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I had to do something. I couldn't let her try and starve herself to prove a point. It couldn't be an empty threat; I had to be prepared to follow through with it.
"If you refuse to eat I'll have to get Curtis to sedate you and put you on a drip," I warned, hoping that would be enough to get her to eat something.
Silence hung in the air between us.
"You have till tomorrow morning, otherwise you leave me with no choice."
I left, hoping that my threat would work. The thought of getting Curtis to sedate her and put her on a drip against her will made my heart hurt.
A little later Gary came to me and offered to try and talk some sense into her. I hoped that he would be able to but I wasn't surprised when he walked out of the room shaking his head.
"She won't listen."
That night I tried to get some sleep, but I was restless without Scarlett. I spent some time in my study and then I found myself standing outside the door to her cell. I missed her and I wanted to touch her. But I had to hold firm.
A little later that morning I got her a plate of food, hoping she would finally give in and eat something. She was sitting in the bed leaning against the wall when I walked in.
"Here is your breakfast," I said.
She remained silent.
"Scar."
It was only one word but with that one word I pleaded with her to eat. I didn't want to be the bad guy, but if she forced me, I would be.
"I'm giving you an hour. If you haven't eaten anything I will follow through on my threat," I said, giving her a final warning.
I expected her to ignore me but when she got off the bed and walked over to the bars I was surprised.
"Let me out," she instructed in a firm tone.
"No," I replied.
Then to my horror she reached for the bar covered in wolfsbane.
"Don't," I commanded but there was nothing I could do but watch as she wrapped her hand around the bar. She held on even though I could see the pain evident on her face.
It was like someone was ripping my heart out of my chest.
"Let go!" I yelled. As painful as it was, she didn't—she was determined to make me let her out and she'd use whatever she could to weaken my resolve.
"Stop it!" I yelled more urgently as my eyes fixed on her hand, which was still holding onto the bar tightly as her face filled with pain and determination.
Finally, to my relief, she let go and dropped to the floor, holding her injured hand to her chest.
"Let me out," she requested, still in pain.
She'd injured herself to make me let her out. I was prepared to do anything to keep her safe and she was prepared to do anything to get out.
I had no choice. She'd forced my hand.
Anger at her actions made me throw the plate against the wall in frustration. I watched it shatter as I fought to control the anger boiling inside of me.
I looked at her one last time before I walked out.
I called Curtis as I stalked to my study. I told him to sedate Scarlett and put her on a drip. I tried to keep busy strategizing with Blake in my study when I heard Jake call out to me through the mind-link.
We're under attack!
