Page 9 of Silverproof Damsel

Gazing across the table, I found Rhys’ focus on my abdomen. He looked intently, hoping to discover her secrets.

“You’re certain the child’s healthy, Raven?” Rhys asked in a thick, strained tone. As I watched, Talia patted his arm with pride burning in her fiery green depths.

“Verity would’ve enjoyed a grandbaby to dote upon,” Talia offered comfortingly, causing the black veins in Rhys’ face to spread.

“She’ll never know her grandchild. It was stolen from her,” he hissed through clenched teeth.

I exhaled slowly and crossed my arms over my chest, knowing everyone here, except Raven, was pretty much against me. Rhys’accusation was thick with bitterness as he aimed his deadened glare toward me. He wasn’t harsh on the others within the room, though. He saved his animosity for me and me alone. As if I were a pox on his existence—one he couldn’t wipe out quickly enough. A hex that he sought to remove by force. Rhys wanted me to go. The message was written in everything he’d done.

He wanted me at arm’s length but didn’t want me to leave. I wasn’t sure why he’d wanted me here, though. Didn’t he want me to go? He’d said he had, but he’d also been upset I’d attempted to leave this town in my rearview mirror. The prick was leaving me more confused than I’d been before I’d woken here with him.

“Am I a prisoner here, Talia?” I whispered through the narrowing of my throat.

“You’re free to leave at any time you desire—” Talia hurried out the words as her eyes narrowed on the sweat beading on my brow. “Are you well, child?”

“Fine. Everything is just freaking peachy and popping up daisies. However, I think I’ll take my chances at my house. It seems the safest bet,” I announced, pushing away from the table, rising to my feet. Luckily, the Alice in Wonderland chair allowed me to escape its glue-like seat.

“I don’t think you should be running toward danger, child,” Talia stammered with worry shining in her gaze.

“Remington, it’s not safe for you out there,” Raven added hesitantly. The worry clouded the violet of her eyes, darkening them to amethysts.

Rhys grunted, but the growing tension in the room was pressing in on me. I needed to get out of here before I did or said something I ended up regretting. I felt the walls closing in around me, forcing the need to escape to crawl over my flesh.

“Thank you for showing up last night, Van Helsing. Talia, thank you for allowing me to rest in your beautiful home . . . andfor the hospitality . . . But I need to go. Unless you intend to detain me, I’m gone.”

“We just told you that you’re being hunted by zealots, dear,” Talia stuttered, shock pinched her features tightly. “Do you not think it wiser to remain where we can easily defend you?”

“No offense meant, but honestly? It sounds like a normal Saturday night at my house lately. Same ole, same ole,” I returned with a pinched smile spreading over my face. “I’m a Silversmith. You’ve all been forcing us to live under a constant threat of extermination for centuries. Being hunted is nothing new to me, I’m afraid. Thank you for the warning, though. I assure you: I know how to manage by myself in these situations.” And I did.

Upon departing the room, I swiftly rounded a corner. The speed soon metamorphosed into a mad dash through the rest of the house until I reached the door. I ran as if the hounds of hell were giving chase. Fear forced my legs to move with the need to place distance between myself and those behind me.

Chapter Four

Themomentfreshairwashed against my flesh, I sucked it in greedily. Rushing down the porch steps, I rushed toward the wrought-iron gates as wind whipped my hair against my cheeks. The weeping willow trees’ billowing limbs created a haunting tune as Nyota’s shocked features came into view.

Nyota, who’d been leaning against the hood of her car, straightened. Shock distorted her delicate features as she watched me rushing blindly toward the closed gates. Her mouth formed anOas dainty, dark brows pushed up on her forehead.

I didn’t waste time opening the gates. I’d have gladly climbed them if necessary to flee the House of Witches. The moment I reached the fence, both sides flung wide open as the soft sound of Talia’s amusement flowed on the breeze as I bolted from her property.

“We’re leaving, Nyota!” I ordered, breathless from the dash through the mansion. “Now!”

The horror stamped on Nyota’s face almost brought a hysterical bout of laughter to my lips. If I hadn’t been in a dead panic, I’d have stopped and captured a picture of the way herentire face contorted from shock to horror as Rhys’ thunderous bellow followed behind my dread fueled mad dash to the tiny but fast as fuck Aston MartinDB12she’d driven here.

She remained frozen as her dark head moved between me and her belligerent brother. Wide, horrified eyes grew larger, if even possible, as Nyota realized I was serious. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, drowning out all the other sounds as I moved as quickly as my legs could carry me.

“Nyota, now!” I shouted, then realized why she wasn’t moving. Rhys had issued a direct order, which meant she wasn’t coming. It should’ve stung to know she chose her family over me. It didn’t. I was never anyone’s first choice, not even when it came to friends.

With the passenger door of her car unlatched, I saw the keys dangling from the ignition. When she stepped out of the path of the vehicle, I dove over the center console. Turning the engine over, I smashed my foot on the gas, flooring it.

The rumble of the engine tore through the silent neighborhood as the vehicle shot forward. As I accelerated down the street, Nyota’s cry of anger was drowned out over the hum of the sleek machine. Turning onto the next road, I felt the raw horsepower beneath the hood of the sleek vehicle as it zipped past houses and four-way stops, none of which I stopped for.

I didn’t need to look in the rearview mirror to know Rhys was already giving chase. He’d made his intentions rather clear before the witches had entered the chamber earlier. The bastard wanted to hold me prisoner. I had no intention of allowing it to happen.

A horn blasted as I tore through an intersection. I swerved, narrowly missing a car, only to slam on the brakes as Rhys materialized in front of me.

The harsh lines of his face sent fear crashing through me as he stared through the windshield. A cold sweat spread overmy overheated flesh as my heart thundered violently against my ribcage. Peering through the back window, I glanced in the direction I’d come from, finding Cole standing inches from the back bumper.

Rhys’ stare darkened as he placed both palms on the vehicle’s hood, leaning forward. The side of his mouth curved upward in a devilish smile, like a cat who’d cornered a mouse. With a smug grin, he waited for me to react.

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