My new guard was a lot nicer than Caine and I should have been happy but I found myself missing the grumpy brute.
I hadn't seen him since the incident with General Trent. I tried to search for him on my own but I wasn't allowed into the guard quarters- none of us were- so I searched everywhere else. I checked in the dining area, I checked in the kitchens and in every nook and cranny that I knew of but I couldn't find him.
The only other thing left was to ask soone but I couldn't risk it. The General was already under the impression that we were in cohorts, I couldn't make his theory more believable by going around asking for Caine so I tried my best to keep my growing frustration at his absence to myself.
"This is pathetic, even for you," I looked up to find Joshua standing in front of .
I rolled my eyes and tried to leave but he was quick to grab my hand. Behind , my guard did nothing but he watched the scene with careful eyes. I wasn't sure how but I knew that Caine wouldn't have been quiet.
"Let go," I kept my voice low. We were in the dining area and the last thing I wanted to do was draw more attention to myself. "I don't want to speak to you."
"I left you alone for a week. You are being impossible. I'm your only friend here."
"I'd rather not have friends," I snapped as I pulled my hand out of his grip. "We have nothing to talk about. I'm not going to marry you or have your babies. You can leave alone."
He scoffed. "I'll stop asking about the babies then. Look, I'm sorry I left you alone. I just- you're my only friend here too. I'm sorry."
I had never heard Joshua apologize before and maybe I was a pushover but it was terrible not having anyone to speak to. The past week was torture for , it felt like I was living on autopilot. This place was bad enough but being alone, that just made it worse.
I shuffled over to the side and gestured for him to take a seat. He grinned and didn't hesitate before slipping in next to .
"Are you going to tell about why your guard was changed?" I shrugged because the truth was, I didn't know exactly why myself. "What about the growling you claid to have heard?"
"I didn't hear anything, it was just my mind," I repeated the words I said to everyone.
I thought Joshua would drop it but he didn't. He leaned over to and dropped his voice to a low whisper. "I know you're lying."
I tried to pull back but he kept a hand around my shoulder. To the outsider, it would look like two friends just whispering to each other. His voice was so low that not even our guards could hear us.
"So people are missing," he told . "I didn't even know it myself because they're not important people."
"Not important?"
"You know what I an," he waved off. "I heard the cooks talking about how one of their friends is missing. Then I heard that two maids mysteriously vanished. No one else knows but it happened around the sa ti your mind decided to play tricks on you."
I didn't know what to say. A part of wanted to tell Joshua the truth but Caine was very clear with his instructions. He asked to stay silent so I did. I pulled back from Joshua and shrugged.
He seed shocked. "You're not going to say anything?"
"If you're worried about it maybe you should investigate it or talk to the general. I am in no position to give advice on the matter."
He stared at like I had grown two heads. His eyes were wide with anger and frustration. I wanted to reach out and comfort him, tell him that he wasn't crazy but I forced my expression to remain calm.
After a long beat of silence, he scoffed and stood to his feet. He stord off but his guard hesitated for a split second, his eyes were on , almost probing, as if he could see directly into . I stared right back at him, forcing myself not to cower or quiver.
It all happened in less than five seconds but he gave a barely noticeable nod before disappearing after Joshua, almost as if he were congratulating for not saying anything.
I didn't know what that ant and I barely had ti to figure it out because I saw him.
He had his back to and was heading towards the storage rooms but I knew him anywhere. I knew that ridiculous man bun and those broad shoulders. I didn't give my guard a warning before rushing to my feet and running after him.
I heard a small curse behind as my guard rushed to follow . I weaved through the other people, trying to put as much distance between us before darting into the storage rooms. There were plenty doors in the very long hallway and I couldn't see any sign of Caine.
I was about to turn around and give up when a hand wrapped around my wrist and I was pulled into a dark corner. A scream bubbled out of my throat but a gloved hand covered my mouth.
"Do you have a fucking death wish?" Caine hissed, releasing my mouth only when he was sure I wouldn't scream.
His eyes were harsher than before, almost colder too. There was an edge to his voice too, sothing about him had changed, I just couldn't put my finger on what.
"I was coming to find you. I haven't seen you around in a week."
"Did you ever consider that maybe I was avoiding you?" he took a step back from . "Go back to your guard, Nadine."
I stared at him in shock and annoyance. I searched for him for a week and he was dismissing just like that, like I was a dog that he could treat with disdain. It pissed off more than I thought possible and before I knew what I was doing, I was shoving his chest hard.
The action caught him off guard and he raised a brow in my direction. I did it again and again, channeling all my anger and frustration into shoving him as hard as possible. He allowed do it three tis before grabbing both my hands.
He spun so fast and pinned to the wall with his body, caging my hands atop my head.
"Don't you fucking dare," he hissed, his warm breath at the shell of my ears.
I should have been angry- I was angry- but underneath all of that anger was sothing else, sothing fiery and warm in the pit of my belly. I tried to convince myself that it was sothing else but every ragged breath from his chest, the feel of his body against my back and his warm breath by my ear only stoked the fire inside of .
"I will let you go and you will go back to your guard, do you understand ?"
"Fuck you."
"You're not my type, princess," he drawled. "Leave and don't try to find again."
He released but I didn't move. I heard his footsteps receding and I let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding.
The storage room was quiet once again and I never would have even known he was here if I couldn't still feel the indentation of his body against mine.
With my head bowed, I dragged myself back into the dining area.
I had barely taken two steps when my guard rushed over to . For the first ti in one week, he spoke. "Where the fuck did you run off to?"
"Isn't it your job to follow ?" I kept my tone bored. "If you can't keep up, just say so. I'll ask for soone else."
I hated speaking to him like that but it was necessary. He pursed his lips, the anger evident in his eyes but he said nothing. We started towards my room when I felt sothing. It was almost like rumbling under my feet. I stopped and turned to him wondering if he had felt it too when the lights started to flicker.
"What the hell is going on?" I whispered.
"I don't know. I have never-"
There was another rumbling, much bigger and worse than the last one. I had to grab onto a table to stay secure. Before I could ask this ti, a loud alarm blared, red lights flashing bright.
My guard grabbed my arm and tugged . it was the first ti he had ever touched without permission and I looked around to see other guards doing the sa to the people they were assigned to protect.
"Where the hell are you taking ?" I asked but he ignored . I tried to break his grip but he was stronger.
While we were taught how to defend ourselves, they were taught to fight.
He dragged into my room and slamd the door behind us. I tried to push past him but he was faster, his hands wrapped around my mid-section and threw back harshly.
"I'm sorry but we have a protocol," he pulled out a sharp knife from his pocket. "I have to do this."
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