Page 50 of Where We Began

She spoke the words.

Claimed she was mine.

Now it's the truth.

I need her.

- Chapter 21 -

Laiken

“Adry run?” I ask,strolling through the halls with Mellie.

“It's just to get a feel for the atmosphere.” She drags her feet as she walks, and it makes her hair constantly frizz with static. I remind myself to be careful if she tries to touch me, she's already shocked me once. “It'll only be you and me.”

I nod slowly, but now she's got me wondering. “Do you have a list of who's coming to this event?”

She watches me with one eye. “Master Silas told me to keep that from you.”

“What, why?”

“I don't know. I'm sure he has a reason, and I'm not getting in the way of it.”

The reason becomes obvious.He doesn't trust me, he must think there's a way I could use that information. Use it for what, to escape? Does he still think I'd try?Running away has been pushed to the back of my mind. I want to save myself, but I've been assuming Silas wasn't lying about having my family in his clutches.

Fleeing would harm them.

“Then tell me this,” I say, rounding on her outside the ballroom doors. “Are there at least some important people coming? Big names, very rich, you know the type.”

She chews at the corner of her mouth. I press on, sensing her sympathy. “Mellie, this party going well is possibly life or death for me. A huge part of that is making sure that some of the guests will be notoriously well known. Please, just blink twice for yes.”

“Stop,” she sighs. “No one is listening in on us.” She gestures around the empty hallway. “I'll say this, but you didn't hear it from me. Got it?” I nod enthusiastically. “Yes, there are some massively wealthy people who have RSVP'd to this event.”

I fan my fingers over my heart. “Thank goodness.”

“Now quit playing around and focus. Those ‘big names’ as you called them are used to grand parties. We need everything to be perfect.”

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