Page 71 of Petals and Strings
Once I started, I couldn’t seem to stop. I poured my pain into those dark colors, the shadows forming that told a story of what I’d endured. Of my anger for those men who took my family from me. The frustration with myself for not stopping it, for turning into this shell of who I used to be.
Then, it shifted as I mixed them lighter. Pretty blues that were a mix of light and dark, like Audrey’s eyes. Lilac, that was one of Lilly’s favorite colors. Green that was pretty and light, like the conservatory and its vines.
More colors joined the mix, the soft peach of her skin, the honey of her hair.
Then the lighter shade of mine, the pale flush of my own complexion and ending in a soft brush of our hands joining.
It was abstract. I doubted anyone but me could see the shapes forming amid the chaos. The soft swirling of our bodies riding out the storm. Around us was a wave of white as if it was protecting us from the shadows.
The therapist reached me, studying my painting for several beats. “Feels like change to me, Caspian. Good work. Nice to see you involved.”
She nodded once then walked off, leaving me to look at my canvas.
The therapist said it felt like change, but to me… it felt like hope.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Audrey
“Everyone file in,” the guards barked out as they ushered us into the dining hall. I stumbled as someone pushed into me, nearly sending me sprawling. Ledger growled and helped me stay upright, while I grabbed onto Ansel before he could face the same fate.
“Dicks,” I muttered as I held Ansel’s hand in mine. I could feel his tension already and squeezed his hand in support as we took our usual table.
We were on day eight now of Rydell missing.
Now the guards were pulling us out of morning gardening to drag us in here. I knew what it meant and my stomach sank.
Please, don’t let it be Rydell. My omega whimpered in response, just as terrified as I was.
When everyone was settled, I realized it wasn’t everyone here, just half the patients here. We all sat in our little clustered groups and waited.
Director Cross walked in when we were all seated. His face was hard and unreadable and I felt my breath catch.
Caspian scooted closer, his shoulder pressing into mine. He’d never offered or asked for contact and it caught me by surprise. I looked up and we shared a worried glance. I wasn’t the only one thinking this was bad.
“Thank you for coming in and cooperating. This shift shouldn’t take long,” Director Cross promised, still grim. He wouldn’t look at my group, but his gaze bounced around the room. “We’re having to do some room juggling with room assignments. You’ll get your new room numbers when you leave.”
Protests rang out from not just us, but everyone else in the room. Ansel was visibly shaking next to me and Caspian looked damn near catatonic.
“This is my fault,” Ledger said. He sounded so broken that I turned his way. His eyes pleaded with me to understand.
“What, of course it’s not,” I argued but he shook his head, blue eyes pleading. The guilt there was making me nervous.
“I told him we were scent matches in an attempt to get Ry out. He used it against us,” he whispered, closing his eyes in defeat.
“We’ll fix it,” I said, even as my own panic was rising. I tried to stay strong for the others but I knew the outcome of this.
They were going to make sure we couldn't become a bonded pack. Stepping in where they had no right to.
My men would suffer the consequences.
Caspian would retreat.
Ansel would shut down.
Kane would have no one to keep his journal.
Ledger would drown in guilt.
