AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sighing, I turned off the faucet and climbed out, dressing in a pair of jeans and a hoodie.
Screw it. I’m going out.
I had no idea how closely anyone was watching the cameras at this hour, but I snuck out the back window and down the fire escape, sure that there was a guard in a car, watching the front door. Immediately, my phone began to ring, but I ignored it, knowing it was Zen, demanding to know where I was going.
I won’t be long,I reassured him silently, landing at the sidewalk and briskly heading north on Montgomery Street.
Nothing was open in Catalonia at this hour. Despite its proximity to a major metropolis, it liked to maintain its small-town vibe, clinging to the mom-and-pop hours and slow pace.
That was fine with me on this night. I didn’t want a restaurant or a convenience store. I just wanted a breath of fresh air and escape from the four walls of the apartment that were closing in around me. I had no interest in running into smiling faces or talking to drunken, friendly neighbors.
Maybe he just wasn’t coming. Maybe leaving was a stupid idea, and it was time to go back to the drawing board. Maybe—
Footsteps behind me stopped my mind mid-thought, and I whirled around, already sensing him before my eyes set sight on Agnan, beneath the glow of the streetlights.
“You really did leave him,” he purred, shaking his head. “I thought you were going to become queen. What happened? Did he throw you out on your useless ass?”
I managed a watery smile despite the fact that my heart was hammering wildly in my chest.
“Me? Queen?” I laughed hollowly. “Come on, Agnan. You know better than that. Of course a king would never want me.”
He leered and ambled closer. “You’re no one’s queen, Grendel. I’m surprised that fool could see it, though. He’s not very smart for all his brute strength.”
His words infuriated me far more than they should have, and it took everything in me not to lash out.
Keep it together. You need to keep calm.
“I was hoping you’d come,” I informed him flatly. “It took you long enough. I left days ago.”
“I had to be sure you’d really left. I thought there were guards following you.”
I rolled my eyes and stepped closer, perspiration breaking out at my hairline. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there were. He’s so paranoid, the king. Even though he kicked me out.”
“Well, you got back in with him, didn’t you?” He reached out to stroke my cheek. “Rescuing him when I had him nice and secure.”
I didn’t answer him as I tried to hold back my shudders from his touch.
Suddenly, he grabbed me, and I yelped as he pulled me toward him. “What the fuck were you thinking?”
His movements caught me off guard, and I whimpered loudly, wishing now that I hadn’t left the apartment after all.
“I was freaking out!” I gasped, thinking quickly. “I-I didn’t know what you were going to do with him. I was worried a bunch of Royal Guards were going to come for us all—”
He slapped my face, silencing me. “Don’t you ever defy me again, you hear me?”
I nodded, tears blurring my vision as the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.
“I know what I’m doing, Mousie. You’re just a pawn in my game. I’m the king. Not Zen. Me!”
Licking my lips, I pulled back, and Agnan released me like he was disgusted with me. “I should kill you for what you did.”
Unable to help myself, I challenged him. “Why don’t you? You’ve done worse for less.”
His dark eyes popped at my petulance, and he advanced on me threateningly. “Don’t tempt me, little bitch. You think I won’t?”
I shook my head and met his stare evenly. “No. I don’t think you will,” I replied confidently. “I think you need me. That’s why you haven’t killed me already.”
His mouth gaped slightly, and he stared at me. “What the hell are you babbling about, Grendel?” he snickered.
