Page 25 of The Shattered Kingdom
I liked how Lilly held Jackie’s head under the water. Lilly’s a dirty fucking liar, but I don’t think she’s going to hurt Abby. She seemed genuine in her anger.
I’ll give her and Abby a few minutes of privacy.
I have business to attend to. My gaze flickers around my bedroom, from my freshly made bedsheets to the wardrobe pushed up against the left wall. I pace the length of my room, my feet pounding against the ground. I could hide the underwear in my desk, but that’s the first place Kie would look.
I drag my thumb over the lace, searching for an adequate hiding spot.
Has Abby worn these for another man? I’ll kill him.
I groan. “Fuck!”What am I doing?
Something clatters, and I freeze as I snap my head toward my ensuite bathroom. Somebody’s in there, and I’m willing to bet the culprit has buggy brown eyes, clenched fists, and an infuriating knack of getting on my every damn nerve.
Chapter Ten
ABBY
I’VE FUCKED UP. I’ve fucked up big time.
Does Mason know I’m here? He has to know I’m here. He can probably smell me, or maybe he can hear my panicked, uneven breathing.
I press my back against the bathroom door, my heart pounding as I listen to him through the wall. He’s been watching me like a hawk these past few days, and I never imagined he’d return to his home after meeting with Kie. He’s going as far as to sleep on the couch outside Lill’s and my bedroom, for fuck’s sake.
The guards who linger around the royal housing area weren’t paying attention to me, and Mason and Kie’s house was just a few doors down.
How could I not snoop?
If I’m going to be stuck in the faerie realm for the indefinite future, I might as well use it to my advantage. I planned to search through Mason’s things and find leverage to use against him. It was a foolproof idea.
My pulse skyrockets as Mason’s footfalls near the door I’m hiding behind, and I hold my breath until he retreats. He’s pacing, probably upset about something. He’s going to murder me. He’sgoing to rip out my spine and leave me to bleed out on his bathroom floor.
What are the odds he comes in here? Too high to leave to chance.
The only way out is through Mason’s bedroom, and the window above the walk-in shower is too narrow to fit through. It’s also high on the wall, and I’m not sure I can do the pull-up required to escape.
There’s a cabinet underneath the sink. It’ll be tight, but I think I can fit inside. It’s my only option.
I’m careful to keep quiet as I open the cabinet door and peek inside. There’s a ton of stuff in here, and I grimace as I slide Mason’s products aside. How many grooming items can one person possibly need?
“Fuck!”
Mason’s sudden shout has me flinching, and my heart stops as one of the bottles tips over. I dart forward to catch it, but I’m not fast enough. Mason’s pacing comes to an abrupt halt the second the bottle clatters against the bottom of the cabinet, and I hang my head. He heard.
The bathroom door slams against the wall with a loud bang, but I’m expecting it.
I remain where I am, not having the courage to face Mason.
Instead, I shut the cabinet door and press my forehead against it, waiting for death. I can only hope it comes quickly. When several seconds pass and my head is still connected to the rest of my body, I accept defeat and face Mason.
He’s not pleased. He’s glaring daggers at me, his gloved hands clenching and unclenching as I rise to my feet. I imagine he doesn’t enjoy people sneaking into his room and going through his things, but it’s not my fault I wasn’t stopped. You’d think that as the crowned prince and soon-to-be king, his home would bebetter protected.
Mason blinks. “Why?”
He steps farther into the room, and I curl my fingers around the sink as I try to think of an excuse. Anything will do, but nothing comes to mind.
“I wanted to go through your things,” I admit. I’ve never been a good liar, and I don’t see the point in trying. “I don’t trust you, and I wanted to see what I could learn.”
“Oh?” Mason quirks a brow. “And what have you learned?”
