Idrag myself out of bed in the early afternoon, groggy and grumpy. My mouth tastes like it’s full of dirt.
The events of last night return to me, and I groan into the pillow. My bed doesn’t smell of Peony, and it fills me with just as much fury as regret. I wish I’d never become this horrible creature. I could meet her stupid aunt, show myself at dinner, and then I would have her back in my arms again.
I lie there, stewing in my misery, wishing all my choices had been different. Will Peony leave me? Has this all been some wonderful dream that will vanish when I wake up?
I jolt at the sound of someone rapping forcefully on my door. Dragging myself out of bed and slipping on a pair of trousers, I make my way down the hall to open it.
On the other side is Kellen, and his brows are drawn, his cheeks flushed like he’s run here.
“What now?” I grouch, hoping this isn’t about the dinner again. I don’t need him to guilt me even more for not meeting his new boyfriend.
“It’s Ms. Austin.” He bites his lip. “She went shopping this morning and never came back.”
Instantly, a flame inside me bursts to life.Peony is in danger.The moment Kellen tells me, I know this fact before I know my own name.
The monster inside me roars to life, teeth bared, ready to charge off into the woods to find her.
“Her mobile?” I ask, ducking back inside to grab a shirt. “Did you call her?”
“Ten times. No answer.”
“Fuck.” The flame inside me billows higher, turning into a raging inferno. Peony is in trouble.MyPeony. I’m overwhelmed with one need and one need only: to find her.
After I’m dressed, I storm past Kellen and down the stairs. It’s mid-afternoon now, and I find a strange man standing in the entryway. I come to an abrupt stop. I didn’t expect someone in the house, and now he’s seen me.
Damn it.
The man, who appears to be in his early forties and has a somewhat generous waist, gives me an uncertain wave. He’s holding flowers in his other hand.
“Are you Rupert?” he asks as I come the rest of the way down. “I’m Ignacio.”
Great, Kellen’s boyfriend. But there’s no helping it now—I’m out in the open. I have a much more important mission, though, and I don’t have time for this.
“Kellen!” I bellow. “Where did she go shopping?”
“I don’t know. It’s a specialty grocery store, but she never told me the name.”
“Damn it.” I clench my hands into fists. “You have no idea?”
Regretfully, Kellen shakes his head. I slam my fist into the balustrade going up the stairs, making the wood crack.
“Fuck!” The beast is clawing at my edges, trying to break free.
“Kellen,” Ignacio pipes up. “Remember when we were, um, in the car the other day? And you bumped the roof with your head when…?”
I glance at my butler, whose face is bright red. “Yes, I do.”
“You hit that button that was the car’s tracking device. You could call them and see if they can give you the car’s location.”
“Do it,” I snap. “Call them, Kellen.”
After conversing for a moment to recall the name of the tracking service, Kellen looks up the number and dials. Quickly he gives his name and other identifying information, and then we wait. My heart is beating wildly in my chest, my imagination conjuring up all sorts of terrible scenarios. Did she get in a car accident? Is Peony in the ER now, breathing her last breaths, and I’m not there with her?
“Yes!” Kellen says into the mobile. “What’s the address?” Ignacio pulls out his own device and starts typing as Kellen repeats the street name and number.
“Penn Rock?” I ask. “That’s a long way away.” Fuck. It’ll be thirty minutes before I can even get there, and who knows what could happen to Peony in the meantime.
Without hesitating, I head to the garage and grab my keys. I have no choice but to go out there into the world, find her and bring her home safely. At any cost.
