Page 70 of Spark of Madness

But the moment is gone just as quickly. He blinks, eyes flickering and drawing him back to reality. I see the remembrance of who we are and where we’re standing rush back in to the flush of his cheeks as he jerks his hand away and steps back.

“Come,” he says, brushing past me toward the stairs.

Though I know he only means for me to follow, the alternative meaning of the word in the context of our heated moments of sin rushes shameful wetness to my core.

I follow behind him, lifting my long, red skirt so I don’t trip. “What now?”

“I need to gather some things from my room, and then we’re going to take a walk.”

“Where?”

“You’ll know when we arrive.”

“Arlo, please…tell me what’s going on.”

He stops suddenly on the landing, and the abruptness makes me stop just a few steps beneath. I quickly grab hold of the railing to steady myself as the sudden stop unbalances me.

His eyes narrow on me. “Warden Rainn.”

I can see the distress he holds within that single look, and it seems overwhelming. He wants formalities in front of the others…maybe he wants formalities all the time.

“Warden Rainn,” I start again, “what’s going on?”

He turns away and starts moving down the hallway. I hasten, jogging up the last few steps and chase after him. I want to grab his arm and stop him physically, but Ryker and Park stand only a few feet past, chatting casually, and Theo is near the end of the hall, knocking on Delle’s door. So, I continue to meet his pace without reaching out to touch him.

I long to touch him.

“We’ve wasted too much time already,” he says, still walking away from me. “It’s my job to prepare you—both of you—and we don’t have any more time to hesitate.”

“I don’t understand. Will you please tell me what’s going on?”

“We’re going to be away for several hours,” he says. “Take five minutes to attend to your personal needs, and I’ll come to collect you.”

Before I can say another word, he rushes to unlock his bedroom door and hurries inside. It closes behind him, and the lock engages, effectively shutting me out. The sound of another door opening draws my attention, and I turn back to see Delle’s door swing open, Theo pushing past her to enter her room.

What is he doing?

He shouldn’t be alone with her. He’s twenty-seven years old—the same as all of the members of the Control—and she’s only sixteen.

Turning on my heel, I charge after Theo. I reach Delle’s door just before it shuts, slapping my palms to the wood and shoving it wide. I nearly tumble through the entry in my haste.

“Mercy?” Delle says as I move toward them.

“What are you doing in here?” I ask Theo as he turns his head to look at me.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but your warden asked me to retrieve her.” He then turns his head again to look at Delle. “You have five minutes to take care of your personal needs. Then we’re heading out and we’ll be gone for a while.”

Delle looks back and forth between us. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll know when we arrive,” Theo replies.

“That’s what Arlo said,” I confirm.

“Well, that’s what he told me to tell you,” Theo says to Delle, then looks at me. “Does she know what you did for her? What you tried to do for her?”

Tried.

Triedand failed.

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