“No one is keeping me. I’m not a toy,” I correct, narrowing my eyes at him.
His answering smile is sheepish. “Well, I didn’t mean it likethat. Rosie said you don’t want to go back to Leon, so, in my books, you’re family now.”
I take a step back, wary of his words. I haven’t decided to join these people. I haven’t even met Morgana.
Learning whether the proclaimed lady of the shadows is evil seems like a fair prerequisite to becoming realm-roomies.
“I haven’t made any decisions yet,” I correct.
“No problem! That just means we need to do a good job of making you feel like you should stay. Which you should. Trust me, I work for the Council. They suck,” Damien adds, still sporting his dazzling smile.
That’s when it clicks. I saw him back at the Council’s castle. He was one of the front guards when Leon and I visited. When I messed with the rude guard,Damien held the door for me and tried not to laugh at my joke.
Damien must see the recognition on my face. “There she is. I knew I left an impression.”
I clear my throat. “Sure. Uhm, so can I help you with something?”
Not to sound like I’m whining, but I’m still wearing the clothes I woke up in yesterday. I can’t remember the last time I showered. I don’t have a toothbrush, and I haven’t had coffee. I’m not feeling too social.
“Nope! I’m here to help you! We’re going for a run.”
I almost choke from trying not to laugh. “We are not.”
“Sure, we are, red. You’ve just jumped out of the Mortal Realm. There are a lot more things that want to kill you now. So, you need to start running,” Damien answers, like my possible death is as casual a topic as the weather.
When I still don’t budge, he gives me a once over before grinning conspiratorially. “How about a bribe then?”
Before I get a chance to ask what exactly he plans on bribing me with, he reaches down to the side of my door to pick up a cloth bag.
I crane my neck to see what’s inside.
I’m not above taking bribes. But for a morning run, whatever is in the bag will need to be better than a coffee and a muffin – even if the muffin is chocolate.
Damien opens the bag, finally letting me see what he’s offering. Inside are clothes and, more importantly, a pair of sneakers.
I gasp, reaching for it, but Damien pulls it back. “Say you’ll get dressed and come for a run.”
I look longingly at the bag and then back at him. “Okay, I’m in.”
“Yes! See you in five minutes, red.”
And with that, he runs down the hall, practically clicking his heels.
The run turned out to be more helpful than I expected. Damien is enthusiastic about taking me around the castle grounds and is a great tour guide.
After our first loop of the castle, I learn something of critical importance. There is no way off of the castle grounds.
You either go through the forest of the forgotten dead or scale the nearly vertical cliffs on the opposite side of the grounds, which Damien informs me drop down to a raging ocean.
I’m guessing the landscape is a security feature since Damien also mentioned that only people Morgana trusts can apparate into the castle grounds.
Which begs the question, how did I get here? But I keep the question to myself.
By the time we finally finish our run, I’m gasping for air.
Okay, maybe Damien has a point. My cardio can use some work, especially now that the odds of running for my life have dramatically increased.
We stop in a large sand arena just behind the castle.
