Chapter 14 Sweet Dreams
Anna’s POV
They escorted me back in silence.
The mansion loomed ahead like it had been waiting for me to return. Lights glowed from the entrance, warm and inviting, deceptively so.
Lucas was standing at the doorway. His posture was relaxed, but the look on his face wasn’t. He looked disappointed.
It cut deeper than Xavier’s laughter. The guards stopped a few feet away.
“I’ll take it from here,” Lucas said.
They nodded immediately and stepped back, leaving me alone with him.
I opened my mouth. “Lucas, I—”
“Shut up,” he said quietly. “And don’t call my name.”
The coldness in his voice startled me more than the gun had earlier.
He didn’t look at me as he reached for my arm.
His grip wasn’t painful, but it was firm enough to make a point. He guided, no, dragged, me inside.
We walked through the grand hallway in silence. My wet clothes left faint marks on the marble floor.
He didn’t speak until we reached my room.
He opened the door, pushed me inside, then entered and shut it behind him.
The click of the lock echoed. Then he turned.
“Are you crazy?” he asked flatly. “Stupid? Or suicidal?”
I raised an eyebrow despite the fatigue pulling at my limbs. “I’m not suicidal.”
He nodded once. “Then I’ll assume you’re crazy.”
His jaw tightened. “To think you could escape from Xavier’s grasp.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “I almost did.”
“That’s not the annoying part,” he cut in sharply.
I went quiet.
“I promised to help you,” he said, stepping closer. “Didn’t I?”
I met his eyes. “It’s barely been twenty-four hours since I met you.”
“And?”
“And you expect me to just trust you?” My voice rose slightly. “You’re Xavier’s right-hand man, for goodness’ sake. You work for him. You kill for him.”
He moved closer until the space between us thinned. “Now I’m telling you to trust me,” he said quietly. “Don’t do anything stupid again.”
His voice wasn’t soft this time. It wasn’t romantic. It was controlled frustration.
I shook my head slightly. “Lucas—”
“Goodnight.”
He turned before I could finish and walked out. The door shut.
For a moment, I just stood there, staring at it.
Almost immediately, it opened again.
I stiffened.
A young woman stepped inside. She had olive skin, dark hair cascading over her shoulders, and sharp eyes that missed nothing.
There was something distinctly Arabian about her features.
She offered a small bow. “Good evening, ma’am. My name is Eve. I am your personal maid.”
“I didn’t ask for a maid,” I said automatically.
Eve smiled faintly. “Xavier deemed you worthy of one.”
I almost laughed. “Worthy?” I repeated.
“He only assigns maids to those he treats as guests,” she continued smoothly.
“I’m his prisoner,” I said dryly. “Not his guest.”
Eve stepped closer, lowering her voice. “Did he kiss you?” she asked.
The question hit me like a slap. I stared at her. “What?”
“In front of his men,” she clarified.
Heat crept up my neck. “Yes,” I said quietly.
Eve’s eyes widened slightly. “Xavier only kisses prisoners he intends to treat as guests,” she said.
I let out a short laugh. “Are you saying I’m under his protection?” And are they other prisoners in his mansion?"
“Yes.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “Then can I walk out of the mansion? Since I’m a ‘guest’?”
Eve didn’t smile this time.
“There are four categories of visitors in this mansion,” she said calmly. “Prisoners treated as prisoners. Prisoners treated as guests. Guests treated as guests. And guests treated as prisoners.”
She tilted her head slightly. “Have I answered your question, ma’am?”
I stared at her for a moment, then nodded. “Yes.”
The structure made sense. Disturbingly so.
“What would you like for dinner?” she asked.
“I’m not hungry.”
“Then you should shower and rest. I’ll return in the morning.”
She turned toward the door. “Wait,” I said quickly.
She paused.
“What about Lucas?” I asked. “What can you tell me about him?”
One of her brows lifted. “You don’t want to know about Xavier… but about Lucas?”
“Everyone knows Xavier is a psychopath,” I said quietly. “Lucas is harder to place.”
Eve studied me for a second. “They’re both demons,” she said finally. “One is playful. The other is serious.”
A chill ran down my spine. “Please explain.”
“They are both killers,” she said plainly. “Lucas doesn’t enjoy it. He kills when he must. Xavier…” she hesitated, then continued, “Xavier enjoys it.”
I exhaled slowly. “So it’s only a matter of time before one of them kills me.”
“Something like that,” she replied. “But I don’t want you to die.”
I looked at her sharply.
“I can help you survive,” she said. “If you listen to me.”
“I’m listening.”
“First,” she said firmly, “sleep. And forget about escaping for now.”
My jaw tightened.
“I will be here in the morning,” she continued. “To tell you something about Xavier and Lucas that nobody knows.”
My heart skipped. “What?”
“Tomorrow,” she said gently.
“Please tell me now.”
She shook her head. “You need to rest.”
And then she left. The door shut once more.
Silence filled the room again.
I stood there for a few seconds before finally peeling the wet dress off my skin. I stepped into the shower, letting the water run over me.
It was quick. And it did nothing to ease the tightness in my chest.
I wrapped myself in a towel and lay down on the bed.
Exhaustion claimed me faster than I expected.
My last conscious thought before sleep pulled me under was simple.
I had to find a way to get out of this mansion, and Lucas shouldn't be trusted.