“I won’t,” she said softly.
I turned to walk away, then paused and looked back at her.
“Mariya, whatever you see or hear in this house…you’ll keep it to yourself.”
Mariya opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, but then shut it again. She nodded.
I turned and headed for my car. By the time I slid into the driver’s seat to head to Drakon, I was already pulling my phone out to call Marten with an update on Sienna.
***
Over the next three days, Mariya came by as promised, taking care of Sienna and sending me updates—if she ate, if her fever returned, if she was taking her meds, if she needed anything. As for her blood work, it didn't show any abnormalities, but Mariya did mention that Sienna seemed closed off, like she was in a trance, not like the woman she met the first time.
Today was her first day back on campus, and I stayed home from work because I wanted to see how she held up. If she pushed herself too soon, she’d land right back in bed.
Wexler texted saying they’d be home in ten minutes. He also mentioned Sienna had been zoning out all day…quiet, and distracted, even with Mandy.
Exactly ten minutes later, I opened the office door and came face-to-face with her.
Sienna looked pale. Her eyes were glazed over, like she might collapse at any second.
What the hell?
Before I could speak, she said, “There’s somewhere I need to go, and I’d like to go without Wexler or any of the others.”
I stepped back, stunned. “Sienna, you look like you’re about to topple over. I’m not letting you go anywhere alone.”
“And why not? All my things are here. I'll come back.”
“Sienna,” I said firmly, “as my wife, I’m not letting you go out alone, especially when you're sick.”
“Letting me?” she snapped, her eyes turning cold. “And I'm fine! I'm not a child, and I shouldn't need to ask anyone’s permission to go where I want to go!”
I held her gaze. “If you don’t want the others to go, I’ll go with you. Where do you want to go?”
“Where I want to go is none of your concern. I already said I’d come back.”
“So I’m just supposed to let you leave without knowing where you’re going? And without security?”
“Avit, I can—”
I cut her off. “The answer is no.”
“You can’t stop me from leaving!”
“Do you really want to test that theory?” I stepped toward her, menacing.
Even though she stepped back, her eyes flashed with defiance.
“I have to leave,” she snapped. “I have to go today.”
“Then tell me where,” my voice rose. “And I’ll go with you.”
She scoffed. “Why? It’s not like you care anyway.”
Why the hell wouldn’t she tell me where she was going?
Was she going to meet Jasper again?
