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I looked away, not wanting to stare into his eyes any longer. “You wanted to use my powers. That’s it. You’re incapable of caring about anyone but yourself.”

His face grew fierce before his hand lashed out, and he squeezed his hand around my throat. “I already got what I wanted. I could let you go back to your coven, but you’re too dangerous with them. With the help of Julian to remove all the negative feelings and memories, you have of me; you and I could have a future together. It’s a shame you can’t die, or I would turn you into a vampire. Maybe then you’d see that a powerful man needs a powerful woman at his side.”

“I’d rather choke on my own vomit,” I spat out. As I turned to look away, his fingers lifted from my throat.

I didn’t want to see the look on Maurice’s face, but I could only imagine. “Eat when Jade brings you food!” His voice was harsh and authoritative.

I didn’t watch him leave, but I heard the door shut.

“You didn’t get anything from me, Maurice. Not a fucking thing.”

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I MUST HAVElaid in bed for over three hours or so.

Waiting.

Bored.

Thirsty.

The door creaked open again, and I thought it was Maurice coming back, but it was Jade. She didn’t have food this time, but she was carrying a bottle of water. “Open it,” she instructed. And I did begrudgingly. I can’t remember the last time I had been so thirsty.

After I drank the entire bottle, she undid my chains with a key and stepped back. I rubbed my wrist.

My brows furrowed. “Why couldn’t I break the chains with my magic?”

“Julian put a spell on it, but I’m still able to open it with the key. Go on, use the bathroom,” she commanded. I hurried to the bathroom quickly and relieved myself as Jade sat on the bed, waiting.

I could have taken her out right then and there if I wanted to. With a flick of my wrist, I could have shot my powers out toward her and ran.

I wasn’t sure if anyone else was in the house, but I had to at least try to escape. I took a deep breath and opened the door.

“If you’re thinking of hurting me, please don’t,” Jade said as I came back into the room.

“Are you going to tie me back up again?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Come. Follow me to the library.”

I didn’t understand what was happening. Jade seemed like she didn’t hate me at that moment. She was being … kind.

I followed her to the library, which I had only been to a few times. Her coffee mug sat on a small table, and next to it was a copy of Shakespeare’s play,Romeo and Juliet.

I snickered.

“What’s so damn funny?” she asked.

“I don’t know, Jade. You seem like you’d be reading something darker. LikeDraculaorSalem’s Lot.”

She laughed softly that time, picking up her book. “Yeah, I don’t come off as the romantic type, do I?”

I shrugged. “Well, there is a tragedy in that story, isn’t there?”

She smiled solemnly, set the book back down, and strode toward me. “I love him, you know?”

I knew who she was talking about. It wasn’t Julian. It was Maurice. “Did you two have an intimate relationship?”

She nodded. “A long time ago. Now, I only work for him.”

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