Except my fingers aren’t working.Am I dreaming?I have a recurring dream where I can’t find the contacts on my phone.Can’t call 911.
The phone drops from my hand and lands in the grass with a dull thud.
I rub my forehead.Come on, Hannah. Don’t wimp out. You can do this.
I inhale—
My phone appears in front of me…in Victor Rogan’s strong hand.
Stronghumanhand.
I look up and meet his gaze as I take my phone from him.A spark shoots through me as our hands brush.
Make that a big spark.
“Princess,” he says, his voice a husky rasp.
“R-Rogan.”
“Are you all right?”
“I think… Durgs… I meandrugs… How did he… I mean… What did he…”
Words jumble in my head like a cloud made of floating black letters.I can pick out words but I can’t seem to string them together.Will I ever be able to utter a coherent sentence again?
“Easy.”Rogan moves behind me and massages my shoulders.
Is this Victor Rogan?Taking care of me?Being…nice?
“Feels good,” I murmur.
“This is my fault,” he says.“I shouldn’t have left you alone.”
“You left me in your penthouse,” I say.At least I try to say it.It comes out more likeyou lifted pin house.
“I thought I knew everything about you, princess,” he says.“Turns out I was wrong.”
“Wrong about what?”I say slowly.Slowly helps.The words sound intelligible.
“The demon king.I’ve never seen him in person.Hardly anyone has.I had no idea.I know who he is, of course, but I didn’t know his connection to you.”
“Neither did I.”Again slowly, with enunciation.
The massaging stops abruptly.I open my mouth to ask him to continue, but—
He’s in front of me—naked and glorious…and his gorgeous eyes filled with rage.
“Don’t lie to me, princess.”
“I’m not.I swear I’m not.”
“Your pupils are dilating.Did you forget I can tell when you’re lying?”
My heart is still beating harder than normal, and this isn’t helping.“I’mnotlying.”
He gazes into my eyes.“Care to explain the dilation?”
“I can’t.”Still slowly.I’m determined to make every word count.“Maybe whatever he drugged me with.I swear to God I didn’t know my stepfather was king of the demons.”