Page 178 of The Harbinger

“We’ll discuss this later. I’m in an important meeting.”

“Sacha,” I said, my voice dropping low as my jaw clenched. “You promised to take care of this.Thisisnottaking care of it.”

“I will,milaya,”Sacha said softly. “Don’t you trust me?”

My sigil tingled as if reminding me of his vow. My blood settled, and my jaw relaxed as I nodded and exhaled through my nose. “Yes, I trust you.”

“Good. Now go back to your room and behave. Unless you want to become reacquainted withmyroom.”

“If that means you’ll come home…”

“Mia,” he growled, and it had my body flushing.

“Okay. Okay.”

“Go to your room andstaythere.”

The line went dead, and I turned on my heel, shoved the phone onto Vlad’s chest, and stormed up the stairs, my stomach growling.

Chapter 45

Mia

Mymindwasarace car, careening around a circular track as I went stir-crazy. My heartbeat slowed, each thud a countdown to the end.

I growled, flipping off the sheets, and threw my legs over the edge of the bed. My feet searched for the cold, smooth floor, anchoring me in the present.

He still wasn’t home yet.

Was he hurt? Car accident? Couldn’t stand to face me? What if he’d given into his father’s whims and cast me aside just like that?

He wouldn’t do that.

I glanced at the closed door, which had remained that way all day, my hands itching to disobey. But I’d occupied myself with a bath, then stared for what felt like hours in the mirror at my ‘mark’.

Anyone could’ve put a design to them. Anyone could have seen the design in them, but to me, they were just a jumbled mess. If I tried hard enough, I could see the design he spoke of, but then it’d blur together and become nothing again.

The clock above the mantle ticked on…midnight.

He should have been home by now, his legs intertwined with mine, our hearts beating as one, his hands trailing shivers down my spine.

I stood, adjusting my silky emerald nightgown as I shuffled towards the door, then peeked through the crack, my fist tight around the handle.

The walls were shrouded in shadows, concealing whatever horrors lurked in the corners. I took a deep breath and went down to the kitchen. The light randomly flicked on, casting a harsh glow across the room.

My heart thundered, and for a preposterous moment, I considered rushing back upstairs.

Who’d be up right now?What if it’s Sacha?

My feet moved me closer until the band of light crossed my toes, and I was able to catch a glimpse inside.

“You may come in. I won’t bite,” she said, her voice a low hum.

Catherine bustled around, still in her working attire, her fingertips cracked and calloused with green and brown residue, no doubt from the garden.

I pulled back, hiding as if she didn’t see me, then rolled around the corner with a nervous smile. “I wasn’t trying to pry. I just wanted something to help me sleep.”

“I’ll make you some tea.”

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