Page 19 of Petals and Strings
“The sun feels so nice,” Audrey said as she dropped down underneath a small tree, her face and half her body in the sun, the other in its shade. “The walls were closing in. Thanks for stopping him.”
She cracked open her mismatched eyes and offered me a tight smile. I dropped down next to her, my body fully in the sun.
It was close enough the breeze carried her scent to me. I breathed in the sweet and subtly spicy scent of rose, fresh rain, and sandalwood.
She had the kind of scent that should be free and unfiltered. Happy enough to let it bloom, not broken and suppressed by trauma and anxiety.
“I’m going to have to face it,” she sighed. “On my own if Theo is going to work against me.”
“You don’t have to be alone, wildling.” She let out a huff of a breath. It was amused but dark, as if she was used to being alone. I didn’t know exactly what happened to her but I’d heard her scream in there. It’s what had me running inside. The raw edge to her voice, the pure unguarded emotion.
Whatever it was, it was awful.
I may be locked away but I had contacts. Connections.
It might be time to cash in a few favors on her behalf when I did hear her story. When she walked out of these walls I needed to know she’d be safe.
Because I likely wouldn’t be able to follow. My father made it clear I’d shamed the family with my actions.
A low growl started to rumble but I cut it off before it could startle her. She glanced over but relaxed again when I kept my face neutral.
Blood was on my hands, but my tormentors’ deaths weren’t. They were on his. He’d set up the deal, let them use me, and was angry that me saving myself ruined the deal.
Apparently, I was here to figure out how to control myself.
The bite that marred my skin was still there, but the bond had withered that week I’d endured their sadistic torment. Each day without food, water, and only their vile words and weapon of choice, had led me to cut it off.
I’d watched her flinch along with each blow, knew severing it was hurting her. I hoped it would.
When I broke my hand to slide out of my bindings and killed him, she was frozen. I could have subdued her, not taken action, but she earned her punishment.
I felt nothing when I snapped her neck, watched the terror in her eyes fade into nothing.
The bond was broken mentally before physically. I didn’t suffer like the others did but my father paid my way in and that was enough.
Malik gave me meds that I didn’t need. I hadn’t taken them in years. I’d earned their trust then learned how to fake it.
When he did his medication overhauls, I played my part. Otherwise, I kept myself stoic and silent.
With her it was harder. I wanted to protect her, to show her I wasn’t the enemy.
Hell, I didn’t know if she scented me, too. Knew what we were.
Maybe she didn’t want to know.
We were likely doomed from the start.
“She didn’t deserve this,” she whispered. I rolled my head to the side to see her staring at the photo she swiped. It wasn’tflattering. It showed the torn dress, the bruises and marks, the blood.
“No, she didn’t.”
“Ten years, Ledger. How do I overcome ten years of trauma my brain doesn’t want me to re-live?”
“Slowly,” I offered. “I’ve had my entire life to come to terms with mine, to live it and adapt. But when I leave here? I’ll be a new man. My dad’s influence can’t lock me away forever. I’m going to get out and I’m going to move far away. Find a new way to live where he can’t touch me.”
Her fingers were icy cold and timid as she brushed them over my hand. Not holding, just a quick whisper of comfort. I soaked it in, my alpha rumbling happily even from behind my mental barricade.
“I don’t know what’s even real about my life,” she admitted, letting her eyes flutter closed. Her eyelashes fanned over her freckle dusted cheeks. There was a jagged scar running through one eye, marring her face. It only added to her beauty. Made her look stronger, more fierce.
