CHAPTERSEVEN
On stiff legs, I pushed forward into the bedroom. The drunk woman’s weight was still heavy in my hold, but I only had eyes for the bed. I practically swallowed my tongue to keep from spewing obscenities. I had not wanted to see this. Never in a million years.
If they let me leave here alive, I would be praying to a God I didn’t believe in afterward because I would be the most blessed individual on earth. Someone high above would have to be looking out for me. If I were them, I wouldn’t let me live after witnessing this.
Mr. Godric King lay on the bed, dressed in a simple pair of black pajama bottoms, the rest of him bare to the world. His eyes closed, his chest moved in a regular breathing pattern, his arms placed down by his sides. Except he was inside a rectangular cage of sorts. There were black bars all around him, even underneath him. Directly over the bars, encasing it all—including Mr. King, was a glass box with tiny air holes punctured throughout the glass.
This was some twisted fairy tale shit.
Poppy pointed to the other side of the bed. “That’s where I sleep.”
I cleared my throat but kept my mouth shut. I moved on numb legs and focused on putting Poppy where she needed to be so I could get out of there as quickly as possible. My left fist grabbed at the blanket and pulled it down, helping Poppy slide into bed.
Right next to the most powerful man in the world…residing in a cage.
My eyes lingered on him while I pulled the blanket back up over Poppy’s small form. Mr. King wasn’t waking up from the jostling of the bed. If he weren’t breathing, he would have appeared dead to the world.
Poppy rolled over under the covers and placed her small palm against the glass surface. She spread her fingers and sighed, staring at the man inside. Her eyes welled up with tears, but none fell, her repeated fast blinking keeping them at bay. With her eyes on her lover, she whispered absently, “Thank you, Megan. You can go.”
I didn’t have to be told twice.
Though I did grab the tissue box on the bedside table and place it directly next to her.
My feet flew into action, and I was out the door and shutting it behind me in two seconds. The shirt I was wearing rose and fell in rapid succession with each labored breath I took, my lungs working hard to keep me from fainting. With enormous, freaked eyes, I stared at the three men gazing back at me—utterly no expression on their faces.
I hitched a thumb over my shoulder, toward the bedroom, mumbling quickly, “I swear, I won’t tell anyone what you’ve got going on in there.”
Whatever the hell that actually was.
Rune lifted his black brows, his tone patient. “I trust you. So they trust you.” He tipped his head to the entrance of the living area. “Do you remember your way back to the front door?”
I nodded, already moving. “I’m great with directions. I’ll find my own way home.”
He placed a stopping hand firmly on my shoulder as I started to pass him. “You don’t need to do that, Megan. I’ll take you back to your place.”
My lips pinched into a thin line. “I’m not sure if that’s best.”
Golden eyes softened, even though he didn’t smile. “There’s a lot you don’t understand right now, but believe me when I say we aren’t harming God. The same man who kidnapped you hurt him. Now we’re just trying to keep everyone safe.”
I eyed him and then glanced at the others. My attention snapped back to his mesmerizing gaze, and I leaned forward, hissing quietly, “He’s in a fucking cage, Rune.”
He explained patiently—sadly, “He isn’t really there. Not really.”
I shook my head and stepped out from under his hand. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
Cassander sighed heavily from the couch and stopped staring to drop his forearm over his eyes as if the dim lighting was hurting him. “Until Rune decides to quit babying you and tell you everything going on, think of it as hypnosis, Megan. The bad guy took God from us and can use him however he wants now. And God can do a fuck ton of damage. Does that make more sense?”
I stared at the drunken man, my jaw dropping in shock. “Actually, it does. I’ve seen what hypnotized people can do.” That was one of my father’s favorite pastimes—fucking with peoples’ minds.
Rune sighed in relief and rubbed at his forehead, his golden eyes peeking at me under his dark eyelashes. “Will you wait for me by the front door? Theron wants to speak with us in private for a second.”
I peered at the other men once more, evaluating their exhausted slumped bodies, before turning my regard back to Rune. I nodded once, deciding to trust him. “I’ll wait for you.”
“Thank you, beautiful.” He dipped and placed a gentle kiss on my right cheek, his lips heated against my chilled flesh. “I’ll be out there soon.”
My lips pinched in hesitation to leave without him—who really knew what else lurked in this house of horrors—but I straightened my spine. I wouldn’t cower. Not for anyone anymore. I turned and proceeded with sure steps outside the room…then I purposely halted in place when I was out of their eyesight.
I wasn’t being told the whole truth. A little spying might enlighten me on the situation I had fallen into. At this point, I needed to know what the fuck was going on. I had seen too much.
