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“I didn’t really have the stomach for eating. I woke up in a strange place without my clothes and bandaged up.”
His gaze softened. “I’m sorry, Christine. I wanted to be here.”
But he wasn’t here. I scowled. “Tell me what happened. Tell me everything. Where are the others? Why aren’t they here?”
Atticus got up and went over to a cart by the door. He grabbed a glass of water and a towel, then came back over to me. “Take a drink and I’ll tell you. Then let me wash your hand.”
I took a drink, but my throat burned, and I coughed again. “I feel like I’m dying,” I managed to say, but at least there was no blood in my mouth. Atticus exhaled and his lips pressed into a thin line. “No, you’re not dying. Not if I have anything to say about it.”
I swallowed a few more times and then let the water soothe my throat. “Okay. Tell me. Tell me everything.”
“Your engagement party was attacked. Three bombs went off,” he explained, pulling me up from the floor. “Do you remember anything?”
Nausea swirled in my gut with each image that popped into my head. The smell of smoke, the taste of ashes, the sound of yelling…it overwhelmed my senses. “I remember some of it…Atticus…where were you today? Why did I wake up alone?”
“Drink more water and I’ll tell you.”
I rolled my eyes and took a sip. The cool liquid felt good against my throat, and before I knew it, I was gulping it down.
“Good girl,” Atticus said. His praise sent a shiver down my spine. He waited until I was sucking down another mouthful when he spoke. “I was with Augustus, digging through the rubble, searching for your body.”
His words shocked me, and I choked on the liquid I was drinking, then started coughing again. “What?!” I rasped out through painful wheezes.
He waited for me to stop sputtering before responding. “I got you out of there last night, Christine. You passed out in my car. I summoned a doctor, and he gave you pain medication. I almost lost you. Someone attacked your engagement party. I couldn’t risk—”
“Does August think I’m dead?” I asked incredulously. “What about Leo?”
“Yes. Both of them,” he answered.
“Why would you do that, Atticus?” I hissed. “Why the hell would you put them through that?”
“It was the only way I could keep you safe, Little Monster. I didn’t have a choice, and I refuse to apologize for it. I’m sorry you woke up here alone, but I’m not sorry for keeping you alive.”
His reasoning was so logical and methodical it made me sick. My eyes narrowed and my throat burned again, but this time, because I thought I was going to throw up. “Nothing is safe. Not anymore. You lied to them. You made them think I was dead!” I couldn’t hold it back anymore as tears spilled down my cheeks and I started sobbing. Irrational anger bubbled up, pushing past the fear.
He grabbed my hand and the glass of water. While pouring it onto my palm and dabbing it with a towel, he spoke. “They have to believe you’re dead if I’m going to keep you from getting hurt again.”
I noticed the way he wouldn’t meet my gaze. “Who wants to hurt me, Atticus?”
“Whoever attacked the castle last night. I’m guessing Lord Nathan.”
His words made my soul seize. “Atticus, August needs me. His mother died in that explosion. I saw her…” My voice trailed off as I thought back to the sight of her battered body soaked with blood, flames caressing her skin. She’d always looked so put together. So perfect and polished.
“You’re going to stay here, Christine.”
I shook my head. “No. You can’t do this to me. I want to leave.”
Atticus dropped the towel and we both stood up. My legs were shaking from adrenaline. This wasn’t right. “You’re staying here,” he said. “That’s final.”
“No,” I replied while pushing his chest with my good hand. “Atticus, I’m not—”
“You will, Christine!” His scream made me jump and take a step back. “You will stay here where it’s safe, because I can’t stand the thought of losing you.” He took a step toward me, then pressed me against the wall. “Because I just saw what happens when you die. I just saw how destroyed Augustus and Leo are. I just saw how it feels to lose you, Little Monster. And I’ll let it be their reality, but I refuse for it to be mine.”
I gasped and swallowed hard. Atticus had never revealed so much emotion to me before. My skin prickled with goose bumps, and I gripped his arms. “Atticus.” His eyes glistened, and I could tell he was trying so hard to stay in control. “You can’t do this. It’s not right. It’s…insane.”
“I can and I will,” he said through gritted teeth. “I’ve been pushed to my limit, and I refuse to lose you.” His grip on my arms tightened.
Caught between rage and fear, I managed to whisper. “Please don’t do this. Please.”
