Page 128 of Sage Haven
“One of his friends brought me a drink.”
I drew a slow breath.
“And then I woke up in hell.”
Castor didn’t move. Didn’t say a word.
But the way his jaw tightened… the way his hand clenched against his thigh… he knew.
He already knew how the story ended.
But I finished it anyway.
“I was on the ground. Naked. Surrounded by these men.” My voice wavered, but I forced it out. “They wouldn’t let me go.”
The silence that followed was suffocating.
I could barely breathe.
Castor’s knuckles were white now. His mouth was a hard line.
“How did you escape?” he asked, his voice low and rough.
“I waited,” I whispered. “I pretended to be unconscious. Let the drugs wear off. If they knew I was awake… they would’ve given me more.” I swallowed hard. “I waited until I had enough strength to run.”
My hands were shaking, I realized as I clenched them into fists in my lap.
Castor moved then. Closer. Not to crowd me—but enough that I could feel his presence anchoring me.
“Castor,” I asked, my voice smaller than I meant it to be. “How many women have been in this room before?”
He hesitated.
But then he leaned forward, his elbows on his knees.
“You’re the first.”
I blinked.
Shock flooded through me. “Really?”
He nodded once. “Really.”
Something in my stomach twisted.
Tightened.
“To this day,” Castor continued, “I’ve never seen my brother let another woman into his home, how he has decided to let you.”
He gave me a look I couldn’t read, as he continued, “He’s been with women. But he never brought them here—”
I stared at him.
Trying to make sense of it.
“—and as for the holding someone captive part—” He almost smiled. It was faint. “—that’s a first too.”
I huffed a bitter laugh.
