Page 308 of Evil Hearts

He grunts. “You’re leaving.”

I leap off the bed so fast the blood drains from my face, making me woozy. I probably should have asked more questions beforegetting my hopes up, but the promise of freedom has my feet moving before I can stop them.

I pause at the door, glaring at the monster through the metal bars.

“You’re joking. Leaving? For good?” My limbs tingle with anticipation, the eagerness and relief overwhelming.

I’m free.

I’m free!

He dips his head in a nod. “Yes, for good. You’ve been bought.”

“B-bought?” Just as quickly as my hopes shot through the roof, they crash back down to the stone floor. Numbness spreads through me, a lump forming in my throat.

“Yes, would you hurry up?” he snarls, waving a clawed hand at me. “Your new mistress is already in the foyer. It would be rude to keep her waiting.”

I consider arguing, but there’s no point. If I’ve been sold to someone else, Sparky could kill me without repercussions from Mistress Raiine. It’s not worth challenging him. Besides, walking out is better than being dragged out unconscious.

That wouldn’t be the most flattering way to meet the new mistress.

Begrudgingly, I find my shoes and slip them on. I toss the few pairs of jeans and shirts I own in a bag and throw the strap over my shoulder. Nothing else here belongs to me.

I stick my wrists through the bars in the door and wait as Sparky puts on my cuffs. As usual, he locks them, and they shrink down to the appropriate size before he pulls the lever and opens the door.

Rather than letting me lead the way, Sparky steps ahead and makes his way down the hall.

Swallowing down a lump of crushing disappointment, I attempt to focus on the positives. I won’t have to see Sparky every day, which is a huge improvement in my opinion, and Imay have a better chance at escaping my new prison, depending on the security measures in place.

Then again, if the new mistress has enough money to buy me from Raiine, they probably spare no expense when it comes to precautionary measures.

“I can see you’re overjoyed.” Sparky attempts a joke. “Try not to be too disappointed.”

“It’s just that I’m going to miss you so much.” My tone is thick with sarcasm. “How will I survive without you growling at me to hurry the fuck up every day?”

He hisses a laugh, obviously pleased that he won’t have to deal with me ever again. “With any luck you’ll die from a broken heart.”

Ah, yes.What a gentleman.

We make our way down the hall and up to the main floor of the mansion without another word, the sound of our footsteps echoing off the stone walls. I almost wish I’d had time to shower. I doubt day-old body odor is going to impress anyone, much less someone who’s just paid a pretty penny for my life.

One smelly shapeshifter servant coming up.

We round the corner and head toward the foyer, my heart pounding in my throat. A cluster of bodies await at the end of the hall, and my eyes scan them eagerly for familiarity.

Mistress Raiine stands there in a black dress that hugs her from her chest to her knees. She’s a tall, statuesque woman with a spill of red hair and two sets of purple eyes that make me dizzy when we speak face to face. Next to her are two guards I’ve seen before but never spoken to. One of them was there the night I was handed over by the vampires, so I normally avoid him when I can.

To the right are four more guards, all wearing matching blue uniforms, and a slender figure with cascading silver locks.

“No,” I whisper as we draw closer, not trusting my eyes.It can’t be.

Standing there in an emerald dress with her hands clasped elegantly in front of her is Syn, and her eyes gleam when they fall on me.

“Here he is, Synistra,” Mistress Raiine says, her voice cracking like a whip. “As promised.” She doesn’t sound enthusiastic about the arrangement, but Syn must have offered her a price she couldn’t refuse.

“Release him.” Syn looks at Sparky, who hesitates.

“W-with all due respect, Monstress,” he stammers, looking between the mistresses for approval. “What if he tries to run?”

“Then I guess that’s my problem now,” she says. “Release him,please.”

I fight the urge to laugh and bite the inside of my cheek, holding my hands out to the monster. “You heard her.”

He narrows his eyes and unlocks the cuffs with a twist of his monster claw. I shake the life back into my hands, massaging my wrists, and cross the foyer to stand beside Syn, still in disbelief that any of this is happening.

“I told you I’d see you again,” she says softly and jerks her head toward the door. “Now, come. Your new home awaits.”

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