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“I’m not trying to make any excuses for the Crown, but he’s under a lot of stress, and that whisky did not help,” she says, sounding bitter.
“I will never allow alcohol to be an excuse for violence. I grew up in a house where both parents were addicts, and I’ll never willingly live like that again. You might as well drain me now.”
I wait for Katina’s retort, but none comes. When my eyes lift to hers, I see pity and I hate it.
“Don’t, Katina,” I warn, and she balks.
“What?”
“Don’t pity me. I’ve lived through worse than my parents,” I confess.
She sits down, propping her chin on her fist. “Tell me,” she begs, and I scrunch up my nose.
“You don’t want to hear my sob story.”
“What else do I have to do today? If you don’t eat with the Crown, I’ll be forced to shadow you all day.”
“You really don’t have to do that. I’ll be perfectly—”
“Bored,” she cuts me off.
“I was going to say fine. Considering where I am, bored isn’t the worst I could be.”
“Touché,” she nods. “Well at the very least, let’s have breakfast and maybe play a bit of cards? Oh, maybe I can roll in a TV and we can binge-watch something romantic.”
My brow quirks at how excited Katina seems.So strange.
“That all sounds... nice,” I offer, not wanting to hurt her feelings. And it actually does sound good.
She rushes out of the room and is gone for several minutes before returning, sporting a grim expression.
“What is it?” I ask, already knowing I won’t like the answer.
“The Crown won’t accept your refusal,” she says, avoiding my eyes. “He’s ordered me to bring you outside.”
“Outside?” I can’t keep the surprise from my voice.
“Yes,” Katina groans. “I’m sorry, I can’t disobey his orders.”
“What will happen if I refuse?”
She sighs. “Be prepared for him to storm this room and force you in ways you won’t like. I’d suggest you make it easy on yourself.”
“I really don’t care what he wants, Katina. He can kill me if he likes.”
“Wouldn’t you like to go outdoors?” she presses, and I can’t help but nod.
As much as I hate him, I’ll never escape this place if I don’t get to know my surroundings. I’ll endure a morning with him in order to start my plans.
“Fine. I’ll go,” I bite out.
She finishes straightening my bed as I brush my teeth with the toothbrush and toothpaste she brought in earlier. Some fresh air will do me some good. If only I could enjoy it alone. Instead, I’m going to have to stomach Julian being with me. I quiver at the thought for several reasons.
“Will you come with us?”
“No. I don’t like the outdoors,” Katina calls from inside my room.
I deflate. Katina’s a vampire, but she doesn’t scare me. She hasn’t so much as bared her teeth at me. She might be strange and yes, she has threatened my life, but only to keep me in line.Don’t be dumb, Marina.
