“We’re here,” he says.
“Where?”
“Look.”
He points, and I rub my eyes groggily for just a second before I’m able to see what the heck I’m staring at. It’s difficult to see from the backseat, but is that a...
“Castle?”
“The academy,” he corrects me.
“What academy?”
“The academy.”
“Um, okay.”
Flynn helps me out of the car. His partner is standing there looking amused.
“I’m taking her inside,” Flynn says.
“By all means.”
The man doesn’t make a move, though. He just stares at me.
“What’s your name?” I ask him boldly. They both seem surprised. “I’m sorry, it’s just that I didn’t get it earlier.”
“Gaston,” he offers me a hand.
Am I supposed to shake it?
It seems a bit bold to shake the hand of the man who kidnapped me, but I do it anyway.
“Heather.”
“I know.” A smile ticks at the corner of his lips, and I realize that, duh, of course he knows who I am. He stole me away, after all.
“I’ll take care of the cats,” he says.
“Where are you taking them?”
He pauses for a moment, as though he’s not sure whether he wants to tell me where he’s taking Maple and Syrup, but finally he decides to be forthcoming.
“To my apartment,” he finally says.
“Not to the dungeon?” I don’t know why it surprises me that my cats won’t be locked up in a dungeon. It’s a huge relief, though. Despite being at a castle, we haven’t actually stepped back in time.
“Not to the dungeon,” he confirms.
“Please be nice to my cats.”
“Don’t worry,” Gaston says. “My wife is quite the animal lover. I’ll let her help me get them situated.”
I stare at him blankly for a minute. Wife? This guy has a wife? Does she know her husband is a criminal who just kidnapped an innocent woman? Does she even care? Maybe it’s true that she’s an animal lover. After all, she’s married to one.
My own smile fades and I turn back to Flynn.
“Ready?” He asks me.