Page 59 of Blood Caged

Mia shrugs, her smile turning wistful. “Magic was always a part of my life, but it wasn’t everything. I love bringing joy topeople on their special days.” She pauses, then continues softly, “There was this one wedding…it was supposed to be outdoors, but a freak storm hit. The bride was in tears, thinking her day was ruined.”

I listen, fascinated by the way Mia’s eyes light up as she tells the story.

“So, I did something I’d never done before. I cast a weather manipulation spell – a big one. It took everything I had, but I managed to create a bubble of clear skies right over the venue. The storm raged all around, but inside our little haven, it was perfect.”

As Mia speaks, I feel a growing sense of admiration. Her power, her compassion, her willingness to push herself to help others – it’s all so…human. And yet, so much more. There’s nothing evil about this woman. I don’t care what Lucien or Maxwell have told me.

She doesn’t belong here.

The warmth in my chest expands, and I’m struck by a sudden, overwhelming urge to reach out and touch her hand.

I clench my fist instead, forcing the feeling down. No matter how much my feelings may have been changing, the fact remains that I’m powerless to defy Maxwell’s command.

I lean against the wall, observing Mia as she flips through the pages of “Sense and Sensibility.” There’s something different about her today, a subtle shift in her demeanor that I can’t quite place. It’s been nagging at me for a while now, but I’ve been dismissing it as my imagination.

Her eyes dart up to meet mine, and for a brief moment, I catch a glimpse of…something. An emotion she’s trying to conceal. It’s there in the slight tightening around her eyes, the almost imperceptible tension in her shoulders.

“Find anything interesting?” I ask, keeping my tone casual.

Mia shrugs, her fingers tracing the edges of the book. “It’s all interesting. I’d forgotten how much I love Austen’s wit.”

I nod, watching her closely. There it is again – that fleeting expression, gone before I can decipher it. Is it fear? Anger? Or something else entirely?

“You seem…different today,” I say, unable to stop myself.

She stiffens slightly, then forces a smile. “Different, how?”

I search for the right words, not wanting to alarm her. “I’m not sure. Just…different.”

Mia laughs, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Well, captivity does strange things to a person, I suppose.”

I wince internally at her words, guilt gnawing at me. But there’s more to it than that, I’m sure of it. Something has changed, but I can’t put my finger on what.

I realize with a start that I’ve been in Mia’s cell far longer than intended. The easy flow of our conversation has lulled me into a false sense of comfort, and I’m playing with fire.

“I should go,” I say abruptly, pushing myself off the wall. “I’ve taken up too much of your time already.”

Mia’s expression shifts. “Oh,” she says, her voice soft. “I suppose you have other duties to attend to.”

I nod. The air between us feels charged with a tension I can’t quite define.

“Thank you for the book,” Mia adds, her fingers tracing the spine gently. “It was…kind of you.”

“You’re welcome,” I reply, my voice sounding strangely rough to my own ears. I clear my throat. “I hope you enjoy it.”

I move toward the door, each step feeling heavier than the last. As I reach for the handle, I glance back at Mia. She’s still watching me, her green eyes inscrutable.

“Goodnight, Mia,” I say, my hand resting on the door.

“Goodnight, Soren,” she responds softly.

I hesitate for a moment, feeling as though I should say something more. But what? What could I possibly say to make this situation any less complicated?

Instead, I nod once more and step out of the cell, closing the door behind me. As I walk down the corridor, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m leaving something important unfinished.

21

Chapter 21

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