Page 22 of Alpha Queen
He pointed to the left. "The stairs are over there. Feel free to head down. I'll join you in a moment."
She narrowed her eyes. "You aren't going to guard me? You trust me not to run?"
He shrugged. "You could try, but you can't leave our property unless you go out the front gate, and you can't get out without permission and a code. Or if you scale a ten-foot-high wall topped with razor wire. Not that there's anywhere for you to go. Feel free to test the theory if you're so inclined."
"If I can't get out, why keep me locked in the basement?"
"For safety."
"Afraid I'm going to try and fight my way out?"
"Well, I've seen you with a knife. You are pretty impressive, but no. It's not because I'm afraid you might fight, it's because I'm afraid of how many males I will have to kill to keep you from them."
"You afraid someone will bite me without permission?" she challenged.
His eyes turned black, but then they went back to normal. He gritted his teeth. "Something like that. You don't even have a potato peeler this time."
"You could give me one."
He nodded. "I think not, Princess."
She shrugged and turned from him, heading for the stairs. "Then whatever happens to me will be your fault."
He didn't say anything as she headed to the balcony's edge and marched down the stairs. She half expected him to follow her, but he didn't, surprisingly. Guess he really didn't think she'd be able to escape.
She hit the grass below and sighed in relief. The past week, cooped up, floated away as her bare feet sank into the grass, and she sucked in a breath. Her wolf lifted her head and sniffed the air. Being outside stirred her wolf, who stood for the first time since arriving.
Run.
River scanned the area. I don't think I can right now.
Run. Escape. Apollo. Ares.
Yes. Apollo and Ares. I want to be with them, too, but we have to be smart. We'll look around. See if there are any ways out, but not now. Not our first time out. We have to let him think we aren't going to bolt. Otherwise, he will put us back in that room, and we'll never be free.
River's wolf grumbled.
River didn't like it either, but it was the truth. River needed Titan to at least think she wouldn't try anything. River sat on the ground and let the cool grass and soil soak into her limbs through her clothes.
She doubted Titan would believe she'd stay with him after everything he'd done, but if he hadn't believed it, he never would have brought her there, would he? So some part of him had to think, or at least hope, she would stay. And that belief, that hope, she could work with. She could use that. Not that she'd ever been good at trying to be coy or lying to people. It was the curse of being Cherry's daughter. Her mom had always told her to speak her mind, and damn the consequences of what other people thought. But Cherry's advice wouldn't help her in this situation. In this situation, she needed to channel her father and Strider. She needed to be observant and collected. Then, and only then, would she be able to find her way out of the mess she'd gotten into.
"Enjoying yourself?"
River's head whipped up, and her wolf roared.
Vanessa strolled across the grass toward her wearing jeans so tight they looked like body paint and a shirt so short it was no better than a sports bra. River dug her fingers into the dirt to keep from jumping up and attacking the bitch.
Vanessa stopped feet from her. Their gazes locked, and Vanessa smirked.
"I don't know what it is about you that has all these Wolvenguard boys in such a tizzy.”
River threw on a fake smile. "Maybe it's the fact that I don't put out for anyone with a dick."
Vanessa's smile faltered for a second, and fire made her eyes narrow.
River snickered. As if Vanessa could do anything that would intimidate River.
"Let me ask you," said River. "How did you see this going? You help Titan kidnap me, and then what? You rush to Ares and Apollo and pretend to be so sorry I am missing, and they'll take you back, and somehow fall for you, though they didn't before they found me?"
