kiss.”
I chewed on my bottom lip, blurting out the first thing that came to mind. “As long as it’s not our last.”
He gave me a slow grin, his hand brushing a strand of hair from my face, as he said, “Not by a long shot, Princess.”
I shook my head, leaning against the door to push it shut and he stepped back so he was within the cell’s perimeter. “If you’re not leaving, I guess that means I should lock you up,” I uttered, not liking the idea, but he only nodded, seemingly unconcerned at being imprisoned. “She’s gonna come back, you know.” He nodded again, his eyes glinting like he relished the idea, and I narrowed my own. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing important,” he assured me, hands held up innocently. “Trust me. I can handle your grandmother.”
An unwilling chuckle swelled in my chest at his statement, but I didn’t bother to contradict him. Instead, I slipped my hand through the bars, letting a key dangle from my fingertip. “In case you find out you can’t,” I offered innocently, the tightness in my chest easing as he accepted the key. “You dying would upset me.”
He glanced down at the key in his hand. “Same here, Princess.”
Strickland came by to see Gran! The words blasted through my head and from the way Caleb’s head jerked, I knew he’d heard them too.
I’m on my way, I told Paige soothingly, stepping away from the bars.
“Why does it matter if Strickland went to see your grandmother?” Caleb questioned, his tone suspicious.
“She was just letting me know,” I answered offhandedly, not wanting to tell Caleb that it looked like Strickland might have betrayed us.
“That’s not what it sounded like,” he replied, his gaze thoughtful. “She sounded scared.”
I forced a smile. “Paige freaks out. It’s her thing.”
“Uh huh.” His gaze tracked me as I headed for the stairs. “You can tell me, Dru. All I want is to keep you safe.”
“Don’t worry,” I told him, pausing on the step, my gaze confident. “I’ve had twenty years of practice doing just that.”
***
Oh thank goodness. Paige twisted her fingers together restlessly as my gaze swept the room.
Where is he?
He left, she answered immediately and I glanced at her. I told him Gran wasn’t available.
Then why the urgent message? I questioned, trying not to grimace since clearly my presence wasn’t necessary.
I thought you should know.
My lips compressed, but somehow I managed not to shout. Has Gran woken up?
Noooo, Paige drawled in relief. No sign of her.
My eyebrows came down but I didn’t comment, giving Gran’s room a wary glance. There was a saying about letting sleeping bears lie, but I had a feeling that it didn’t matter when she woke up, none of us would be safe. Okay, I’m going to take a quick nap. I rubbed my gritty eyes, not sure I could sleep even though I was bone tired. Between Paige’s energy shot and Caleb’s kiss, my body felt like it was buzzing, but I needed sleep if I was going to recover completely. Wake me if something happens, I ordered and Paige’s head bobbed, her ponytail swinging.
Will do.
I nodded, crawling into the bed gratefully, the sun streaming in through the window not enough to bother me as I closed my eyes. Thoughts swirled like smoke, ephemeral and difficult to pin down, and I gave up trying as my mind shut down, the hours of strain taking their toll.
***
“Why are you still asleep?” The venomous question was accompanied by an abrupt fall as I found myself lying on the floor. I lifted my head to find Gran standing in the doorway, her expression icy with disdain. “I will not allow a lazy lay-about in my home.”
There was no point in explaining but I attempted to anyway. “I went hunting last night and didn’t return until dawn.”
“And you have nothing to show for your hours of hunting?” She sneered, making it clear she doubted my explanation. “Strickland returned with two boars. A dangerous hunt, but one that will keep us fed for weeks.”
