My gaze finds his. He looks conflicted and pained, but very, very resolute.
“It wasn’t my idea,” I say hoarsely. Surely he knows that? In his heart, if nothing else? “I came and unchained you!” I plead. That has to be all the evidence that he needs.
Harry winces. “After Jem had already started his attack. I felt the magic blasts.”
I know I’m just staring helplessly but all the words I have ever learned have deserted me. I am no longer capable of speech. I’m drowning in the force of his aquamarine eyes. He suspects I am some sort of double agent. Pretending to be on his side because it suits my nefarious goals.
“I want to trust you Colby, but I can’t risk my people. So until I know for certain where your loyalty lies, I need to take precautions.”
Keeping me chained to a bed is a precaution? Precaution from what? I’m hardly dangerous. I mean, look at me. But I suppose I could be a spy, a mole or a saboteur. My heart sinks. He is not crazy to lock me up. Even if for no other reason than to use me as a bargaining chip against Garrington and Hathbury. Or to stop me being stolen again.
Harry turns to Jem. “We need to talk about how you found me, and where you got those charm bags from.”
Jem gives me a conflicted, but cold glance and nods at his brother. Together they turn and walk out of my room. Leaving me alone. Alone and chained to a bed.
Great. Just great.
How am I going to get out of this one?
Chapter twenty-seven
It’sfartooquietin my room. It is as if the loneliness is pressing in, mocking and cruel. Weighing down on my chest and making it hard to breathe. My husband hates me. My friends probably do too, after my betrayal. If not, they can never reach me. Harry will be on high alert now, the wards will be iron tight.
I also doubt he will let my parents anywhere near me. If I suspect their involvement, Harry will. He is not daft.
There is no hope. Harry is my husband and my master. If he wants to keep his vessel chained up, that is no one’s business but his own. No one is coming to save me. I’m all alone.
It’s a horrid, soul destroying feeling. I want to scream, to cry, but the motivation to do anything has been leached out of me until all I can do is lie here listlessly.
The thing that hurts the most is the thought of Harry despising me. It is the worst thing ever. I was so hopeful that our marriage was going to be a happy one. Everything had been going well, until it all went so wrong.
The door opens. Despondently, I look over. It’s Harry, with a tray and a bucket. I scramble up to a sitting position, my heart beating like crazy. He didn’t need to come himself. This is hopeful.
He sets the bucket by the wall and the tray of delicious smelling food on the bedside table. He doesn’t look angry. Maybe he doesn’t hate me and really is just being cautious.
“Are you alright?” he asks.
I think that is genuine concern in his eyes. I swallow. Letting hope bloom feels so dangerous. I’m not sure I can survive it being crushed. It would destroy me.
“I need the toilet,” I say.
His gaze flicks to the bucket so I put on my best puppy dog eyes. He had access to a proper toilet when he was chained up. He stares at me for a moment before sighing.
“I won’t make a run for it,” I promise.
To my surprise, he chuckles. “I’ve seen you run, I’m not worried.”
And indignant “Hey!” escapes my mouth before I can stop it.
He smiles. “You are very adorkable, Colby.”
My heart flutters. Adorkable. I can live with that. I don’t think I’m truly a dork. I’m neither clever nor clumsy enough. Though I do always seem to be very uncoordinated around him. I can’t blame him for forming that opinion of me.
I should think of a witty and cute response, but the moment has passed and now he is unlocking the chain from the radiator.
“Go on, go use the bathroom before your food gets cold.”
I don’t need any further encouragement to scurry to my ensuite, trailing my chain behind me like some kind of ghost. Pulling it in after me feels all kinds of awkward. Once it is all in, I push the door closed but don’t lock it. I think that’s a sign of good faith. An indication that I don’t have secrets to hide and I’m not up to no good. And that I trust Harry not to peek.
