Page 92 of Undone
Remy
When I was brought back to the palace and the Senator’s office, he remained standing and didn’t close the door all the way. I listened to the guard’s footsteps going back to the corner at the end of the hall.
I motioned to the door. “Should I . . .”
“No.” He sounded tired. Defeated even. This was not good.
“Navis,” I whispered.
He looked at me for one pained moment, and turned his head away. “This was a mistake.”
“No.” If he pushed me away, my entire plan to get a weapon and the gate code was ruined.
“I cannot allow it.” His voice was low, somber.
“So, I’m going back to Primo Town?”
He shook his head. “You will stay here. I want you near.”
No! Linette’s words kept coming back to me, telling me I had to get out of here. If he wanted me near, I had to try a different tactic. I took one careful step closer.
“Navis, I think being here, in this place, is stressing you out.” I was reaching, I knew, but I had to try. I inched forward. “Let’s go somewhere. Me and you. Drive away for just a couple hours. Nothing is happening here, right? You’re not working. We’ll be safe together. We need this. You work so hard. I promise to keep my hands to myself if that’s what you want.”
“Remy.” He sighed. At least he wasn’t calling me Ms. Haines. “I have obligations and responsibilities that are too important to endanger. And you are far too tempting. I need you to go.”
I lifted my chin. “Then please, if you care for me at all, send me back to town.”
He eyed me. “You’re not safe there with the human men when guards are fewer in number, and the feel of mating is in the air.”
My nostrils flared. “Your mating season is not affecting human men in that way. I can promise you that.”
He smacked a hand to his desk, making me jump as his eyes became fierce. “Why do you want to go so badly?”
“I . . . the kids, of course.” I stepped even closer now, desperate, and saw his chest inflate as he sucked in air. “But only if you insist on not being with me. I don’t want to be alone in my room.” I lowered my voice. “I’d rather be here, with you. I feel like this is our only chance.” Another step closer. “After tonight, I will never try to touch you again.” I pleaded with my eyes, willing him to look at me once more. The tendons in his neck were taut with the effort to keep his head turned.
“You will return to your room,” he said. “Now.”
Damn it! Every hope within me crumpled at the sound of his finality.
He called for the guard, as if afraid he’d give in. I took an ungraceful step back, losing my voice for a moment. Finally, I rasped one last plea.
“Come to me tonight, Navis. Please. We’ll be careful. Just come.”
When he didn’t respond, except to shut his eyes against my voice, I moved away from him. The male guard clicked to a stop and looked at the Senator.
“Her room,” he said thickly.
No, no, no! I was trembling.
The guard escorted me down the hall, and I took peripheral glances at his weapons. He kept a hand on the gun at his waist, as if expecting me to attack at any second. Panic made my heart thunder.
I went into my room, hearing the door close and theclickof the lock. I stared at the walls. The fancy paintings of Parisian hills. My ornate bed. If Linette’s warning meant what I thought it did, this pretty room would be my grave.
God, was this it? Suddenly the walls seemed to be closing in like a tomb around me, and panic rose. I launched myself at the door, pounding with my fists, not caring what any of the guards thought.
“Senator Navis!Please!” I screamed, yanking the handle, banging and smacking the door until I felt hoarse and my hands throbbed. Nobody was coming. I spread my palms on the door and rested my forehead on it, catching my breath as reality crashed down, smothering, making me gasp for air.
Then I thought of everyone else in the building. The children. Little Milna, who wanted me to play with her hair. The tiny perfectionists with their brilliant minds. Did they deserve death, just because of what they were?
