Page 50 of Born for Lace

“In my room?”

And closes his eyes. “It’smyroom.”

I huff—my annoying voice. “Well, can I go back to my room? I have things in there. Mybeibao, my… things.” My sentence trails to a whimper.Oh…Sorrow claws at my abdomen. “ThingsTidegave me.”

He hums, indifferent.

Anger burns through me. I see Tide’s body bleeding out, hear his rumbled chuckle in my heart, and wish I didn’t go there that night. Tide. Maple.

Who is left?

You’re alone.

“I want Tomar!” I don’t know why, but I want to wound Lagos. To reject him. Lashing out at him feels mean and…good.

Unaffected, he rumbles sleepily, his voice darker, deeper. “He won’t be available today. Give me an hour to sleep, Lace Girl, and I can be at your beck and call instead.”

“I don’t want—” I groan, my face growing hotter and hotter with irritation. Breathe. He saved me. Be gracious. “I don’t want him at mybeck and call. Just…” I lift my hand and cover my eyes, wanting to cry from pure emotional fatigue. “Where is Spero?” I drop my hand. “Who is watching him?”

“Tomar just fed him. He’s asleep.”

Well… I stare at the ceiling. My skin prickles with the need to jump up and do something, walk, wash, anything human, but every other part of me protests. I’m exhausted. Fatigue holds my muscles. Holds my mind. I am not ready to face the world. A place less wonderful without Maple and Tide… I stifle a sob, not wanting Lagos to hear.

“You didn’t hand him over.” Lagos’ sudden utterance crashes down on me.

I swallow my tears and clear my throat. “What?”

“You took that beating, little flower, and you didn’t tell him where the infant was.” And he sounds angry, disgusted, even.

“Of course I didn’t,” I say, and to my horror, my voice shakes at the memory. I thought I was going to die, but in the moment, I recall only wishing it happened fast. Spero’s whereabouts would remain a secret if only I die fast…

A dark chuckle leaves him. “Like it’s what anyone would do in that situation? You’re wrong. This is The Cradle. Women sacrifice their young all the time to save their own skin. You’re foolish. The infant isn’t even yours. Isn’t even human.”

Neither are you.

I breathe, only half in control of what I say or do due to the Opi in my system. So much Opi. More than I’ve ever had before. I’m sinking into exhaustion even as we speak.

And his crumbs of concern are wiped away by blatant prejudice, making me want to curl into a ball. People I care about are dying, Maple and Tide. My heart presses further into my chest, hiding. I lost Maple, lost Tide. I will not lose Spero.

“I don’t carewhathe is. He is mine.”

Without looking at him, I sense his disapproval. Feel the air around me still… freeze… My declaration hangs in the atmosphere, then he finally growls, “Don’t do that again, little flower.” His voice is dark and gruff with an authoritarian edge that accepts no argument. “Don’t save his life if it means risking yours.”

I sniffle. “You saved me and risked yours.”

“It’s endearing that you believe I was ever in danger. I told you that you’re mine until you’re safe. Take every word from my mouth as a certainty. I don’t lie.”

But who will protect me from you, Lagos?

ChapterFifteen

Dahlia

I blink and then focus, only to realise I must have drifted off again because Lagos is no longer on the floor.

Cupping my rib, I sit, unable to spend a moment longer in this bed. In this room. I sway in place; my brain is loaded with Opi. But I want to get Spero and go back to our room at The House. Stay inside and behave like a good girl.

My heavy head sways on my neck for a moment, and though I don’t feel pain, I can tell my lip and nose are swollen.

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