Page 13 (1/2)

The second day, she vo left inside her stolass shards and rusty nails Andbuffalo

The third day, she returned to the tre, so weak she could barely lift her head or even open her eyes

Eventually, sleep battered past every wall of resistance she had erected, and she slipped into the land of drea her how much they loved her Her older brother, Brax, rubbed his knuckles into her hair Oh, how she had missed him Since her incarceration, he’d made his dislike of her very clear

Once upon a time, he had threatened any boy who’d wanted to date her He had s as he’d fixed her breakfast, her parents having already rushed off to work On the drive to school, he had lectured her about studying harder and keeping her grades up so that she could get into a good college and have the best possible future

That wasn’t possible now The man Brax had become did not believe Annabelle’s recollection of that fatefulHe did not trust her, and he certainly did not adore her and want the best for her

Best? What was the best for someone like her? Despite the euphoria she’d felt upon first leaving the institution, despite her desire to live on her own, happy and carefree, the truth was now unavoidable The only future she had was one on the run from the law

The dream morphed, her parents and Brax pushed to the back of her hout the years She saw blood-soaked floors no one else could see, her feet slipping and sliding in the puddles as she cried for help she would never receive

Thankfully, that dream morphed, as well She lay beside Zacharel, and he placed his cold hands on her, gently brushing her hair from her face as he mumbled about troublesome humans He stuffed sweet, juicy cluy to slap hi such a turd about it

The fourth day, everything changed Her sleep cal The aches and pains faded Finally, blessedly, even the treth returned to her li position, dizziness waiting at the fringes of her

She looked at her surroundings--she was still inside the cloud--then at herself She was dressed in a white robe as soft as cashth of tied her? Bathed her?

Zacharel?

Her cheeks flushed with heat Yeah, Zacharel His part hadn’t been a dreaht-up reality

How…nice of him

Zacharel didn’t see of others, especially at the expense of his own comfort, but he’d risked a few slaps frouy He probably regretted releasing her

She threw her legs over the side of the bed and stood, swayed It was tiure out her next move

"PESKY HUMAN," ZACHAREL muttered as he paced the center of his cloud He had never before taken care of a sick huel, for that otten worse

And she’d slapped him! On multiple occasions! Not even his Deity had ever dared such a thing Whip hi from his latest round with the leather strap, but slap him? Never Not that the puny actions had hurt It was the principle of the thing He’d taken time out of his day to care for her, precious ti to his new army and their various ruer with her did not stem from worry, he was certain of it He rubbed the heel of his palm up and down the center of his chest and s at the sour taste in his mouth

He wouldn’t voice a lie, but he would certainly entertain one in his own mind

Annabelle would live or she would die, and Zacharel wasn’t going to concern hirih of this! He would do what any other man would have done in this situation He would summon a female to take over Jamila Yes, Jamila would ensure Annabelle’s safety

"Inform Ja would it take her to fly here? It would take him less than a minute to thrust Annabelle into her arms and kick the about Annabelle, tired of wondering how badly she hurt, if she would survive whatever sickness had struck her Tired of reaching inside the air pocket containing his vial of water from the River of Life, only to catch hi her the re drop was ludicrous

"More threats?" Jamila asked the moment she arrived

At last He whirled to littered with…anger? Couldn’t be There was heat there, but nothing irate "How can I be late? You didn’t give s tucked into her sides, and dark curls settled over her shoulders, falling down the smooth expanse of her ar"