My eyes lift up to his in challenge.
“Within reason,” he adds.
I look into his eyes and see something there that sends a tremble running through me. I don't know how to identify the emotion swirling in his golden gaze, but something about it takes my breath away and makes me not want to hate him.
But who am I kidding? Despite everything he's done, I strangely do feel safe with him—even if he has kidnapped me and I'm his prisoner.
I know deep down in my soul that Stephan won’t hurt me. Though the nature of what he is frightens me, I'm not frightened of Stephan himself—if that even makes any sense.
I consider his words. I'm being presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. A handsome and wealthy immortal being is willing to bestow upon me anything my little heart desires.
Yet the typical human that I am, I want the one thing I can't have.
My freedom.
“Will you leave so I can get dressed?” I finally ask him softly.
I see the disappointment flicker through his eyes, but what did he really expect? Does he really think I’m so fickle that the offer of material things would be enough to make me forgive and forget everything?
He studies me for a moment more before his lips press into a thin line. “As you wish,” he replies curtly before he gets up and walks out the door for once instead of just disappearing.
I head over to the closet, my brows furrowed as I continue to contemplate my situation and what I can possibly do about it.
If there’s even anything Icando about it.
Twenty-Three
Elena
I spend the next few days in a weird sort of limbo. Maybe I should have tried to escape by now, but I've always been rational and realistic if nothing else. Stephan is a freaking vampire who can travel by simply willing himself to wherever he wants to go. There is no way on this earth that I'll ever be able to outrun him.
The only way I would be able to get out of here is to somehow slip off unbeknownst to him and get somewhere where he doesn't know where I'm at.
I have a feeling that he'll be able to track me down like a hound dog if I’m anywhere within a hundred-mile radius, what with my scent and everything that he's always going on about.
Fucking vampires and their incredible sense of smell. It's really a pain in my ass. No, I hate to admit it, but I've already fallen into a kind of routine.
I get up every morning and put on some of the ridiculously expensive clothing Stephan bought me.
Thank god he didn't outfit me with a bunch of stuff from the Victorian era, though there are definitely some super fancy dresses in there, like evening gowns. I don't know where he thinks I would ever have the occasion to wear them.
But there's plenty of practical stuff, even if they’re all expensive name brands I’d never be able to afford on my own.
I usually select a butter-soft pair of leggings and soft cashmere sweaters to wear. I'm all about being comfortable and wearing stuff that I have free range of movement in. I want to be ready at a moment's notice so that if I ever get the chance to bolt out of here, I can take it unhindered by restrictive clothing.
On top of that, I certainly don't want to look like I'm dressing to impress Stephan.
Even I have to admit that these leggings and sweaters somehow fit me way better than the simple ones I used to wear. I guess there really is a difference between those brand names and the off-brands I always bought.
And I can't deny the little flush of pleasure I get whenever Stephan’s eyes light on me in appreciation. It doesn't seem to matter what I wear or whether I wear my hair down or in a ponytail or even flopped up in a messy bun. He still looks at me with that look of hunger in his eyes.
But maybe I'm flattering myself. Maybe he's just looking at me like that because he wants to eat me—literally.
Despite his repeated offers to get me anything I want, I don't ask him for anything. In truth, I've never really thought about what I would do if I had the leisure to do whatever I wanted.
Most days. I just explore the castle. It’s huge. I know I still haven't seen every inch of it.
When I get tired, I stop at one of the many libraries. Yes, many. There's not just one. There's more than one room full of books here.