Chapter 17

Selene’s pov

Silence bore down heavily on us, and I shifted uncomfortably. My arm was still tingling from whatever Raven had done. At least it wasn't hurting anymore, but I would have traded it hurting for Lucian's absence. He just stood there staring at me with his dark, hooded eyes and his tense pose. It was killing me trying to figure out what he was thinking—he was unreadable.

"What is it?" I snapped, my voice coming out sharper than I intended. "Are you just going to stand there and watch me?"

His expression did not waver. "You should not have left the room. Do you know how crucial you are, how many people are waiting to get a hold of you because of how powerful you are? I doubt someone like you would want to die a miserable death within the walls of this place."

"It's because of how powerful you're convinced I am that you have me here, right? Because I was surviving very well on my own out there. I didn't need your help, and I still don't!"

I wished I could cross my arms to show my annoyance, but it would be too much to ask, so I settled for a harrumph instead. "You know, it might actually be a good idea to get myself killed before all of you with your selfish ambitions find a way to bend me to your will."

"I am not like the others," he said, eyes darkening. "I have no selfish ambition."

"You might want to prove yourself on that one because I don't believe you one bit," I retorted. "Could you at least tell me what's going on and what your intentions for me here are? You can't just keep me locked up like a damn prisoner."

"Perhaps I would even be more careful if I knew exactly what was going on in this place. I can't stay here forever!"

For once, he looked away from me, and I saw indecision in his expression. It was gone as suddenly as it came.

"Next time, stay in your room. I may not get there in time to save you," he said, stepping back.

"I don't need to be saved!" I shouted. "If I recall, I was the one who did the saving last time we were attacked!"

"I didn't ask you to help," he growled.

"Neither did I!" I said, my tone matching his. Mentioning the last time the operatives attacked us was a low blow, but he was getting under my skin very nicely.

I should probably thank him for rescuing me from the werewolf, but the last time I helped him, he didn't even spare me a thank you. Why did I need to do the same for him.

"Maybe you want to watch your words as well as your movements," he said, his voice flat. He stepped towards the door, but I wasn't done speaking to him.

"Why do you do this? Why do you make me powerless?" I shouted after him. "I can take care of myself! I don't need you!"

He gave me no reply; he just stepped through the open door and swung it shut behind him.

I blinked back angry tears. What did I do to deserve such a person encountering me? It must have been a colossal wrong that the universe simply could not overlook.

Alone again. This was becoming a very bad routine. I tried to get myself to sleep, but I couldn't, the effort wearing down on me. What else could I do?

Who would have thought that I would prefer the wild to a cozy, large room like this? I twisted my lips to the corner, staring at the wardrobe. What could be inside? Had he restocked clothes for me?

Well, I needed something to while away time, so I managed to get to my feet and steadied my breathing, padding my way towards the wardrobe.

It turned out he had actually stocked the place with clothes: dark dresses, light dresses, dinner gowns, ball gowns, even a few combat wear. Were all these new, or was this someone else's room I was occupying? And if it was someone else's, whose?

I wondered if he had trapped another vampire in here in the past and somehow she escaped. Nah, that was a bit too far to guess.

I was lost in thoughts, trying to decide which of the gowns I liked best when a knock sounded at my door. Finally, they were learning some courtesy.

"Come in!" I shouted, and immediately the door opened to reveal Darius, his usual smile playing on his lips.

"You've looked better," he said, closing the door behind him.

"I surely have." I didn't even want to begin to imagine what my hair looked like, much less the plain blue gown I woke up in, which was now stained with blood. I hadn't found the strength to change out of it so far.

"What do you want?" I asked, my eyes narrowing.

"Relax," he raised his hands in mock surrender. "I'm just here to check on you. I wasn't exactly allowed to visit you while you were out of commission."

"How thoughtful," I said, flashing him a fake smile.

He pulled out one of the chairs underneath the table and took his seat. "I heard about your attack."

I frowned. "Does news travel that fast around here?"

"It doesn't need to travel. I always know things," he replied with a smirk. "You see, you're not exactly popular around here. Lucian made sure of that."

"You and I may have a lot more in common than you think."

I snorted. "I'm a vampire, you're a werewolf—we have nothing in common."

"Of course. Beyond the supernatural abilities we have, we both want one thing and we will do anything to get it: freedom."

I stopped rubbing the silk material of the gown that I was holding between my fingers and stared at him. "Freedom? You want freedom from Lucian?"

He nodded, and I shook my head. "How does that make sense? You're his brother—you can just get up and leave anytime you need."

"Oh, it's not just about me," he replied, his expression somber for a while. "It's about every other person he forces his rule over."