Page 113 of Owned

I had to keep going, to reach that gate.

The door closed softly behind me and I hurried toward the winding path that led into the garden.

The pale stone path stretched out before me, barely illuminated by the pale moonlight that broke through the clouds.

The rain soaked earth squelched beneath my feet and the cold wet of the mud seeped into my satin shoes.

“Hurry,” a voice whispered, beckoning me deeper into the tangled labyrinth of the garden.

Valen?

The sound curled around me like smoke and urged me onward.

I hesitated.

My dream—it was the same.

That was a good thing,wasn’t it?

As I stood at the edge of the path, moonlight spilled over my shoulders and its chill bit into my skin.

The stars glimmered above, distant and indifferent.

Tears pricked at my eyelashes…

I was getting out of here.

I forced my legs to move and hurried into the garden—suddenly worried that I would be caught and dragged back to the house and thrown into the confines of my room once more.

Or Lucian’s study.

The thought chilled me more now than it had in the dream.

Freedom.

That was what I wanted.

It was what I deserved.

“Would you kill for it?”

My steps faltered as the grimoire’s voice sliced through my thoughts once more.

“Yes,” I said aloud. “I would.”

No falter in my voice.

No hesitation.

I would.

If I had to…

“Brave little bird—” The grimoire’s voice sounded smug. Satisfied with my response.

“Hurry—”

The echoing voice again. Soft and urgent.

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