Chapter 38 Chapter 38
ADRIANA'S POV
"No, we don't have to." Daciana looked shocked when I said those words. Even though I didn't turn back to look at Xander, I knew he had the same astonished look on his face. I could feel his eyes boring holes into the side of my face but I refused to give into the need to turn and face him.
"Are you sure?" her expression was soft and I nodded firmly. There was no point running when it would only give him the thrill of a chase, not to mention, I didn't want to go back to being locked. Xander wasn't the type of person to be necessarily remorseful, he was known for being ruthless, not the other way around.
"Yes, I'm sure." I tried to make my voice sound confident, though it almost wavered. Daciana nodded and took a left turn. Xander was still watching us wordlessly, maybe he was communicating through mindlink with his sister, there was no way for me to know that.
"Why did you say no?" when we've put enough distance between Xander and us that he couldn't hear what we were saying even with his hearing abilities, she asked. I looked around the place she was going, she'd entered a hallway that was nestled between a door and the underside of the staircase. The house was huge and it had many weird turns and tunnels.
"There really was no point. I would have to face him sooner or later." I told her. That was only half the truth of it though. My plans weren't perfected but I knew to think ahead, and if I wanted them to trust me enough to be leaving me alone, then choosing the chance to run, even around the estate, wasn't going to help. With the way Xander was, he might double the security and have someone follow me around at all times.
No alpha, much less the lycan king would want his chosen to be gone, to run away was worse. It had been why he was livid the first time I ran away from my father, I didn't think he would be very forgiving like he was the first time. It was best to remind myself I had nowhere to go if he didn't throw me out. I couldn't go back to my father's pack, and they took my things when I was brought here. So, leaving when my plans weren't fully thought through would be dumb.
"But it could have been any other day but today." I shrugged and told her it was all the same. Daciana must have seen something on my face because she didn't speak again. She stopped outside an aluminum door and pushed a button beside it. She pushed me gently inside after the elevator doors opened.
"I'm sure you need a hot bath. The maids will get it ready so you can get into bed and get some rest. Would you like anything to eat?" Daciana asked. She pressed the elevator buttons, pressing the last floor before coming to stand beside me.
"Yes, that would be great." A hot bath was just what I needed.
"And the food? Anything specific you want?" I shook my head no. I didn't really have an appetite, so whatever I was going to eat wouldn't be for pleasure. More for feeding myself out of necessity than anything else.
I watched the numbers change until it reached the floor she had put, the fourth floor. I wouldn't have known it existed had it not been for when we came here. That wasn't where I was the first time I came here.
"Xander said to bring you to this floor," Daciana informed as the doors opened. Either she could read my mind, or my face gave it away. I felt a little nervous at the thought of being up there. Not that the people even acknowledged me but being closer to the ground was safer, easier for me. I realized it was already putting a damper in my plans. If I'd thought I could climb out the window of my old room when I was escaping, then I knew for sure I couldn't climb out of this one, except if I wanted to fall. That would be the easiest way out, the easiest way out of this world just to be clear. I wasn't really planning on doing that.
My life was shitty, but that wasn't enough to make me want to end it.
"Who lives on this floor?" I asked, looking around. It was more simple than the other parts, though it had a more regal aura. I knew without anyone telling me that the more important members were the ones that stayed here.
"Xander." My heart stopped for a brief second, before the blood resumed pumping the organ so hard I thought I would have a cardiac arrest. No way. The thought of him being here, sleeping very close to me made a fine line of sweat trickle down my spine.
"Just him?" I looked around the large hallway. Sure enough, there were only three doors there. The one at the end of the hallway facing the stairs was a large oakwood double door, it had engravings - I couldn't tell what it was from here, either artifacts or writings-on it and each side held the half face of a wolf, when covered it was whole. That was Xander's room obviously.
"Yes." I swallowed thickly, the saliva feeling like wolfsbane as it went down my throat. I don't think I've ever been this scared in my life. He wanted me close t him, he had to have plans for that. Tears sprang behind my lids as I tried to force my breathing to be steady.
"But why? I like my old room better." My voice trembled, betraying my fear. I didn't want to be anywhere near Xander's vicinity, not when I had plans to leave this place. If he locks me in here, he could do whatever he wanted without anyone knowing, or caring to save me. Not that anyone would risk their lives and their alpha's wrath to save me.
"I honestly don't know. But you don't have to worry, Xander barely sleeps in his room." I nodded hearing how she tried to sound reassuring but it didn't make me feel any better.
"Let's get you in there so you can settle in and rest." She tried to bring back the positive note in her voice but I was still too shaken to try and even pretend it was going to be fine. She moved to one of the other two doors, they were facing each other. Also double doors, identical with the markings of a moon the almost the same way the other is.
Daciana pushed it open and I held my breath when she wheeled me inside. I looked around the brightly painted room, the queen sized bed that was in the middle was fit for a queen. It was made of dark wood and had that kind of canopy, all the edges had wolf engravings.
She stopped in the middle of the room while I looked around. It was a lot bigger than the old room, the room was filled with rich décor, a sitting area on one side with soft looking sofas, a coffee table in the middle also made with rich wood. It was a bit medieval styled but with modern touches. Like the large flat screen almost taking up half of the wall facing the bed. There was a fireplace and two other doors in the room, a bookcase nestled between two large windows.
"This room has a balcony that overlooks the garden. Trust me you'll love it when the flowers are in full bloom." Daciana says in a cherry voice. She still tried to sound excited because she knew how down I was about sharing a floor with Xander only.
"Oh, that's nice." I said a little drily. She didn't pay heed to my tone.
"I'm sure the maids have got your bath ready." She said walking toward the bathroom. I was still looking around the room, feeling very small and insignificant in it. It was intimidating. "Do you have any fragrance of bath bombs that you like because I told them to just use lavender and jasmine, I love them." Her voice came again, this time from the bathroom. She wasn't speaking loudly but with my now improved hearing I was able to hear her perfectly well.
"It's fine." I called out, my voice louder than hers had been. I heard a bit of shuffling from the bathroom, then a tap running. The sweet scent of jasmine and lavender now filled the room, and I could smell rose petals. The thought of getting in the hot water made me almost jump up from the wheelchair, forgetting my little ploy of acting too weak.
"Oh, you're going to love it!" Daciana said in a singsong voice. There was a little more movement from the bathroom before I heard her footsteps and she walked out, a calm smile on her face. Almost like seeing the bath made her feel relaxed.
"This just made me want to get a long soak too," she squealed. I smiled besides the multiple worrisome thoughts in my head, it was the brightest I've seen her since I got here, it was nice.
"You should, you've been in the hospital almost as long as I have, your bones will appreciate it." I said with a smile. She nodded, looking like she was considering it. She sharply turned to the door, the smile falling off her face. I turned to, hearing it this time, muffled but definitely the soft padding of footsteps on a carpet, heading toward this room. I still didn't have a very good sense of smell so I couldn't tell who it was. Daciana though could, and she didn't seem to be happy to see whoever it was.
"What the fuck is he doing here?" she growled out, the same time the door was pushed open.