Page 18 of Undying Thirst

“For someone claiming innocence, you’re not doing a good job convincing them you haven’t done anything.”

My heart slowed and as if it were electrocuted, it bounced to life, pounding faster. I dragged my eyes to his, my eyebrows furrowing close together.

“I keep saying I didn’t do anything—you believe I didn’t do anything?” I gripped the bottom of his sweater, curling my fingers into the soft cotton.

“No, Love,” he murmured. “Your character does not indicate deception. And if you did, you must have had a reason.” Sometimes . . . the way he spoke about human behavior and feelings seemed stilted, like he was reciting from something he’d heard.

A knot ballooned in my throat, making it difficult to swallow.

“Then let me go,” I choked out.

His cold, gray eyes didn’t move from mine.

“That’s not how our Coven works.”

Sounded like a no without him saying no. The smidge of hope that blossomed, fizzled away. I loosened my fingers on his shirt and dropped my hands in my lap.

“Just say, no.” I gritted my teeth.

“I will bring it up again, but our decision must be unanimous and Jaxon and Ren will not be swayed.” He crouched andlowered his head since even bent and with me sitting, he was still taller.

He couldn’t help.

His fingers gripped mine and I yanked them free. He let me do it, I had no doubt that if he’d fought it, my fingers would have snapped.

Tobias sighed and rose.

“I need to go,” I said, hastily tipping my nose toward the bathroom across the room.

I hobbled toward the bathroom, half dragging the leg cast behind me. A small part of me expected him to stop my progress, but he didn’t. I shut the door and enclosed myself in the dark. I scrambled to flip the light switch. My pulse calmed with the glare of the light. I slumped against the door.

God, my hair was a mess.

Limping to the sink, I washed my face with one hand, scrubbing at the mascara that flaked beneath my eyes. I hadn’t been able to do my skin care routine, and it was messing with my head. The vampires were messing with my self care. Combing my fingers through my wild hair, I managed to untangle the mess until my hair fell around my shoulders and to the middle of my back in a mass of waves. Water dripped and trickled off my fingertips.

Smudges of exhaustion marred beneath my eyes. I hated how tired and beat down I looked.

I scowled at my reflection. Stop, I narrowed my eyes at myself and rubbed my face one last time, then turned to exit.

Tobias replaced my spot on the bed with his ankle over his knee. He roved his gaze over my face and focused on my hair.

“Would you like to stretch your legs?”

Immediate denial came to my tongue but I bit it back.

I flicked my eyes to the bed and then the door. Getting an idea of the exits wasn’t a bad idea. If I had the opportunity toescape, I would. After all, I could wait until sunrise to make my attempts.

I’d behave so they didn’t lock me up tonight. Then I’d find a way out of here.

I hesitantly nodded.

Tobias moved carefully and with grace. He reminded me of the lull of a calm ocean. And as deceptive as one, too. Underlying lack of control battered along the surface. I could feel it.

He held the door open for me.

A key remained in the doorknob on the outside, and there were no bolts anywhere else. They only kept me in with a locked door. Perfect.

He waved a hand down the hall, the opposite from a wide window at the end. Stars glittered in the sky. That was the only opened window on this floor.

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