Late into the night, Leona lay in bed in her small apartment, her mind replaying each little event of the day over and over. She couldn't shake off the weight of Alistair's warning, nor was the lingering pain in her wrist, which seemed to pulse with every thought of him, helping her get much sleep.
She closed her eyes and took deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself; she simply could not sleep. Lying in bed for hours, after a while she got out of bed, feeling that she had to get her mind off things by taking a midnight stroll along the deserted city streets.
She walked, her thoughts drifting back to Dante. She had been wary of him at first, but his concern felt genuine, unlike Alistair's cold, calculating presence. Dante had shown her a glimpse of something that felt like hope-a way out, a chance to break free from Alistair's control.
Lost in thought, she didn't notice the figure following her until it was too late.
"Leona".
She turned, her heart racing, to face one of Alistair's men: a tall, hard eyed figure with wide shoulders and an unyielding expression.
"Mr. Crowe has requested your presence," he said, in a flat, almost robotic tone.
Her stomach twisted up with fear. "Now?"
He said nothing more, merely nodding. She knew there was no choice involved, no refusal to be spoken of. Taking a deep breath, she followed him as they set off in the direction of Crowe Manor, her heart pounding.
In she went, and the next thing she knew, she was in a room she had not seen before a cold, darkly lit room, with tall mirrors that seemed to mirror back at her her intense fear. And there, right in the middle of the room, stood Alistair.
"Leona," he said, with a smooth but dangerous edge to his voice. "You've been restless, haven't you?"
She froze. Clearly, he did, and her mind was racing. "I... I don't know what you mean."
He smirked, closing the space between them. "You don't have to lie. I can feel it-the bond tells me everything. Your doubts, your fears. even your secrets."
Her heart felt like it was plummeting, as the bond wasn't just a mark; it was a link enabling him to see into her mind, to know her thoughts, her desires. She was open and raw, with no place to hide.
"Remember, Leona," Alistair continued, his voice low and threatening. "I gave you everything. Your loyalty is the price you pay."
These words seemed to ring in her mind long after he was gone out the door, leaving her to her reflection a reflection now more like a stranger than herself
YOU ARE READING
The Sinful Pact
RomanceIn a world where everyone's soul is marked by "Bond" that signifies their destiny, Leona, an ordinary healer, attracts the attention of two ruthless billionaires with Bonds that make them possessive and powerful. One of them, a mysterious and influe...
