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I nod and take a few deep breaths to steady myself before pressing the dial button. The phone rings once, and I hear his voice on the other end, filled with irritation.
“What do you want?” he snaps.
I keep my gaze fixed on Darian, who stands tall above me, his eyes flashing with anger.
“Caspian,” I say, my voice steady.
“Lara? Where are you? Are you hurt?” His tone sounds concerned, but I can see through it.
I roll my eyes at his words, unimpressed by his act.
How did I ever fall for it?
Stupid girl.
Centering myself, I keep my voice flat. “Stop, Caspian. I know everything,” I say, sucking in a deep breath before continuing. “I’m going to search for the remaining amulets on my own. In exchange for finding them, I want Tammy released.”
Silence hangs in the air, and I double-check the phone to ensure I’m still connected.
“Caspian,” I repeat, prompting him to respond.
“You know nothing.” His voice drips with lethal calmness, sending shivers down my spine.
Ignoring him, I reiterate my demands firmly, “Release her unharmed, and I’ll find the remaining amulets for you.”
“It’s my brother, isn’t it?” His chuckle resonates through the phone, followed by a deep sigh that seems almost relieved. “Of course it is. I should have known.”
Tense silence hangs between us before Caspian resumes speaking, his tone hard, “Bring me the amulets, and I will release her. She will remain unharmed, for now. Delay in finding them, and I can’t guarantee she’ll be in one piece,” he counters, his threat hanging heavy in the air.
I feel a surge of anger bubbling up within me, but I manage to maintain my composure as I grit out through clenched teeth, “Hurt her, Caspian, and it will be the last thing you do.”
Caspian responds with a mocking laugh, “Oh, come now, little one. Did the kitten finally grow some claws?”
I remain silent, refusing to engage further with his taunts as he lays out the next steps, “I’ll send my brother the general locations of where we know the amulets are located. Bring them all to me, and I promise she will be released.”
“Unharmed,” I interject firmly.
“Unharmed,” he parrots, his annoyance evident in his voice. I can almost picture him rolling his eyes on the other end of the line.
Hanging up the phone, relief and anxiety wash over me as I blow out a shaky breath. Darian takes his cell from me, placing it into his pocket before grasping my hands with his, and only then do I realize they’re trembling.
I meet his gaze, “You do not need to fear him, Lara,” he says in a gentle tone, his thumbs rubbing the back of my hands in a soothing manner.
I furrow my brows, “And why is that?”
He winks and gives my hands a reassuring squeeze. “There are scarier things that go bump in the night,” he says, a ghost of a smile on his face as he walks out of the room.
I blink in surprise before glancing at Val, “Does he always act so cool and mysterious?”
Val lets out a huff of air, nudging my hand once, and trots after Darian and I realize that there’s still so much I’ve yet to learn about the three of them.
After taking a refreshing shower, I open the closet to find it filled with a variety of clothes. The dresser drawers are neatly organized with underwear, pajamas, socks, and bras. My cheeks flush with a mix of embarrassment and gratitude as I imagine Darian gathering all these items while I was away.
How the hell did he get in and out of the house without tripping the alarm?
Slipping into a pair of comfortable shorts and a tank top before heading to the kitchen, I find Darian already busy serving up a delicious spread of waffles and fruit onto several plates. He adds a dollop of whipped cream to each one and generously drizzles maple syrup over Val’s plate before placing it on the ground. Val’s tail wags excitedly, and I can’t help but grin at his enthusiasm.
Darian glances at me and lets out a chuckle. “Waffles are his favorite. But add maple syrup, and it’s...” he says, placing his hands in the air as if to emphasize his point.
