Page 25 of Covenant

He smirks, like he thinks otherwise. He’ll see. I’ll fucking show him.

My teeth grind and I turn my gaze out the window, watching the rain fall onto the trees that line the drive. They’re gorgeous, old.They have a history, I think. Just like us. And just like us, he probably bought them.

A few seconds later, a sprawling estate appears, like something out of a gothic movie. Pillars and a wrap-around porch, a fountain in the middle of a circular driveway, and a house that seems to go on for miles.

“Fuck off.” This can’t be happening.

Matthias chuckles next to me, the sound dark and foreboding. “It’s a house you could easily get lost in, but don’t worry, I’ll always have my eyes on you.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

But before he can answer, the car stops and a man walks up to the door, pulling it open.

“Mr. Buckingham and Mr. Buckingham, welcome home,” the man says with a small bow.

I jerk. I’m not sure which is worse, the confirmation that I’m taking his name, or that this is my new home.

My temporary home.I’ll keep reminding myself of that. Then everything will be okay.

The man nods and I step to the side, arching my head back and looking at this monstrosity. It’s really quite beautiful if I can bring myself to admit it, but fuck, I refuse.

I hate it. This cavernous, dreary place. I don’t want to go inside because then I know my life is really over. But his hand lands on my back and he leads me forward, bringing me up onto the marble porch and through the front door. There is a bouquet of flowers on a table in the expansive foyer and I can’t help my wandering eyes. Tall ceilings and chandeliers appear before me, not to mention a winding staircase leading up to the second and third floors.

He’s right. I could get lost in here.

That’ll probably be preferable to spending time with Matthias.

“Let me show you around,” he says.

I want to refuse, but I know saying anything will only prolong this and I just want to get it over with. Since the house is so large, I can try to avoid him. He may be watching me, but perhaps we could spend a lot of time apart.

A man can hope, I think as he leads me up the stairs to the second floor. We walk down a long hallway and then he pushes open a large door and I see a king-size bed. I don’t need to ask whose it is. Of course he brought me here straight away. To remind me of my fate.

Not that anything will be happening here, except sleep. Well, that and whatever mischievous tortures I can devise to annoy the shit out of Matthias. Hopefully then he’ll let me have my own space.

I shoot a glance at him and a ball of unease settles in my gut. The Matthias I knew as a child was stubborn, immovable.

Do I really think he’s changed that much as an adult?

I don’t answer that. Not even in my own head.

Swallowing, I turn my eyes back to the bed. Objectively, it’s very inviting. It’s huge, sitting right against a wall, with a sturdy headboard and very plush sheets. The comforter looks soft enough to wrap myself in.

It’s far more luxurious than anything I’ve used in months. I fucking hate it.

I force my gaze away and turn to the dresser and the expansive closet. There’s also a seating area with a huge television on the wall. And just beyond is an en suite bathroom.

I move toward that, wanting to get away from Matthias and the hand that’s still on my back. And what it means. What all of this means.

“You have your own closet,” he says as if I should be impressed.

I am, but I refuse to say it.

“I could have my own room.”

“No.”

I huff and take in the marble countertops and the large bowl sinks. There’s a walk-in shower with double shower heads and a claw-foot tub.

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