Dove Prescott is forced into a dangerous game of cat and mouse after another failed attempt to escape from her boyfriend turned captor.
Fleeing from town to town, Dove has stayed one-heart stopping step ahead of the monster who is hunting, tormente...
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Blinking my eyes open slowly, I expected pain but found none. In fact, beyond the haze of my mind, I felt fine. Someone had moved me back into my bedroom, the four walls looking familiar. I still smelled of blood, sweat, and ash. What I wouldn't give for a shower. I wiggled my fingers, then my toes.
"There's still ten of each. I counted." Rhys's voice hit a chord deep within me, awakening my soul.
I lifted my head to look at him. God, he was so handsome, more than I remembered. My heart took flight in my chest and a wide smile broke across my face. It was like seeing the sun after months of rain. There were no words for the emotions that pulsed through me.
"You're here."
"I've been here, for three days. Waiting for you to wake up."
"Three days?" I'd been out that long. "Is everyone else okay?"
"Well enough to that they won't leave me alone for more than an hour without asking about you."
I chuckled at how disgruntled he sounded about that. "I'm glad."
He made a sound in the back of his throat. I knew he must have been worrying over me the entire time, probably hadn't slept or ate much. Not that I would've done much different if the roles had been reversed.
I swallowed, realizing how dry my throat was. "Water?"
"Side table."
Turning, I found a glass of water. I grabbed it and greedily drank from it. Rhys hovered in my peripheral like he there was something he longed to say, though I knew him well enough to know he wouldn't say it outright. I turned to him, swallowing the water in my mouth. "How did Silas know where to find me?"
"It was Camila." He frowned. "Apparently, they were having some kind of relationship. He used her as a spy..."
I was quiet for a moment. "Allen was helping him too."
"I know. My mother told me." The rumble of his voice grated my ears, which were more sensitive then I remembered them being. He reached up and ran his fingers through his hair, tugging anxiously. "I came for you as soon as I found out. I'm so sorry this happened. I should've been here. I –"
"Stop," I said, cutting him off. "Don't do that to yourself."
He pressed his lips together. I scooted over on the bed and patted the space beside me. There was nothing that I needed more right now than to just be with Rhys. It took a moment but he sat down on the edge of the bed and kicked off his boots before sliding up beside me. The urge to touch him was overwhelming. My skin flushed with the desire that rose in me at his being near. I'd always been attracted to Rhys, but this was something else.
"Things feel different now," I said, changing the topic.
"I suppose they would." He turned and brushed his fingers over my neck. The simple contact left a fire in its wake and my mouth went dry.
