He was so stupid.All he'd wanted to do was bake, feel some kind of normalcy, but he never should've done it without asking Rourke's permission, and he shouldn't have allowed anyone to eat the cookies.If he'd thrown them away, like Rourke had, then perhaps he wouldn't have been as angry.
Could he run?He wasn't sure if Rourke was still in the room, but he didn't want to be here when he settled on what punishment to give him.He was amazed he'd allowed him to slip into the bathroom.
Trying to escape back home would only have resulted in a more severe penalty, but wolves didn't have curses.He was sure the punishment would be physical.They could most likely get creative.There were claws and teeth, and other weapons they could use.
Before Shixyll had been sure he wouldn't develop any additional powers, her punishments had often been corporeal.The scars on his back were a stark reminder of what happened when he did something she'd told him not to do.
Would the same happen here?Would he be whipped if he ate something?
Maybe starvation was the punishment.Rourke had forbidden him to go near any food.It was a well-thought-out ruling.It would give Ezra days to regret his actions.
He straightened and did his best to listen.He couldn't hear anyone on the other side of the door, but Rourke always moved soundlessly--unless he was banging doors.
Holding his breath for a few seconds, he got to his feet.Should he leave?Could he leave?He couldn't go back to the clan, but maybe if he...walked.If he crossed the forest, he might end up in a town somewhere.No one had to know he was a witch.He only had two braids and hardly any piercings.He looked human, and he could undo the braids.Could cut his hair.He winced, but he could.If it was the price to pay to be free.
He had no money, no credit card, no ID card, but once when he'd tended to Jiprix when he'd been injured, he'd read one of the books on his bookshelf.It had been about a woman on the run.She'd taken a job as a bartender, and the owner had agreed to pay her in cash.Maybe he could find a similar bar.He'd never mixed drinks, but he was sure his magic would work with them too.And if there only were humans around, they wouldn't know.
Where did you go to make sure you only met humans?
He stared at the tiled wall.As a teen, he'd sometimes dreamed about escaping, but the older he got the more he realized how useless he was.
He had survived getting mated to a monster, so maybe...Maybe he could live among humans without being found out.
He stood and leaned his ear against the door.No sound.He waited.If Rourke was out there, he'd make a sound sooner or later.Or maybe he'd gone to get a whip.
The thought had his hands flying to the lock.Peeking out of the room, he couldn't see anyone.
His heart was banging hard, and his hands were shaking.He couldn't go out the door.He'd most likely run into Rourke in the corridor.
Hurrying over to the window, he scanned it.It was a casement window with hinges on the side.He got it open and looked at the ground.There was a small drop, but it wasn't far, nothing he couldn't handle.
He glanced at his backpack, but right as he was about to go get it, he heard someone in the corridor.Fear clawed at him, and he climbed up on the windowsill.Without a second's hesitation, he jumped.The ground was cold, but it wasn't freezing, so he'd be okay.Maybe.
He took a second to push the window closed, then he walked.He wanted to run, but other windows were facing this side of the house, and he believed him being out there walking was weird enough.If he ran, someone would tell Rourke.
He walked straight ahead without so much as looking at the house.It was good he hadn't grabbed his backpack, though he should've put on more clothes, but if anyone had seen him with a backpack, it would've been suspicious.
Would Rourke attack the clan when he found him missing?The mating had been to create peace, but with him gone, there would be no alliance.Though, Shixyll didn't consider it an alliance.She'd bartered him for land.
The trees shielded him from the house, and he picked up his pace.He wasn't sure in what direction he'd find the closest town, but there ought to be one in every direction, right?
* * * *
Rourke stretched in his office chair, and his stomach rumbled.Food.He needed food.Without thinking he rubbed his chest where the glowing had grown more insistent the last couple of hours.
Due raised her eyebrow at him.
"What?"He hadn't meant to sound so grumpy.
"Nothing, Your Highness."
He snorted."Your tone says differently."
"Does it now?I wonder why."
He growled low but without heat."Spit it out."
"You're an idiot and a crappy mate."
