Total pages in book: 194
Estimated words: 187754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 939(@200wpm)___ 751(@250wpm)___ 626(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 187754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 939(@200wpm)___ 751(@250wpm)___ 626(@300wpm)
“Tell me yours,” I retort. When he doesn’t respond, I release a quiet laugh in case his ego can’t handle being mocked. “Didn’t think so.” Standing back, I look over my appearance before deciding that it’s the best I can do without my makeup bag or toiletries. The only useful things I’ll probably find in this cabin are shaving cream and a razor.
After too much time, I finally allow my gaze to leave the mirror and travel to the door where Khalil is standing.
He’s wearing a stark white muscle shirt that makes his brown skin even more striking, while the deep holes where the sleeves should be shows off his muscular physique—particularly his arms and obliques. His dark plaits are hanging down today instead of pulled back like the last time I saw him.
Which was…
The question forms on my tongue, but I stop it from passing my lips because on the heels of how long I was out is what they might have done to me while I was unconscious.
I wouldn’t put it past one of them to have a Sleeping Beauty kink.
If the situation was different and I didn’t despise them, I wouldn’t be so opposed to trying that one out. Alas, I hate them with every fiber of my being, and I’m praying minutely that I’m long gone before they get the urge to assault me again.
Especially since the man in front of me looks like a walking, talking fantasy as his lips move.
Villains shouldn’t be allowed to look panty-dropping gorgeous.
Thankfully, I’m not wearing any.
Wait…
I’m not wearing any.
Why aren’t I wearing any again?
“Did you hear me?” Khalil snaps, making me realize I hadn’t.
I hide the anxiety building in my belly by shooting him an equally annoyed look. “Obviously not, Khalil.”
“I asked if you’re hungry.”
Ignoring his offer, which definitely comes with strings, I ask him a question of my own. “Where are my clothes? Why am I wearing this?”
“Aurelia,” he says with an impatient sigh. “I asked you a question.”
I start to tell him where he can shove his questions when his brows rise like he read my mind and is daring me to do it.
Gulping, my lips tremble as I take one breath and two steps back.
I want to be strong and pretend I’m bulletproof, but it’s hard when I remember what they did to me. I can still feel their hands on me—shoving, grabbing, and taking the only parts of me I had left that were just mine.
Whatever appetite I had flees from the rising memories. Still, I’m not entirely led by my emotions. Logic tells me that if I refuse the meal, they might not offer another one.
At least not for free.
I give a small nod, and Khalil turns to walk out without a word.
I gape at the empty door where he disappeared before I realize I’m meant to follow him. Stealing a few more moments to don my armor, I leave the haven of this room where nothing bad has happened to me yet.
Entering the den, I keep my gaze pinned straight ahead and on the stairs. I don’t want to risk looking around and remembering what happened to me in this room.
The thick calf socks on my feet are too big, but they protect my feet from the cold floor as I shuffle my way upstairs. The cabin is quiet but warm, and I still haven’t seen Thorin or Seth yet, so I’m half expecting one of them to jump me out of nowhere.
I make it upstairs unscathed.
Standing on the landing, I look around but still don’t see them. I hear Khalil in the kitchen, so I creep over there and peer around the corner. He’s got his back turned to me, and I can’t help but notice how strong it looks.
He’ll have no problem holding me down when he decides to use me again.
The muscles are bunched like he’s tense, and I realize why when he says, “Stop watching me like you think I’m going to eat you and sit. Your breakfast is getting cold.”
It’s then that I notice the plate on the table.
There are scrambled eggs that look runny, dried meat, and diced potatoes.
“If there’s no town nearby,” I ask as I take a seat, “how do you guys keep from starving?”
“The same way our ancestors’ ancestors’ ancestors’ ancestors did before the invention of markets, Aurelia. We hunt, grow, gather, and store.”
I roll my eyes but don’t respond to the obvious lie. I saw the deer carcass, so I know he’s telling the truth about hunting, but I don’t remember seeing a fucking garden on my way in. I’m still eyeing my food like it’s a time bomb when he finally turns away from the counter.
“What’s wrong now?”
“Last time you fed me, you put something in my food.”
I’m not sure how I expected him to respond to my accusation, but I know I wasn’t expecting him to laugh. It’s heartless and obnoxious, just like him. “We didn’t drug you, Aurelia. You passed the fuck out.”