I opened my eyes.

He sat there, lips glistening, chest pumping, eyes glassy with lust.

In his unguarded surprise, he looked hurt. Hurt that I’d left him at the most critical point. Lost that I’d chosen to stop instead of allowing him to claim more of my pleasure. He looked eager and young, and hell, it would be so easy to crawl over to him.

To kiss him in apology.

To shove him onto his back.

To sit on his cock spearing so hard and hungry between his legs.

To say yes to whatever was between us.

But if I did that, it was all over.

I would be admitting that I was the biggest idiot alive.

That I believed I had feelings for this monster, this kidnapper, this would-be murderer.

No.

No way.

I’m not that girl.

Scrambling to my feet, I turned my back on him and sought solace in the only place I could. Ripping open the door of my Jeep, I crawled inside and slammed it in his face.

OceanofPDF.com

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

I RAIDED HER BELONGINGS.

How could I not?

I hadn’t seen anything new in over a decade. I wasn’t materialistic, but even I got bored with the same fucking mansion all the time. An hour passed while I sat on the tailgate of her vehicle and systemically went through all her belongings.

Fleece blankets that were so much softer than the woolen throws in the games room. Spare set of clothes similar to the ones she’d been wearing when she’d trespassed, and miniature solar panels with cables which I assumed were for charging all the technology tucked safely in a small backpack.

Occasionally, she’d twist in the front passenger seat and peer at me suspiciously. Her eyes would follow where my hands went, and her nostrils would flare when I touched things personal to her. Her stare made my skin prickle. Her judgment made my heart skip a beat, but I didn’t stop.

I didn’t stop invading her space because I was pissed.

Fucking pissed, actually.

If I didn’t keep my mind occupied, I might show her just how pissed. Just how annoyed and angry I was. How deeply frustrated.

My cock was still hard, still wanting her, still ignoring me not to care. It twitched all over again as I relived what it’d felt like to feel her pussy clenching around my tongue. She’d been on the pinnacle of coming.

I knew that.

I’d felt the pressure building inside her.

Yet she’d rather fall on her ass than let me give her pleasure. Frankly, that left a bad taste in my mouth. A shameful kind of whisper that said maybe she didn’t enjoy fucking me, after all. Maybe, when she’d come around my cock, it had been a lie—just like I’d accused her of.

It reminded me of all the guests who’d used me. Who’d grunted as I fucked them and moaned as I did what they commanded. They’d all pretended to care. But when it was over, they’d snapped their fingers to summon my master and have me dragged from their sides without a backward glance.

The similarities between her and the mistresses of my past were starting to slice me apart. In so many ways, she was utterly different. She reminded me of my Fable family. She had the spark of Elise and the bravery of Sarez, but in other ways, she was still my enemy.

It didn’t matter what my stupid heart whispered.

Didn’t matter how much I wanted her.

Didn’t matter that I couldn’t get her out of my goddamn head.

Nothing would change the fact that we were stuck with each other, and it wouldn’t be a pleasant experience. We already hated each other. That hate would only fester deeper the longer we survived in each other’s company.

The rain continued to fall but at a gentler flow than before. The soft pitter-patter on the vehicle’s roof ought to have been soothing, but it only made my temper flare hotter.

I wanted to go home.

I felt...itchy out here.

Too far from the safety of my mansion; too much distance between me and the protection Fables now offered.

Once upon a time, Fables had been my prison. I’d dreamed of running far, far away. I didn’t remember why I wanted to run, and wasn’t brave enough to go digging, but now? Well, now it was my domain. I’d earned it. I’d exterminated the vermin, chased out the ghosts, and I knew that place better than anywhere.

There was also another reason.

A reason I couldn’t recall right now, but it had something to do with protecting those I’d saved. Something...

“No way, Kas. I’ll help. We go together or—”

I shook my head, my hands dripping with warm blood. “Leave, Wes. That wasn’t a suggestion. Tonight is our only chance.”

“But what about Storymaker? You won’t win—”

“I will.”

“You won’t. You just killed my guard. He’ll do far worse to you. He’ll—”

“He won’t lay another goddamn finger on me.”

“Kas...please. Think of Quell. Nyx—”

“I am thinking about them. Tonight everything changes.”

“But—”

“Fuck’s sake, Wes!”

I didn’t have time for this shit. Wes was lucky. Thanks to his torture-cabin out here in the woods, he was one step closer to freedom. The others were still in there. Hurting.

“Fucking go, Wes! Now! The others will find you.”

I ran before he could throw other complications in my face.

Complications like how the hell he was going to go anywhere in his condition.

He couldn’t walk unassisted for long.

Some bastard had gone too far in his blood play last month and not provided aftercare. The wounds on Wes’s leg were infected. He was starting to smell bad. Even if he got out of this place, he would probably die.

I ran harder, smearing the guard’s blood on my trousers. I’d have to wash away his death before reporting to serve. I had to hide what I’d done, for just a little longer.

Storymaker would never see me coming. Would never believe that his toy of almost nine years would break his conditioning.

His guests.

His empire.

They were all about to come crashing down, bled dry by my hand, slaughtered by a broken slave.

I choked and fell forward, snatching my hair with a groan.

Christ.

I could smell Wes’s sickness. I could feel the slipperiness of blood. I could hear the screams as I—

Stop!

Rocking, I dropped my arms to wrap around myself. My fingers found roughed areas of dried mud, followed the silvery tracks of old scars, pressed hard muscles and strong bones that hinted I was still alive.

Still here even if I was alone.

But...I’m not alone.

Shit.

Wrenching my head up, I locked eyes with her.

She’d twisted in her seat, her lips parted, her face a picture of worry. We didn’t say a word as I calmed my breathing, sat up tall, and acted as if I hadn’t just been suffocated by shitty memories that refused to die.

Memories that had no business tormenting me while I was awake.

“Are...are you okay?” she whispered. “You sounded as if something skewered you.”

Something did.

Lots of things, actually.

Toys and instruments. Knives and sadistic apparatus.

Glowering at her, I ignored her concern and shoved aside a bag full of female socks, underwear, and other toiletry items that I’d been rifling through before my minor relapse.

My hands trembled and sickness still swirled, but at least the walls in my head were back in place. Plus, I had an entire car-load of distraction to investigate.

Tearing my attention off her, hating that she’d seen me slip, I spied a clear plastic box full of colorful packets.