He’d exerted his will over me and I’d been at his mercy.
20
Shadow Beast left as quickly as he’d arrived, and I was ushered into my room by Inky, all the while trying to figure outwhat the fuck was happening.
To say I was confused would be a major understatement.
Confusedhad been back in Torma trying to figure out how the Shadow Beast himself had blessed a union between me and that self-centered motherfucker of a future alpha. I mean, what the hell had I done wrong in my last life to end up mated to Torin?
Truthfully, after meeting the Beast himself, I had the sneaking suspicion that true mate bonds were not his domain. Definitely not the cupid type… not at all.
But yeah, that was my usual level of confusion—thealpha-matething was my normal life shit pile, and I was okay with it. But this…this!This was almost beyond belief, my brain unable to comprehend what was happening to me. He’d given me two options, but it looked like he’d chosen anyway. Option two: prisoner of the Shadow Beast.
ThemotherfuckingShadow Beast.
Not only that, but I was also existing on some magical plane—a Solaris System?—that had rooms leading to new worlds. And the libraries. Two stunning, priceless libraries filled with all the knowledge of the universe.Too much. Too fucking much.
This might have been a bit of a delayed reaction, but who could blame me? Anyone in this situation would need some time to truly comprehend it all.
Not to mention the Shadow Beast and his brilliant new plan.
If I’d had to guess what being kidnapped by him would be like, there would have been torture and pain involved. Maybe a ritualistic eating of my heart or something equally as fucked-up.
Knowing my luck, psycho gods were probably into collecting fingernails or eyeballs.
Weird bastards.
But nope, instead, he was keeping me so we could go hunting shadow creatures together.
It didn’t make sense. There was more going on here that I wasn’t aware of, and no way in hell was I letting my guard down around that fallen-angel-looking psychopath.
If anything, I was only going to double down on figuring out his weakness. Everyone had one, and when I figured out Shadow’s, I would use it to crumble his world to its foundation. Dust. Atoms. Micro-organisms.
I’d be the harbinger of death to fire eyes, square cut jaws, and a mop of curls.
Then I’d laugh all the way to my freedom.
Popping to my feet, feeling a little better with my new game plan, I looked around my prison. Truth be told,prisonwas a little harsh; it was a large room with a half-decent-looking bed at the far end. Ten steps up from the crappy bedroom I’d had back home.
Opening the antique armoire with gold and silver inlaid detailing across the curved top, I blinked at the decent array of clothing inside. Rifling through, it was clear that everything in there was my size and style. Jeans, shorts, tanks, and a few comfy sweaters. The Room of Need did more than just provide; it appeared to read minds and memories to make sure everything was as you’d choose yourself.
Super fucking creepy. But helpful.
And right now, helpful was all I could ask for.
There was a small bathroom attached to the bedroom, and in the drawers I found toiletries and makeup. High-end Earth brands, the sort I’d drool over in magazines but would never have been able to afford on my own.
The perks would be amazing if they didn’t come with a megalomaniac jailer.
Since Shadow had made his usual dramatic exit, I decided to take a quick shower and get myself cleaned up. Shedding the ragged shirt, I sighed as the hot water beat against my tense muscles, and for a moment, I allowed myself to fall apart.
Just a moment.
My shoulder slammed against the tiles as my head dropped forward and I clenched my hands tightly.I can do this. I can survive this. After Torma, I can survive anything.
From the ashes, the phoenix will rise.
A mantra was all a chick needed to make it through life. Right?
