“Yeah, next time, you’ll listen to me,” I tease him.
My father lets out a sigh. “Alexei says Cabello has gone into hiding. There’s no sign he’s been killed. We just have to find him now, and then the problem will be taken care of.”
“That’s good news,” I mutter, wanting this shit to be over with as well.
“I have to go. Don’t do something stupid. You hear me?”
“Yes, Papà.”
We end the call, and I drop the phone on the coffee table. Leaning back, I settle into the couch and stare at the expansive windows.
Seven days.
It’s not a lot of time, but it’s better than nothing.
Chapter 10
ELENA
I’ve been doing my best to avoid Lucian for the past three days.
Even though I’m free to move around the castle and grounds, I’ve been hiding in my suite. I haven’t even gone downstairs for my training sessions and meals, but instead, I order room service.
Which means I’ve had nothing but time to think. About everything.
Lucian.
My feelings.
Dante.
The impending wedding and death sentence.
Eleven days. That’s all I have.
It’s nothing. Just eleven days, and I’ll either have to find a way to kill Dante, or I’ll cross over to the afterlife.
Staring out of the window, my heart longs to feel the warmth of the sun on my skin.
Every night I wait until midnight before I sneak out of my suite to visit the secret garden. So far, I’ve been lucky, and I haven’t run into anyone but the guards.
I’m not free. Not even at St. Monarch’s.
It’s better than being locked up in the Villa with Dante.
But I’m still not free.
A knock at my door draws me out of my thoughts, and I turn away from the window to receive the order I’ve placed for lunch. Not having much of an appetite, I got myself a platter of cheese, cold meats, and olives.
I unlock the door and open it, but instead of finding a server, I’m met with Lucian, a severe expression darkening his features.
I begin to shut the door, but his hand shoots out, slamming hard against the wood.
“What –?” Before I can say another word, Lucian grabs hold of my arm and pulls me out of the room. He reaches past me and closes the door. “What are you doing?” I demand to know, my heart starting to beat faster.
Lucian’s hand clamps around mine, and then I’m tugged down the hallway. “I’m fucking done with you hiding,” he mutters. I try to pull free from his grip on me, but it only has him tightening his fingers around mine as he threatens, “I swear to God I will throw you over my shoulder if you make a scene.”
I follow him down the stairs, having to almost jog to keep up with his wider strides.
“Where are you taking me?” I ask while I search for a guard.
“Outside.” It’s the only explanation I’m offered.
“I’ll scream for help,” I warn Lucian, not sure if it will even help. Will they dare go against his wishes?
“Go ahead,” Lucian says, his voice filled with confidence. “They’ll only interfere once I’ve killed you.”
“Once?” The word bursts from me as fear slithers through me. “So you can do anything to me, and they won’t stop you?” My breaths begin to speed up. “God.” I yank back against Lucian’s hold. “Let go!” I stop walking, trying to twist my hand out of his.
“Christ Almighty!” he snaps, and then he turns to me. Lucian grabs hold of my sides, and the next moment I’m thrown over his shoulder as if I weigh nothing. I let out a startled shriek which he ignores as he begins to walk again, stepping through the side doors.
I start to slam my fists against his back. “Put me down! You can’t do this.”
A slap to my bottom makes my eyes widen, and a gasp explodes from me. Stunned, I hang over Lucian’s shoulder as he carries me away from the castle. When we reach the secret garden, I’m tugged down the front of his body until my feet meet the ground. I stumble, but then Lucian catches my shoulders.
With my breaths exploding over my lips and my hair hanging in my face, I glare at Lucian. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“It was clear this was the only way to get your attention,” he says, his features even darker than when I opened the door.
“My attention? For what?” I take a step backward, but my calves bump against the marble edging around the fountain.
“This,” he snaps, and then he moves forward, and the meager space I’ve managed to put between us vanishes with one stride from him. His right hand shoots up, clasping the back of my head, and before I can even realize what’s happening, Lucian’s mouth crashes down on mine.
I freeze, stunned out of my mind.
He enters my mouth without any effort, and then velvet brushes over my tongue.