AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Gabriel finishes off the glass of orange juice that had been sitting in front of him, then sighs.
Before he can speak, I say, “I’m not asking for much. If anything, my continuing to go to school would be good for you guys. You wouldn’t have to figure out how to explain why I’m suddenly nowhere to be found after paying thousands of dollars to attend classes.”
Kade and Atlas exchange a glance, and the latter vampire shrugs. Annoyance flickers through me, but I shove it down. I can’t let my attitude or sharp tongue get in the way of potential partial freedom.
“Fine,” Atlas says at last, and my heart skips a beat. I had been prepared to beg, though I’m relieved it didn’t come to that. “There will be rules,” he adds. “You will remain living here while you complete your degree.”
“What about my apartment?”
“I’ve terminated your lease,” Lex says.
I turn to him, arching a brow. “What are you talking about? How?”
“Lex owns the building you were living in,” Kade chimes in.
My eyes go wide. “You what?” I demand.
Lex shrugs. “I have many investment properties. It’s good business.”
“I don’t…” I shake my head. “This just keeps getting more fucked up.” I rake my fingers through my hair, and Kade’s eyes go to my neck. I quickly remember the marks there and pull my hair around to cover them again, but it’s too late. He’s seen them. His eyes meet mine and glimmer with heat. It makes me want to back away, but I keep my feet planted in place, counting on him not chomping down on my neck in the middle of the kitchen, though he looks as though he would like to do nothing more.
“You’re lucky we are granting you any freedom,” Kade points out, flicking his tongue along his bottom lip, and my breath catches at the glint of his fangs in the light from the window across the room.
I keep my mouth shut that time.
“I’ll have the rest of your things brought here over the next few days.” Lex’s words are final. There’s no negotiating this term, it seems.
I nod reluctantly. “Any other rules?” I’m unable to hide the agitation in my voice now, and Kade’s expression darkens, though the smirk on his lips contradicts it.
“You will be held under glamour to come and go from your classes as we direct.”
My mouth goes dry. The thought of being glamoured close to every day makes my stomach flip unpleasantly. “Why?” I force out. “You don’t trust me not to run again?”
“Exactly,” Lex says, looking rather amused at the thought. “I, for one, wouldn’t mind chasing you, but the others aren’t always in the mood to play.”
My stomach is a pit of anxiety, but I say, “Fine. If that’s what it takes to get out of this house for a few hours, I’ll do it.”
“You won’t notice the glamour is in place unless you try to disobey it,” Gabriel says, getting up from the table and carrying his empty glass to the sink, then leans against the counter. He’s trying to make me feel better about the idea of them controlling me, I think, but it doesn’t help the weight pushing down on my chest.
“Okay,” I say in a low voice. “I’m assuming the lot of you already have my class schedule?”
Atlas inclines his head in a subtle nod. It doesn’t surprise me at this point. It’s just another reminder of how little control I’ve always had over my own life. Perhaps one day I’ll be able to come to terms with it more easily, but for now, I’m reserved to wallow in it.
Kades leaves the room and returns in under a minute. He stops in front of me and holds his hand out. I glance down and find a shiny new phone in his palm. Arching a brow, I gingerly take it from him.
“Our numbers are programmed into it already,” Lex says.
“So are your parents’,” Gabriel adds.
I look up and frown at him. “I haven’t—” I stop myself. They don’t need to know I’ve barely spoken to them in months. Maybe I should tell them Atlas, Kade, Lex, and Gabriel found me, but it’s pointless. We both knew it was coming and that there was nothing we—or anyone else—could have done to stop it. Telling them I’m here now won’t change a thing. “Thanks for the phone,” I finally say, dropping it into the pocket of my cardigan and making a quick mental note to shoot Brighton a text to let her know I’m alive.
“You may want to block Kade’s number,” Lex says with a snicker. “Unless you enjoy unsolicited dick pics.”
Kade’s deep laugh fills the room. “Please. As if they would be unsolicited.”
I roll my eyes, though I’m secretly grateful for the ease in tension. “Thanks for the heads up,” I tell Lex, then slip around Kade to walk to the coffee machine. I tap my fingers against the counter, looking it over. The shitty coffee machine at my apartment had maybe three buttons. This one has a touch screen with so many options it’s making me nervous I’ll break the damn thing trying to make a simple cup of coffee.
“Can I make you something?” Gabriel leans against the counter, watching me.
