Page 44 of Beg the Night

His chest rose and fell with a heavy breath. “I don’t trust your sister. I sure as hell don’t trust Director. Whatever they told you, they’re lying.”

A wave of unease washed over me. “She wouldn’t lie to me.”

My sister had her flaws, yes, but she was a woman of her word. If she made me a promise to free Margaret, then she’d be free. Especially if they wanted me to claim.

And for reasons I had yet to understand, they were dead set on my participation.

“What makes you think I’d believe that?” he gritted out. “You seemed awfully surprised to see her. A mystic. At the president’s ball. You’re hiding something, New Girl. Don’t think I can’t see it.”

“I’m not hiding anything.” I heaved a breath out. “I didn’t know my sister was mystic, and I sure as hell didn’t think I would ever see her again, let alone at Director’s ball. Forgive me for being shocked.”

“Does she know?”

“Know what?”

“That you’re hiding a power Director wants.”

God, she was thereasonDirector was under the impression I had power. She had been the one whispering about me, as if I were some sort of pawn that would save them all from this war. She believed it all, too. She believed she was a mystic, and she believed I was, too.

Had they tortured her? Had they locked her down here and brainwashed her until she’d broken? It was the only explanation, because my own sister thinking I had magic?

No way.

I crawled away from Sinner and sat against the opposite wall, arms crossed over my chest in hopes that I could retain a little of my body heat. I was still wearing the dress from the ball. Sinnerwas still in his suit as well, though he had stripped down to his undershirt and trousers.

It was colder here. Darker. Before this moment, I couldn’t have imagined missing that dank, dirty, crowded dungeon, but this made that place look like a haven.

Sinner was still staring at me, waiting for my reply.

“I’m not going to argue. I don’t have any power, but clearly you’ve chosen not to believe me.”

“Correct.”

“Enjoy being disappointed, then.”

I waited for a quip, for a scathing response, but none came. Only silence. Silence and the thick tension that suffocated me with every passing hour.

It was going to be a long freaking night.

THIRTEEN

sinner

Icouldn’t help that initial wave of relief that hit me when New Girl told me she’d negotiated for Mags’s release. Was it possible she really did care about my sister?

It was hard to say, because I didn’t trust her for a damn second.

She slept sitting with her back against the wall, her legs stretched out in front of her with one ankle crossed over the other. Her head was slumped to the side as her chest rose and fell with each deep breath.

The dress was fucking ridiculous. They would have to bring her new clothes eventually, and thank god, because there was no way I could live in this tiny-ass room with her dressed like that.

A deep, all-consuming annoyance crept up the back of my neck. I hated her. I really did. I hated that she was sleeping like that. I hated that she actually seemed to care about my sister.

And that she was actually willing to perform the claiming with me.

That part surprised me the most.

Despite my hope that she would so we could get out of here, I’d assumed she’d never agree. Why would she? She had been kidnapped and dragged to a dungeon full of men she didn’tknow. The last thing on her mind was probably having sex with one of them.

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