Page 65 of Mind Maze

I fight that voice in my head that oddly sounds nasally and like my therapist, Maura. Knowing that I won’t ever have to see her again is freeing. All it took was getting kidnapped, drugged, raped, mindfucked, and finally starting to fall for the cold Caius Crowne.

The man in question has his arm around me, absently stroking his palm up and down the side of my arm. It’s a little chilly in here, despite the hundreds of people in attendance, and he somehow knows. His caring action warms me up as intended.

Caius remains tense as if on guard against some unseen force. And don’t think I didn’t notice him stalking after James Clayton. I hope the man’s pretty face is still intact so he can go on to make more addictive shows. Theo, on my other side, holds Kaitlyn’s hand but also appears to be poised for a fight.

What’s going on?

Am I missing something?

It could be that my family is here. Caius isn’t exactly a fan of my brother. He’d strutted around half-naked in front of him atthe hotel in some alpha male show of ownership over me. They should be here as well, though I haven’t seen them yet.

Or it could be something completely different.

“…is my duty to heal you all from the horrors of America’s past,” Dr. Huxley says, grinning at the crowd. “Thank you all again for being here. God bless.”

My skin crawls for some reason. I’m fixated on his words. Not all of them, just a particular handful of them.

Heal you.

Heal you.

Heal you.

I shudder and turn into Caius’s chest on instinct, needing his protective shield. He obliges me, hugging me to him. A cold, prickling sensation covers every inch of my skin, both bared and that which is hidden under my dress.

“Are you okay?” Caius asks, voice low and breath tickling the top of my head.

No. No. No.

I’m on the verge of tears and it doesn’t make sense. Am I about to start my period? Why the sudden onslaught of emotions?

“I, uh, yeah,” I lie. “I need a drink.”

Caius pulls away to look into my eyes. His dark gaze is mesmerizing, warm, and comforting. It’s hard to believe I’d thought it was chilling at one time. He frowns, clearly not believing me, but nods in acquiescence. I’m grateful when he takes my hand, guiding me toward the bar area.

“Refreshing or relaxing?” he asks as we stand in line.

“Relaxing.”

He orders a glass of wine for me and one for himself. I down both glasses in quick succession. His eyes turn to narrow slits as he studies me, searching for truths in my expression.

“I’m fine,” I assure him, blood buzzing as the alcohol warms my belly. “I just… Does Huxley give you the creeps?”

He snorts and nods for the bartender to refill our glasses. “Which one?”

I break into a grin, thankful for some levity. “The older one, obviously. You’re threatened by Doc Junior? You know, Caius, he’s not as cute as you, in case you were worried.”

“I was not worried,” he says coolly, handing me my refilled glass. “Go slow on this one. I don’t want to have to carry you out of here over my shoulder. Everyone will surely look at your ass then.”

I can’t help but preen at his jealousy. If you’d have asked me weeks ago if I was capable of being the girl who was slightly turned on when her guy was jealous of other guys, I’d have laughed.

We walk away from the bar area and I already feel tons better. Huxley is just one of those arrogant, powerful men who is so fake it gives normal, free-thinking humans the creeps. I’m glad his speech didn’t last long and I didn’t have to listen to him a second longer. Doc Junior’s mother must be the one with a real personality because the two men hardly seem cut from the same cloth, aside from their dashing good looks.

I notice Bastian and Megan speaking with another couple. From afar, they’re a lovely pair. It feels like another world or dimension or thread of time where she was my partner in college. Megan was so shy and withdrawn and awkward.

What happened?

CUP happened.

---