By the time lunchtime came around, I was dead on my feet. I’d gotten used to being up all night and sleeping during the day. After being beaten by the spell and blood loss, as well as other things with Blackthorn, I was two seconds away from passing out in my cold porridge.
“Hey.” A hand shook my shoulder. “Wake up, Mara. Rumple is watching.”
I lifted my gaze to the head of the room, where Rumple stood watching. He never watched us work or eat or anything really, so arrogant and confident in his spells that he never thought of keeping an eye on his possessions. We were well-trained dogs who would never dare to run away from him.
And yet he watched me now.
Forcing myself to sit straighter, I shoveled food into my mouth, determined not to give him a reason to punish me further. The day moved slowly and, by the time night fell, I didn’t careenough about Rumple watching me as I dragged myself to my little cot, throwing myself down onto it.
Thankfully, I was too tired to think about Blackthorn or the others I left behind at his castle. I don’t think I even dreamed. Nothing mattered but the deep dark nothingness.
Someone banged on my door, shouting at me to wake up.
My mind was sluggish. My body tired and worn, I practically rolled out of bed, falling to my hands and knees on the grimy floor. Slowly, I moved so slowly.
I pushed the door to my room open and dragged myself to the washroom. I splashed water on my face until I felt like I could fully open my eyes without the threat of passing out.
Then my day continued. Breakfast. Work. Lunch. Work. Dinner. Work. Until I was too tired to care about anything but getting back to my bed.
Even this weary, Blackthorn was never far from my mind. Every look, every word, every touch, played on repeat while I mixed and folded and bagged up clothes.
It’d only been a day, but it already felt like a world away. A world I couldn’t believe I’d been a part of for a short time. One that I knew I’d long for the rest of my days.
The night came, and I stared up at the ceiling, replaying my last night with Blackthorn when there was thudding somewhere out on the factory floor. Brows furrowed, I sat up in bed. A sudden crash and a series of screams made me jolt.
I rushed to my bedroom door, yanking it open without a second thought. I stumbled through the factory, a handful of moonlitcolumns lit up the way until I reached a crowd of workers. They all stared at a dark cloaked figure standing in the doorway. Whispers broke out amongst the group as I shoved my way toward the front of them.
Only one person would have the guts to break into Rumple’s factory. Not once but twice. Only one person was crazy enough to come on his own.
Blackthorn.
Chapter 29
I could feel Blackthorn’s gaze on me even with his hood up. My hand lifted, and I took a single step toward him. Hands grabbed at me, pulling me back from him, but my eyes never left him.
“Where is your master?” Blackthorn asked, his head turning from one side to the other. “Bring him to me.”
A low rumble of whispers spread through the crowd. Someone would spread the word to Rumple and then there would be hell to pay.
“You can’t...” I started and then paused, not sure how to approach this. I was beyond thrilled to see him, and yet I worried what Rumple would do to him. I sucked in a breath. “You shouldn’t have come back here.”
Those dark eyes landed on me once more. “I told you I would.”
“Yes,” I hissed, eyes darting around at our audience. “But I didn’t think you were stupid enough to do it.”
He lowered his hood, gaining him awes and gasps from the crowd. Murmurs of vampire spread through the room. He took one single step forward, and the whole of the room backed up a step, except me.
“For you,” Blackthorn flashed a fang-toothed smile, “only for you.”
“And who breaks down my door not once but twice?” Rumple’s voice caused everyone in the room to stiffen their eyes dropping to the ground at his presence.
I stared straight ahead, not giving him any ammunition to use against Blackthorn or me by acting out.
Blackthorn didn’t have the same caution as I did. He glared up at where Rumple stood on his perch, lording over us as he always did. “I am here for what’s mine.”
Rumple laughed, a horrible sound. “And what might that be?” He gestured around the room. “Everything here belongs to me.”
“I disagree.” Blackthorn stepped forward. “I owe a life debt to this one. Mara.” He stopped in front of me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “I should see it paid in full.”
