Page 108 of A Crown Without Mercy

She walked to the door; all the while, she heard the increased whooshing sounds of her heartbeat in her ears, not knowing how they would react when she walked out. She opened the door, headed down the long hallway and then down the stairs. She subtly looked behind her and they were leaning on the marble railing with their forearms, watching her as if amused.Funny, is it?she thought.

She walked across the parlor and noticed her boots had been placed by the chairs. She quickly pulled them on and stepped toward the door, however the two guards placed an arm behind their backs, shifted their stance, and blocked the door.

“Please move,” she requested.

“Milady, we are following orders,” one of them replied.

“I am not asking. I am telling you to move.” She took one more step, and neither of them so much as flinched.

She spun around and looked up. “I thought I was your mate, not your prisoner?”

“You are our mate, hence the reason you will not be leaving,” Riordan replied.

“Riordan, tell them to move!”

They leisurely strolled down the stairs, and she glanced to her left remembering the door Nicolai had sent the ladies out of the first night she was there. She turned and darted down the long hallway. However, she did not make it halfway before Riordan swept off her feet and tossed her over his shoulder.

“Riordan, put me down!”

He plopped her down onto her back on a large lounge and kneeled over her. “We said you are not leaving.” She placed her palms against his chest. “Get off me.”

“Your defiance does nothing more than to get me hard.” Riordan stood up, and when he swirled his hand, a book appeared, which he placed on the settee next to her. “You can entertain yourself with a book until we return.”

He walked away, and she stood up and snatched the book off the lounge. “How about you read a book!”

He spun around, caught the book, and tossed it to Nicolai. “I don’t think she liked what I chose.”

“Thy tale of four mo’rs,” Nicolai read aloud as he handed it Kieran.

“It is an interesting read,” Kieran replied.

“This is not funny, and the three of you are not the least bit amusing,” she snapped.

“Maybe not, darling, but you certainly are.” Nicolai chuckled.

Kieran set the book on a table as they walked away.

“What am I supposed to do all day?”

“Whatever you like, as long as you do it here,” Riordan reiterated.

“The three of you are unbelievable!” she yelled.There are plenty of doors and windows. I just need to look around.

After wandering about and finding guards at every entrance, she went into the formal sitting room and closed the door behind her. She walked over to the window and tried to open it however, it would not budge.What the hell?She stepped back, closed her eyes, held her hands in front of her and an icy-blue mist hit the window and dissipated like fog.You have to be kidding me?So I need to up my game as well.She closed her eyes, drew a deep breath, waved her hands and heard the crackling glass.That’s how it is done,she chuckled to herself. Once she twisted the lock and pushed, all of its pieces splintered, fell off, and the window creaked open. She slipped out and ran, keeping her body low to the ground and close to the wall so the guards inside would not see her through the windows. Once she rounded the corner, she raised up and bolted toward a gate nestled at the far edge of numerous rows of tall hedges. Riordan, Nicolai, and Kieran suddenly stepped out of one row and blocked the gate. Stopping mid-stride, along with a yelp, she slipped and landed on her ass.

“Going somewhere?” Riordan asked

“Yes. I am going home.”

Nicolai looked down at her and made some clicking sounds with his tongue. “We told you not to leave.”

“And I told you I won’t be controlled.”

Kieran held out his hand and winked, and she took it in hers and he pulled her to her feet and wiped the dirt off her butt. “Are you okay?” He chuckled.

“Other than my pride, yes.”

“Your powers are impressive,” Riordan said.

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