Page 58 of Unhinged

“I hate this,” Kali whispers, her voice barely audible.

“I know,” Luna responds, her hand still on my arm, radiating a foreign warmth in this cold place.

“The unknown,” I murmur, breaking the silence. “That’s what’s driving us insane. Not knowing what’s happening. What’s going to happen.”

Luna nods, her lips drawn into a thin line. “We need to be prepared for whatever comes next.”

I force a smile. “Easier said than done.”

Taren reappears, his face inscrutable, flanked by Matias and Thiago. They all look like shadows, their faces hard and unreadable in the dim light. “I’m training you again, but not for long,” Taren announces, his voice bouncing off the walls.

A mix of relief and unease pulse through me.

“In three days, you’ll be put up for auction in front of the rich and powerful of Mexico,” he announces, eyes fixated on me.

He’s trying to tell me something. Is this all part of his plan? I hope it is.

“Which means you need to be on your best behavior,” Thiago adds, his gaze on Luna.

Luna, surprisingly, bows her head in response.

Matias’ is focused on Kali, who meets his gaze. She’s been so subservient since we got here. “Good, anyone who will buy me will be better than you,” she says, all her focus on him.

Matias growls and stalks forward, reacting instantly to Kali’s words. His face twists into a snarl, his eyes flaring with a wild, dangerous heat. He looks at Kali not as a predator eyeing its prey but as a man possessed. “No one else touches you,” he growls, his voice a low rumble.

And then he grabs her throat, casting a shadow over her. The message is clear, but it’s not possible. He’s staking his claim and marking his territory, which is Kali.

“Back off, brother. Unless you’ve got millions of dollars to buy her, someone else will be touching her.”

Matias growls and releases her, spinning on his brother.

Taren steps toward him. “Control yourself,” he demands, glaring at Matias, whose face is still bruised after the beating Taren put him through for touching me.

Matias snarls but backs down. He goes to stand by his brother but doesn’t take his gaze off Kali.

“Now resume balancing on one foot,” Taren instructs.

His jaw is hard set, and tension coils through his body. He’s not at ease as he usually is, and it shows. It puts me on edge, but I do as I’m told and balance. My eyes fixated on him as he avoids meeting my gaze. All I want to know is what’s going on. How is he going to get us out of this auction?

Luna slips again, and Taren growls. “How are we supposed to sell you if you can’t even follow simple instructions.” His jaw works, and a vein protrudes on his forehead. I wonder if he’ll strike her, but he controls himself.

“Again,” he barks.

Luna glares at him as she moves back into position. It kills holding it like this, my thighs aching.

The following silence is thick and heavy, filled with unspoken words and inexpressible frustrations.

Taren’s gaze is still averted, his cold exterior an impenetrable wall. I

feel my heart sink into the pit of my stomach.

He has a plan. He must have. But his silence and frigid dismissal leave me feeling more uncertain and alone than ever. I watch as his gaze flickers briefly toward me before skirting away. That small action, so out of character, sends a shiver down my spine.

Is he giving up?

Does he even care anymore?

I can’t shake off the sinking feeling. The uncertainty of our future looms over us like a dark cloud, casting a chilling shadow on what was left of our hope.

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