Page 8 of Twisted Fate

I press my lips into a tight line and keep my eyes forward. “I don’t blame you for his behavior,” I say in a low voice. “I blame you for the fact that I’m still here.”

He nods. “I see.”

I lean against the wall and cross my arms. “You can’t keep me here.” My voice is quieter than I want. It lacks assurance, and I hate that.

“Have I said anything to lead you to believe I’m keeping you here?” he asks.

“Actions speak louder,” I retort. “I was chained to a fucking chair.”

He shifts his gaze over to me, but I refuse to meet it. “I had no plans to keep you here once I adjusted your memory. I don’t particularly enjoy keeping the company of someone who does not wish to keep mine.”

“Right, so then where does that leave us?”

He scratches along his jaw. “I can’t let you go yet. Not knowing what you do.”

I scowl. “How the hell is that my fault? I didn’t ask for this!”

“I understand that,” he says, his voice strained.

I shake my head, “Listen, I won’t tell anyone about what happened. About you, okay? You don’t have to be concerned about me.”

Tristan’s chest rises as he takes a deep breath. “This isn’t an ideal situation for either side. I put my people above all else.”

“That’s cool. Really. But I can’t stay here. You’ve got to find some way to convince your ‘people’ that I’m not a threat.”

His expression remains impassive. “Aren’t you?”

“Tristan,youkidnappedme. I don’t exactly have the upper hand here.”

His brows tug closer. “Let me offer you a deal.”

My eyes widen. “A deal?”

“There’s a female fae on your campus. I need her located.”

“Why?” I ask without thinking, as if I’ve accepted the existence of fae.

“That’s not your concern. You locate the girl and contact me to collect her.”

“Why would I do that?”

“To show me I can trust you. It’s simple enough.” Simple. How can he use a word like that in this situation? Nothing about this is simple. He’s acting as if I’ll go home, and this will no longer affect me, but no matter what happens when I leave, this—meeting him—will impact my future. I have a million questions I’m too scared to ask. There are so many possibilities I’m not allowing myself to entertain. All because ofhim.

A flash of anger lights up my entire body. “And if I refuse?”

“Don’t refuse,” he advises.

I swallow. “How would I know who you’re looking for?”

He seems pleased—almost relieved—that I’m both considering the offer and asking the right questions. “I can provide you with a charm that will allow you to identify her as one of my kind.” He’s put some thought into this.

“Magic,” I mutter under my breath.

“Just so,” he says as the elevator signals we’ve reached the top floor. The door slides open, revealing the large entryway of a penthouse suite.

Tristan sweeps his arm out and gestures for me to walk ahead. I don’t trust him, and it’s obvious from my expression. With a quick smirk, he exits first. At least I know I’m not walking into a trap. We stop at a door, which Tristan unlocks and opens before stepping inside.

I follow him, taking in my surroundings as I walk further into the suite. The sunrise beams through expansive windows that overlook the city, and the autumn sky illuminates the living room. Plush, black furnishings frame a glass coffee table, and a flat screen is attached to the wall above a lavish fireplace. The suite smells fresh and a bit like lemons, as if it’s just been cleaned. It also smells likehim. A crisp, alluring scent I haven’t quite figured out, and one I’m fighting not to like.

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