Page 87 of Forever Touched

This was it. My life or death moment. The moment I’d hidden from for the past six years.

But I was done hiding. I was finally ready to face it. Finally ready to put my foot down. FinallydemandingI be treated as more than a slave. I might still be bound by a pactum to serve out my indenture, but I wasdoneallowing vampires to abuse me.

From now on, I would fight back. I would no longer take it lying down.

The desperation that had driven me to accept this mistreatment was nowhere to be found. In its place was a strange sense of peace. Aknowingthat I’d done the right thing.

Mistress must have seen the change in me, because the anger in her eyes suddenly vanished. Sighing dejectedly, she said, “You’ve been through a lot this past week, Adalyn. I should have seen that you were reaching your breaking point. Mortals reallyarefragile things. I’m sure you’ll feel better after a little rest, then we can discuss your return to Dreamscape.”

As she turned to leave, I replied, “I won’t change my mind.” Shefroze in her tracks. “I won’t break the promises I made to you six years ago, but I can’t work off my debt this way anymore. You gave me a choice to become an exotic dancer and blood whore, and I’m choosing now to reject them.”

“Reject.” She spoke the word as if she’d never heard it before. “Youchooseto rejectthem. Are you also choosing torejectour mission?”

When I didn’t respond, she swept from the room without a word.

The door shut, sealing me inside with my chosen fate.

27

ADALYN

The ride home with Mistress was spent in tense silence.

Well, mostly.

When we left at midnight, hours earlier than usual, Everett’s voice had immediately filled my head.

Everything okay? Does she think you’re sick?

I’d debated what to tell him, then finally decided on honesty.No. I quit the club.

Quit? For good?He didn’t bother to mask the relief, theexcitementin his voice.

Yep. I’m never going back.

And you’re okay with that?

I am.

I was more than okay. Until now, I hadn’t realized the toll working at Dreamscape had taken on me. How I’d ever adopted an “end justifies the means” attitude was beyond me now. Freedom wasn’t worth giving up who I was. I’d find another way out of this pactum, one that didn’t involve losing my identity.

Are you safe?Everett asked next, his concern clear.

For now. But, Everett? You should keep your distance until the ball. She suspects it was you who stopped me from falling tonight.

I don’t care. She needs to know that I expect you to be alive and at that Masquerade Ball tomorrow night.

Yes, but desperation makes us do stupid things. She needs space.Ineed space. Please, Everett. Go home. It’ll be safer for both of us.

I waited for him to argue. Instead, he said,If that’s what you wish.

It is, I replied, worried that I’d upset him.

Then I’ll wait. I’ll wait for you to come to me.

I bit my lip to hide a smile.

I spent the rest of the silent ride to Faircroft Manor on cloud nine. I wasn’t free by any means, but Ifeltfree. The darkness I’d lived in for so long was receding, and hope was blooming in my chest.Realhope. I just needed to get through the next day. One more day.

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