“You, what?” He sneers. “You thought it would be a good idea to take him behind closed doors and what…?”
I shrug. My cheeks are probably lighting up pink, and the unsaid answer is likely obvious by the way I can’t look at him.
Do I regret what happened last night? No. But maybe losing my virginity to a dangerous stranger, one my father seems to be obsessed with ending, probably wasn’t the best idea.
“I slept with him,” I blurt out, the weight of his berating causing me to crack. It irks me how I fall apart so quickly under his hard stare and verbal poking.
He stares at me, mouth open, face full of shock.
“You… slept with him?”
“Yes,” I say, looking down at the table. “Not that it’s any of your business. And I don’t know why—”
“Have you…sleptwith anyone before?”
“No,” I say, bile rising in my throat.
“So you have no idea…” I look back up at him, but he doesn’t finish. I’m too grossed out and a little embarrassed to ask him what he’s talking about.
What is it I have no idea about? What it was that I had been doing? Well, yeah. I don’t imagine it was good for Mr. Falco, though he had been nice enough. Not sweet, but caring in a way I could tell he wasn’t thrilled about hurting me. As far as first times go, I don’t think it could have gone much better. Not that I’m going to say any of this to the man sitting across from me.
“This is even better,” he says. The sinister smile is back on his face. “Yes. This might just work after all.”
“What?” I can’t help but ask, feeling like I’m missing something big.
His unfocused gaze snaps to me.
“Be gone. I’m done with you, child.” He starts looking around frantically. “You!” He calls out to a young man trimming the hedges about forty feet away. The kid whips around and points to himself. “Yes, you, you imbecile! Go get Sandra for me. Now!”
He drops the hedge clippers on the ground and takes off in a run toward the house.
I stand, the chair nearly tipping over as I push it back with my legs.
“Astra,” he says, catching me before I can turn and flee. “You may have just done alright after all. And now no one will be able to connect his death to me.”
His smile is so evil, I have a feeling it will be burned in my brain for a long time to come.
What is he talking about? Why would Mr. Falco be dead now? How does it connect to me?
To say I’m completely lost would be an understatement. Something rocks in my gut. Fear and dread twist themselves like vines around my insides and up my spine.
I feel sick and want nothing more than to get away from my father and whatever demented game he’s playing. I know it’s not over, but I’ve had enough for now. So, I run. Run faster than thatscared boy did a minute ago. I run through the house, everything a blur as I pass by it. I run up the stairs and don’t stop until I feel safely tucked away in my room.
But even after I slam the door shut and turn over the lock, I don’t feel safe. I feel like I’ve only found a hiding place.
The evil is still out there, and it is bound to find me at any second.
FOUR
Donovan
“You look like shit,” Torrin tells me, and unlike other the times he’s said this to me, usually after a night of too much drinking, he doesn’t sound amused. There’s not a single trace of humor in his voice. Which means, I probably look like I’m knocking on Death’s door.
“I’m fine,” I grunt. Even breathing in to say those words hurts. I won’t let it show, though.
He stares at me. The blank look bores into me and nearly has me rolling my eyes. I would, but I’m afraid it will hurt.
“This would be a good time to kill me and take the crown,” I tell him as I sag back into the chair. The soft leather cradles my body, but it brings me none of the comfort it usually does. Instead, my skin feels like a million little needles are pricking me. It’s more annoying than anything, but I’m worried as towhyI’m feeling this way.
