Page 89 of Sinful

Refusing to give up just yet, I searched high and low, checking every inch of the enormous house. Sebastian was nowhere to be seen. When I finally went and peered out the front window, I saw no trace of a car anywhere.

“No, no, no,” I said in a broken murmur, shoulders sagging as I caught my own reflection in the window. “What have you done?”

A sob bubbled up past my lips, and I sank to my knees, eyes closing as I clasped my hands in front of me.

“Eternal Master, please hear my fervent prayer,” I said with a tremor in my voice. “I have committed the most wicked sin. Only you can stop what I have put into motion, and I beseech you to do just that. Bring Sebastian Thorne back. Don’t allow him to suffer for my terrible mistake. In return, I will do anything he asks of me and take any punishment that awaits me. No question, no complaint, no hesitation. I will accept that while you are my Eternal Master, he is my earthly Master.” I paused, throat clogging with emotion. “Please… just bring him back to me; I beg of you. Please, please, please. Save him.”

I opened my eyes, sniffing as tears clouded my vision. The house around me remained silent.

I stood on shaky legs and peered out the window again. I could flee right now. Run down to the road and make my way back home.

No.

I gritted my teeth and shrank backward. I’d made a promise to my god. That meant I had to remain here until I knew Sebastian was safe.

I took one last, longing look at the trees outside. Then I turned, left the house, and made my way back down to the underground shelter. I trudged into the cage, climbed onto the bed, and curled into a ball.

Come what may… this was where I belonged now.

23

Sebastian

I awoketo the harsh glare of fluorescent light overhead and the sterile smell of antiseptic filling my nostrils. A dull, throbbing pain radiated from my chest and left shoulder.

Blinking against the light, I turned my head slowly, grimacing at the effort. My father was sitting in a chair near the bed, his face etched with concern.

When he noticed I was awake, he leaned forward. “You’re finally back in the land of the living,” he said, lips cracking into a tiny smile. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I got hit by a truck,” I muttered. As I spoke, I felt for a button on the side of the bed, pressing it to incline my body into a sitting position.

“Careful.” My father leaned closer to adjust the pillows behind me. “You can’t move too fast right now.”

“I’m okay.”

“No, you’re not.” He tipped his head. “Do you remember what happened to you?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” I said, mentally shuddering at the recollection of the spike piercing me. I gestured around thehospital room. “I don’t remember coming here, though. Where am I?”

“Pinecrest Falls Hospital. The cultists brought you in. They said you fell in an animal trap.” His lips tightened. “The police will want to speak with you about it.”

“The police? Why?” I asked, brows knitting.

“I called them.” Dad’s nostrils flared, eyes filling with steel. “Animal trap, my ass. Those Covenant bastards obviously attacked you.”

I sighed and rubbed my eyes. “You’ll have to call the cops back and tell them you made a mistake.”

“Why?”

I sat up straighter, grimacing from the effort. “The Covenant people aren’t lying. It was an accident.”

“Bullshit. You aren’t thinking straight. It’s the painkillers, and the—”

I lifted my hand, cutting him off. “Dad, for fuck’s sake, my memory is fine,” I said. “I went into their hunting grounds and fell in a pit trap. The area was very clearly marked out, but I went in anyway. I thought I’d be fine.”

“Well, you’re not fine,” he said, eyes narrowing. “You’re lucky to be alive.”

“I know.” I winced as I tried to sit up even straighter. “I realized that when I was dragging myself off the fucking stick that was impaling me.”

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