Page 17 of Hell Storm

The one our team owned had been pieced together with old parts from junkyards mostly. A can of black spray paint hid the fact that it was a combination of about five separate motorcycles. Our only concern had been that it was reliable, never its style.

But thesein Julian’s possession took my breath away.

Walking down an aisleway between two straight lines with five at either side, I let my fingers slide over their handlebars and finely-crafted bodies. To me, they were art on wheels.

I stopped at a black one that resembled the fantasy of how I used to pretendminelooked. It was impossible not to imagine the thunderous sound the engine would make when it was cranked up and ready to go.

“Have a seat on it!” Elle suggested chipperly.

My gaze shifted to her and then back to the bike. “You sure it would be okay? I mean, there aren’t any cameras out here?”

She shook her head. “There aren’t, but even if there were, I’m certain Julian wouldn’t mind.” Her smile broadened again. “After all, he’s quite fond of you.”

My heart felt like it danced inside my chest when she said those words. Doing my best to ignore it, I took the handlebars and climbed onto the soft, leather seat. Even wearing jeans, I could feel the smoothness of it against my thighs. It’d been a while since I had the opportunity to ride, but when I did, the feeling was unmatched. My team didn’t know this, but even if the money the races brought in hadn’t been necessary, I would’ve likely found an excuse to get out there. To date, nothing had ever made me feel freer.

Perhaps, I missed that sensation more now than ever.

“I can mention it to His Highness that you’d like to ride with him one day. Maybe he can teach you.”

I peered over at Elle and cloaked myrealthought with a smile. “Sure.”

In reality, I could probably showhima thing or two.

As discretely as possible, I glanced around the space, letting my gaze settle on a lone door at the back of the room. Ithadto be the one that led to the tunnel. It crossed my mind that Elle would only assume I was curious if I asked to be taken back to the palace that way, but that seemed a bit risky.

This walk had done so much more than help me dispel the haze of confusion Levi left me in, it had birthed a plan.

For the first time in days, I thought I might actually have a chance to get out of here.

And this opportunity hadn’t presented itself a moment too soon.

CHAPTER SIX

Julian

“Still no word from him?”

Silas shoved both hands inside his pockets as he paced. “No. Nothing.”

I was trying not to think the worst of Roman going missing, but he’d changed so much I sometimes felt like I hardly knew him. That, alone, made his actions hard to predict.

We had all expected him to return before sundown, but when that didn’t happen, and with his refusal to take our calls, worry quickly turned into fear.

Levi had been seated on the couch, and for once, there was no drink in his hand.

The altercation at breakfast had been one Roman brought on himself, but it didn’t help that, when Corina lashed out, she struck the one nerve the rest of us knew not to go near.

Roman’s family.

Or, more specifically, his‘daddy issues’,as Corina stated.

She’d been well within her rights to stand up for herself. In fact, it was myown intention to defend her, but she was quick on her feet as always, beating me to that point. While, yes, Roman had his fair share of issues and darkness to contend with, it seemed he’d used that as an excuse for his behavior long enough.

However, I did imagine it all coming to a head in a much different manner than it did today.

The door to my study parted and Elle peeked inside. “Good evening, Your Highness. I just thought you’d like to know I’ve left the Blue Suite for the evening, and Mistress Corina’s all settled for bed.”

My brow knitted together when the meaning beneath her words missed me. However, a deep chuckle from Levi made things abundantly clear.

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