Page 107 of His Eternal Claim

My fingers tremble as I swallow it dry.

Before I can think too hard about what I’m doing, or guilt can stop me, or Zagreus can find out. Because if he discovers I’ve been taking them… No. I don’t even want to imagine that conversation. The pill slides down my throat, and I close my eyes.

Just enough to stay normal. Because normal people don’t see dead women. Normal people don’t wake up standing on windowsills.

Normal people don’t lose pieces of time.

Right?

***

An hour later, I descend the staircase.

His eyes lock on me, and I pretend not to notice.

The butter-yellow lace dress hugs my figure before falling to my knees. The delicate sleeves leave my shoulders bare. And my hair tumbles freely down my back in soft waves.

For a moment he stares.

“Say it,” I tease as his gaze slowly travels over me.

“Beautiful.”

Heat rushes into my cheeks. “Thank you.”

“You’d look phenomenal without the dress though.”

I nearly choke. “You’re disgusting.”

“Accurate.”

“Pervert.”

His mouth twitches. “Also, accurate.”

I swat his arm, and he catches my wrist before I can pull away and presses a brief kiss against my knuckles. Something unexpectedly gentle. Something that makes my chest ache.

He leads me into his sedan, and we drive past the Cliffside.

After months of staying in here, I can finally breathe the fresh air. It feels like a reprieve. The coastline flashes past outside the window. For the first time all day, I almost relax.

“I checked the footage.” My body goes rigid, and I keep my eyes on the passing sea.

“Oh?”

“No one entered the study.” I nod.

“Told you.”

His gaze flicks toward me. “You seem remarkably certain.”

I force a laugh. “Because I told you I imagined it.”

“Did you?”

I hate how perceptive he is. The silence stretches before his voice drops. “How did you end up on the window ledge?”

My throat tightens.