With each of his words, the panic-fueled noose around my neck tightens. Because he knows I’ll always try to avoid war. My happiness isn’t worth the lives of thousands. He knows my weakness.
“This is your future now,” he stresses. “And it will be much more pleasant for all involved if you can accept that.”
Despite the added weight of his threats, my mind revolts, refusing to accept this fate. Every problem has a solution. There has to be a way out of this, a way I can escape Leon without starting a war. Yet no matter how fast my mind races, I come up empty.
He stares at me, and I realize he’s waiting for my agreement.
Backed into a corner and out of any other immediate options, I nod, even as I do nothing to mask my loathing. “Fine.”
This doesn’t mean I’m giving up. It just means I haven’t found a solutionyet.
Delusional as always, Leon ignores my glare and offers me his most charming smile. “Excellent, then let’s get on with our first order of business as betrothed.” He pulls me to the door on our right, but rather than opening it, he pauses to give me a stern look. “While I have been exceedingly patient with your emotional outbursts, we must maintain appearances. Whenever we are outside of this room, you will do as I say. You will not speak unless you have my permission to do so. If you act out, I’ll be forced to punish you to ensure you learn your lesson. Understood?”
As usual, his condescending tone makes my blood boil. Still, I nod, more than okay with the idea of never speaking to Leon, ever again.
He grins like he’s just taught his little pet a new trick and releases me before opening the door and striding into the corridor. Less than a heartbeat passes until I’m compelled to follow, thanks to the magical leash.
Much like the last time we were here, Leon forges forward, his long legs faster than my own. He makes no effort to wait for me. I imagine he must like me following behind him. It really adds to his whole ‘my ex-girlfriend is subservient’ routine.
The castle’s lavish interior is nothing but a faded backdrop as I hustle to keep up. I’m no longer impressed with the grandeur of my new prison.
The further we get from my room, the more crowded the corridors grow. People give us worried looks as we pass them, but seeing them reduces myanxiety. Leon won’t do anything to sully our ‘perfect couple’ image.
As soon as the overwhelming sense of panic dissipates, my mind immediately drifts back to Sin. It sends a pang of longing ripping through me that’s so strong, it almost makes my knees buckle.
Don’t think about him.
My friends, my realms, my home.I repeat the familiar mantra and bite the inside of my cheek every time I feel myself starting to fall apart. Too much has happened in too short a time, and I haven’t had a second to think or process. The weight of everything is threatening to crush me, but I’ll be damned if I let myself look fragile in front of Leon.
So instead of letting myself think ofhim, I focus on my immediate problem – the leash. Only this time, I compartmentalize my fear of the heinous tool, the same way I do when freeing trapped spirits.
Repress, repress, repress.
The leash is a problem, and I like solving problems. Leon said it’s tied to his will, but thus far, he’s only used verbal commands to control me. I wonder if that gives me any kind of wiggle-room. Desperate for a loophole, I think back to some of the commands he’s just given me.
Right, insane ex-boyfriend’s current rules: I must obey, and I can’t speak without his permission.
Technically, a lot of things might not be considered speaking. Curious, I try to whisper, but the sound gets stuck in my throat.
Strike one for loopholes.
Shame.
Undeterred, I try softly humming instead. The tune ofGoodbye Earlby the Dixie Chicks comes without resistance, and I grin. I love a good loophole.
I hum a bit louder, testing how much slack I can get on the leash. At the sound, Leon pauses and turns to look at me, his brow lowered.
Not bothering to acknowledge his existence, I keep humming the melody even as I stop six feet behind him. My hands are folded in front of me, while I wait for him to start walking again.
Humming homicidal music soothes me.
So demure, so mindful.
Leon makes a grand gesture of rolling his eyes, but says nothing as he turns and continues to wherever he’s decided we need to be. A few moments later, we reach the grand entryway. I recognize it, since it’s where I saw all the new creatures from different realms, the first time Leon and I visited.
Once again, there’s a crowd gathered here, but rather than mostly ignoring us, they go deathly silent upon our arrival. Our steps echo along the polished marble floors, and some distant part of my mind realizes we’re heading to the front doors. But the thought barely registers as I take in the expressions of the crowd.
They’re openly gawking, even as they shift to make a path. A few are staring at Leon with open hostility, evidently still pissed off about his whole fall-from-grace thing. I make sure to give them my most terrified ‘I’m being held here against my will, so please go to war with Morgana and save me’ look. They give me pitying expressions, but otherwise, do nothing.
