Page 14 of Their Offering

“I have an idea.” I looked up at her and cocked a brow, waiting for her to continue. “Let’s go back to the scene of the crime. Maybe there’s something there. Maybethey’rethere. Come on. You owe it to yourself to explore this. I’ve never seen you so torn up over a man.”

She was right. This was completely out of character for me. It had always been easy not to get attached or care, but these men? Whatever this was, it was different. That had to count for something, right?

“I’m scared,” I sighed. “What if it turns out itwasjust some crazy dream, or a crazy trip? What if I’m losing it?Fuck. What if Iamjust like…”

Katie didn’t let me finish my sentence. “Nope. Get your ass up. We are getting to the bottom of this. You’re not crazy, Lilly, not even a little bit.” She grabbed her keys and walked to the front door, where she placed her hand on her hip and waited for me impatiently.

“Fine,” I grumbled as I joined her.

She gave me a triumphant smile as she led us out to her car.

We rode in silence except for me telling her where to go, turn, and eventually stop. When she pulled over to the side of the road, my leg was bouncing, my mind racing.

What if they weren’t there? What would I do if this was just some trip to crazy town? I shook my head, trying in vain to get rid of the negative thoughts.

But…What if theywerethere? What would I do? What would I say? Would I be happy? Would they even want me, or was what happened supposed to be a one-time thing?

Katie cleared her throat. “So, we walk from here? Do you know the way?”

I nodded to both questions, unable to speak as dread began to fill me. I was terrified to unravel this whole mess, terrified about what it might reveal once I did.

My knees buckled at a sudden, indescribable,fucking intenseforce hitting my body as I exited the car.

Katie rushed around to help me stand back up, her eyes almost bugging out of her head in shock. “The fuck, Lilly?”

I took a few slow breaths, and the pain in my chest faded, but I still felt a slight tug pulling me into the woods. “I, uh, I don’t know, but I feelsomething.”

Katie’s face was laced with worry, but I smiled and assured her I was okay as we walked into the woods. I knew where I was going, but even if I didn’t, my body did, like I was being drawn to the building on instinct.

Once the concrete shed came into view, I relaxed, and a wave of peace flushed over my body. It was almost like coming home. I tried to shake the feeling; it felt too weird across my skin for my liking.

“This is it,” I whispered to Katie as we approached the back of the building.

Katie’s eyes widened, probably because she wasn’t expecting to find anything, yet here it was. “Holy shit,” she whispered back.

Holy shit was right.

We rounded the side, and I noticed the door was open as we reached the front. Was I really the one who opened that door?

My eyes shot up to Katie’s as laughter bellowed from inside.

“Yourprinces,perhaps?” Katie whispered as she wiggled her eyebrows.

“Shut up,” I smirked and stepped inside.

To my disappointment, it was notmy princes. It was Austin Marlo, the town’s ‘party god’, and his three henchmen buddies. One of his friends sat on the end of the altar right where…

“Lilly fucking Stallard. Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” Austin licked his lips as he approached us. “Katie.” He gave her a curt nod before his attention returned to me.

“Wh––what’re you doing here, Austin?” I sounded like I had just found someone going through my bedroom; seeing them where Imight havegiven my body to total strangers made me feel violated.

“I could ask you the same thing, Lilly. I’m surprised you're even alive after the other night.” He winked.

“What do you mean?” Had he seen me after I left the party? Did he know what happened?

“I have never, ever seen you so wasted. I tried to get you to stay, but you insisted you needed a walk.” He chuckled. “You couldn’t even stand without wobbling, but that didn’t stop you from marching into the woods.” He moved two of his fingers in the air while he spoke.

I let out a breath of relief. So Austin didn’t know about that night, and his story confirmed that I had left the party. I wasn’t drugged and passed out there. That should’ve made me feel better, but I needed more proof—hard evidence.

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