Adrenaline seemed to give her superhuman speed, or perhaps I was too damn slow. She raced down the stairway, not stopping, not looking behind her. Her hair uncurled from the bun and flew out behind her.
I had no idea where she was going and pushed my feet to obey the need for haste. “Get Wilkes!” I shouted as I passed a startled John. “Mikaela!”
Her legs an unbelievable pace for a girl born in captivity, she bolted down the passage that led into the rear gardens. Breathing hard, I cursed. This was no doubt a repeat of that night she’d left Kabir’s home. If my deductions were correct, she was heading for the incline supporting the back of the castle, overlooking the sea. It was nowhere near as steep as her first suicide attempt. Still, the boulders below would pulverize her delicate body if she fell. Lengthening my strides, I picked up the pace when she pushed through the heavy wooden doors.
“Christ.” Stunned by her strength, I doubled my efforts. If the drizzle wasn’t enough to impede my movements, the soft grass underfoot wasn’t as easy to maneuver in dress shoes as her barefoot steps. “Cinder!” I shouted, hoping the name would stop her. She looked over her shoulder, faltered slightly but kept going. “Stop, love.” I winced, eying the drop on the horizon behind her.
She faced forward again and I knew the second she came out of that trance she’d fallen into. “No!” The wind swallowed her scream. Hands flailing, her legs fought to anchor her feet into the soft ground.
Alarm bells shot my heart rate dangerously close to cardiac arrest. Given her speed, even if she stopped right now, the momentum would still send her hurtling over the mountaintop. Pushing every ounce of vigor into my body, I doubled my efforts, my legs pounding the earth.
“Ella!” I yelled, my open hand shooting forward. I felt my fingers close around her wrist, tightening, holding on. Still, I couldn’t stop us.
We’re not going to make it.
“Xavier!” she screamed, plummeting over the edge, the motion taking me with her.
“Fuck!” I heard the loud grunt behind me before vice grips locked around my legs, yanking me backward, forcing Mikaela’s swaying body to hit the side of the mountain.
Her groan sent fear chasing down my fatigue. I didn’t think, didn’t stop. Pushing upright, I pulled until I fell backward with Mikaela’s body on top of me. Concerned, I rolled her onto her back, scrambled up onto my knees, and leaned over her.
“Ella,” I said softly, breathing harshly through my nose. Closed eyes met my frantic fingers checking the pulse point at her throat. “Speak to me, love,” I heaved a sigh of relief as the soft beat thrummed beneath my fingers.
Slowly her lids lifted, those dual-colored eyes glittered with tears. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, hiccupping on a sob.
“It’s okay.” I smiled. “Are you hurt?” While the property was well-lit, it wasn’t bright enough to make out any bruises.
She shook her head before her hand came up to rub her forehead, her tears mixing with the rain, her body shuddering. Biting her bottom lip, she closed her eyes, shutting me out.
I had to bring her back to me. “Don’t give in, Ella. This is what they want. For you to crawl into the deep dark recesses of your mind and lose yourself. Let me help you. Please,” I whispered the last part.
She rewarded me with a slow lift of her lids. “I’m sorry,” she repeated.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about.” I slid the wet strands of hair away from her face. “Breathe. Just for me.”
She stared up at me and then palmed my cheeks. “Why are you always so good to me?”
I leaned forward, bringing my nose down to brush against hers. “No matter how much you break a woman. She will always pick up the pieces, reignite her fire, rebuild her strength, and return power to herself. It’s an ingrained supremacy she’s born with that men can only hope to witness. You’re not a princess, love. You’re a queen who deserves to be worshipped, praised, and loved. Will you show them how you rule?” She rewarded me with a smile. “Come, let’s get you inside.” Only after I had her in my arms with her head tucked against my chest did I acknowledge the men at my rear with a grateful smile. “Thank you, Wilkes, Ramone. You saved her life today. Anything you need, say the word.”
“Just doing our job, sir,” Wilkes replied.
While I paid them well, I knew no amount of compensation would repay their actions tonight. “Might be the case, boys, but you’ve earned yourself more than just my gratitude. Treat it as an open-ended offer,” I said as we returned to the building.
They nodded their thanks.
“Is she all right?” As a man of few words and just like John and Beth, Wilkes had grown fond of Mikaela. Aware of her history, he was concerned. We shared a look. Having worked for me a long time, he’d learned to read my body language and facial expression without an explanation. “Ready when you are, sir.” He held the door open for me, referring to Andrew.
When we reached the bottom of the stairway, I glanced at Wilkes. “Give me some time.” He dipped his head in acknowledgment before we went in opposite directions.
Back in my room, I carried Mikaela into the bathroom and dimmed the lights. With her in my lap, I sat down on the lip of the hot tub and switched on the jets. While the water heated, I set her on her feet and stood. Drowsy eyes met mine as I released the zippers on either side of her waist. Slowly, the dress slid to the floor, baring her delightful body to my hungry gaze. Forcing calm into my raging body, I didn’t let it detract me from my mission. To calm her down and let her finish her story.
Yet, I didn’t question her when her hands lifted, and her fingers worked the buttons on my shirt, slipping it off my shoulders. Or when they fell to my trousers, released the zipper, and pushed down on the waistband. She ran a hand over my bare chest, her eyes filling with arousal as they lifted to meet mine, silently asking for me to own her body again.
“Not now, love.” I grazed a thumb over her bottom lip. Snagging her disappointment, I turned away and added relaxing bath salts to the water. “Come.” I lifted Mikaela, set her down in the tub, and climbed in behind her once she was seated. I stared at the tattooed lioness across her shoulders, remembering why we’d had to do it. My anger quickly resurfaced, biting into my resolve to join Wilkes and get the desired answers.
Mikaela’s soft sigh as she leaned back into my chest pacified my soul for the moment. Gently, I ran the loofa over her delicate skin, hoping the hot water would soothe her earlier anxiety. We sat that way for a few minutes until she began speaking in a voice so low I had to dip my head to hear her.
“That party at Blackhall Mansion was my first time outside my little room. My first time I saw a dark sky with its twinkling stars. The first time I felt a light breeze on my skin, in my hair. The first time in a car. The first time I stood in a room full of strangers who weren’t there for me. The first time I heard other people laugh. The first time...” she trailed off, gliding her hand up and down my thigh snug against hers. “...I saw you.” She leaned sideways to look at me and palmed my cheek. “In a room full of men who ogled my body, your expression was strange, almost like you cared about what I was going through. Another first for me. Then I bumped into you, and for the first time, I inhaled a scent I liked, a scent I couldn’t forget, a scent that made me want to ask for help.”
