Page 19 of Beneath the Starlight and Storms

This has to be a trick. My eyes scan the room trying to find the deception. But the illusion is so good, I can’t even sense its power.

My gaze catches on the two doors on the sides of the bed. They’re probably hiding the true horrors I’ll come to soon fear.

I try to push down the panic bubbling up inside me and remind myself that I’ll heal. Many may think I’m a dud Fae, but I still heal like one and I’ll move past whatever he tries to do to me. I will escape. And when I—

“One is a closet. The other is a bathroom with all the amenities you should need… You do remember what a bathroom is.”

I hear the amusement in Hook’s tone and glance over at him. He’s staring at me with a strange look, showing none of that amusement on his face.

“Thisis where you’re keeping me?” It has to be a lie. A trick.

Amusement finally flashes across his face. “Would you prefer something else? Maybe one with a larger space or a better view?” I hear the taunt in his tone and narrow my eyes on him as he chuckles.

“Yes, Tink, this is where you’ll be staying. There’s no catch or illusion. What you see here is real.”

Nothing is ever just that. There is always something hidden beneath.

I glance around the room again trying to spot the illusion. I push out my senses and try to hone in on it. But there’s nothing. Nothing that reveals he’s lying.

“Why? Why here and not a cell? And without any bindings?” I glance back at him to catch his wolfish grin.

“Would you prefer to be tied up?” He takes a step closer to me. “If that’s the case, then I have a far better place to do it than some dark cell.” That grin grows wicked, his tone shamelessly suggestive. “In fact, my bed isalwaysavailable.”

My body stiffens at his words. “If this is where you’re keeping me then get out.”

I don’t expect him to listen, but he does, a smug smirk on his face as he makes his way towards the door.

“I’ll have someone bring you something to eat.”

“I’m not hungry.” And in truth, I wasn’t. But even if I were, I wouldn’t have taken anything from him.

Hook has his hand on the door handle when he stops and turns back to look at me, that taunting smirk nowhere to be found.

Something in my gaze must tell him I was reaching my breaking point when it came to him and hisgamesas he nods a reply.

“So be it,” he whispers, sounding almost somber before opening the door and leaving, softly closing it behind him. And leaving me alone with my thoughts. Thoughts that soon rise up and remind me how much of a mess I was in once again.

I glance around the room that was beautiful in my mind moments ago, to see it for what it really is—A pretty prison, a gilded cage. No matter how Hook dresses it up, that’s all it is.

I’m just one of his prisoners here. But unlike the rest of them, I wouldn’t be for long. I was going to do whatever it took to get out of here.

But first I needed to find that bracelet.

With a renewed sense of purpose, I step silently over to the door and listen out for any sound before chancing my luck and twisting the handle. Only to find it unlocked.

I pause for a moment, shocked that it wasn’t locked.Did he forget to lock me in?Or maybe he left it unlocked thinking I would never try to escape after his little warning.

Or maybe this is all just some elaborate game to keep him amused to pass the time.

Either way, it was going to be his first and last mistake for underestimating me so easily. If there’s one thing I’m truly confident in, it’s my ability to be endlessly resourceful.

I slowly pull the door open and peek outside. Only to find the hall empty and Hook nowhere to be found.

Foolish man.

Naïve I may be, but even though three years have passed, he should know better than to think I would give in so easily.

Once I found Hook’s office and in turn, that bracelet, I was out of here. But more than that I would finally be free.

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