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But he’s right. I need to take her some place new, do something novel with her, show her something she’s never seen before. After all, even if she has the key, it’s looking more and more like that’s a dead end. So close, so far. I’ll need to figure out a place to put her, so she’s safe. After all, if I can hear the nearly silent callof it, there are others, other monsters out there, that will come looking for it.
And none of them will be as much as a goddamn gentleman as I am.
20
Katy
I’m ashamed to admit it, but I spent the night in Hadrion’s bed, laying there, my entire being wishing that he’d appear in the doorway. But he didn’t, and eventually sleep stole over me, keeping me prisoner until early morning. The gray fingers of dawn crept along the sheets, waking me up and throwing me out of my hectic dreams.
It’s there in his silent bed that I realize he hasn’t come to sleep at all. Guilt and shame, eats at my heart and I slip from under the covers, sneaking down the hall toward my room.
Something stops me, and I pause on the upper landing, looking down into the living area.
There by the window, his silhouette stands out. But he isn’t standing, no. He is slumped down against the glass, head bowed, clearly asleep.
Had he stayed up all night down there? Why not sleep on the couch, if nothing else? He’s a god. Why didn’t he just wake me up and tell me to go to bed? Confusion wells up inside me, and I flee to my room, closing the door behind me. My breaths come inrapid, galloping gulps of air, and I can’t put a word to this thing inside me. It’s a dull ache, deep in my chest, confusing me and making me want to fall to my knees and sob my heart until all the pain has stopped.
I’ve never felt anything like it before. Not even when Mom left. At least that I could understand.
My body is hot and cold all at once, and I shiver as I cross the room, stripping off my clothes and sliding under the cool sheets. They are not the same. It doesn’t smell like him in here, the scent of him that’s almost like the air before a thunderstorm.
It’s a strange sensation, but there it is. He reminds me of the world waiting for the lightning-strike.
I bury my face in the pillow, inhaling deeply.
And all I can smell is laundry detergent.
There’s a tap at my door, and I groan. My eyes open and I sit up with a start. The sun is fully up, stretched through the room across the floor. Did I sleep? I must’ve.
“Miss?” Elenora’s voice is muffled on the other side of the door. “It’s nearly noon. Are you awake?”
Oh, my god. I’ve totally overslept. I bolt out of bed and grab a robe that’s draped across the dresser, shrugging into it quickly.
“Yeah, I’m up, sorry, sorry,” I say as I rush to the door, opening it.
She steps in with a breakfast tray, giving me a curious look.
“I’ll be out in a second,” I tell her, and she nods, placing the tray on the dresser. I duck back into the bathroom, and quickly run a brush through my hair, and wash my face before returning to thebedroom.
She’s waiting for me, and I glance over at the tray. There’s a cup of tea waiting for me, along with what looks like a delicious breakfast sandwich on a fresh croissant. My stomach rumbles at the sight of it.
“Did Mr. Mortaine send this up?” I ask her, and Elenora’s lips twitch and her cheeks flush.
“Mr. Mortaine,” she says, and pauses. “Would like your company for the afternoon, or early evening, if you are not up for an outing sooner rather than later? You’ll be back in time for the evening at the club, but if not, the other staff will cover for your absence.”
A strange sense of foreboding comes over me.
“And what kind of outing is that?”
“Dinner, if the evening, so a dress would be suitable and I can suggest some if you like. If you prefer to go out earlier...”
“He wants to take me out for dinner?” I raise an eyebrow and Elenora shrugs with an amused smile on her face.
“My lord and master has his fits of whimsy,” she replies, and I note how she neatly crosses the room, avoiding the sunshine as she goes.
Maybe she is a vampire. Or maybe it’s just coincidence. Either way, I don’t have the courage gathered to ask her.
“So... dinner? With Hadrion?”
