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A lump formed, and my throat ached. “What do you mean? You brought me here. I should be able to get back.”
She laughed, and the sound was high-pitched and warm but somehow scary. “If I didn’t have to wait for you to be reborn and until Havestia for the veil to thin so we could traipse to Earth, I would’ve taken you the moment you were born so we wouldn’t run into whatever this is. You’re going to embarrass me and weaken our family if you don’t get yourself in line.”
I had to get home. The walls still wanted to close in on me, but I couldn’t shut down. “Don’t worry.” I placed my hands on my hips. “I won’t be alive long, according to your friends. And what do you mean, I can’t go back ho—er—to Earth?”
Dallas answered, startling me. I’d forgotten he was there. “Caden explained this to you already. Stop feigning ignorance. The veil only opens for a short amount of time on Havestia—every fifty complete season cycles.” He templed his hands. “Priestess Abba sent you and the other seven girls who sacrificed themselves a golden ticket to get you to that ridiculous … casino so we would have an easy time locating you before the veil closed.”
My stomach was now churning so much that, between this news and Dallas’s presence, I was certain I would vomit. After everything I’d seen and heard, I couldn’t help but think this horrible nightmare was, in fact, my new reality.
That damn golden ticket.
And Ember and Isa had gotten one too. Did that mean they’d also been kidnapped and brought here? Maybe I could find them.
“None of that matters now that you’re here.” Orla snapped her fingers. “Your name is Alina. That is what everyone will call you, so you need to get used to it.”
She took my hand—hers almost as hot as a flame, though it didn’t burn—and led me back down the hallway in the direction we’d come from.
As I passed Dallas, he winked and blew a kiss, causing my skin to crawl.
He was way too confident for his own good.
Wanting to get away from him, I didn’t argue as she led me away. I was far more comfortable with her than him. “Where are we going?”
“I’m taking you back to your room. I don’t want any additional castle servants to see you until the announcement has been circulated.”
That was more than okay with me, so I didn’t respond. The two of us marched down the hallways, and soon we were back in the bedroom I’d woken in.
Lilidh and Cara were there, and both of them bowed to Orla and her red glory.
“Leave now,” Orla commanded, the faint scent of sulfur filling the air.
They hurried out, and I realized no one would help me if it went against their queen.
Once they’d gone, I waited for her to insult me or smack me.
Instead, Orla’s chest heaved. “Get in bed and rest. Dinner will be brought to you. Until then, dream or do whatever you need to do to get your memories back. I need you to at least attempt to win the Comortas and not have me waste a competitor.”
Crossing my arms, I didn’t say a thing. She’d already decided to send me to my death, and I’d learned I couldn’t get back home. Even though I wanted to continue to pretend this was a fucking nightmare, the chill in my body had already accepted this new reality as truth.
Whatever she saw on my face must have been enough because she turned and walked away.
Alone, I flopped onto the bed, my chest constricting uncomfortably. No one here liked me. I was stuck, and most importantly, the one person who was like a father to me wasn’t around to help me figure out how to get home. But Ember might be here somewhere. Maybe I could find her, and the two of us could figure a way out of this mess.
I snorted. Like Orla would let me out of her sight now.
Hot tears gathered and spilled down my face, and I let the hopelessness weigh me down. This was real, and worse, in a few days, I’d be dead. There was no getting out of this situation, and I couldn’t help but think about all the kids I wouldn’t be able to help back home.
Eyes stinging and nose stuffy, I somehow managed to fall asleep.
My eyes opened, and for a moment, I didn’t remember where I was. The light was dim, with only a faint glow, as if from the moon and stars, but it wasn’t daytime anymore. A few lanterns were lit in the room, giving it a soft glow.
I sat up, taking in the shadowed room, and memories flooded back. Dammit. I was still here. I’d hoped it was a dream. I couldn’t suppress a bitter laugh. Years of being passed from shit home to shit home should’ve taught me the futility of hoping a long time ago. When would I learn? The sheets, buttery soft linen, crinkled in my clenched fists, and I forced myself to relax, push down the anger, and tap into what I could use on what was going right.
That’s what Stan would want.
I stood and found the cool floor comforting. No one was here. This could be my chance to escape.
I rushed into the bathroom, retrieved my foldable knife, and slid it into my cleavage—one of the few perks of the horrible dress I still wore was that it offered easy concealment and easy access for my knife. Then I scurried to the door to the hallway and placed my ear against it. I held my breath, trying to make sure I wouldn’t miss a sound or sign of life on the other side.
