Page 108 of Seren

I twisted my shaking hands as we made the trek up the long driveway. “You can pull up to the side door,” I told the driver. When the car came to a stop, I peered out the window, knowing no one could see me through the windows. But this was Grayson Manor. Cameras were everywhere.

The backseat door swung open. I sucked in a sharp breath, only releasing it when Seren scooted in beside me. Before I could say a word, he pressed his lips to mine, devouring mine in a desperate kiss. He pulled back with an anxious look in his eyes. “Thanks for coming.”

“Is my mom okay?”

“She’s fine. I sent her to the store to get groceries.”

Relief whooshed out of me. “What am I doing here? And why haven’t you called me back?”

He cupped my cheeks, his eyes riveting between mine. “There’s a lot at stake. And you’re my ace in the hole.”

“I don’t understand.”

His eyes drifted over my face as if he’d forgotten what I looked like. “The fact that you dropped everything and showed up here with nothing more than my need for you tells me one thing.”

My brows scrunched together. “What?”

“I’m gonna marry you one day, Grace.” Again, he gave me no time to respond. His lips captured mine. This kiss was hard and quick before he pulled away. “Wait in here. Do not open the door for anyone but me. I need you in Martine’s office at noon with your rubber gloves from the kitchen and a bottle of water.”

“What?” I said, dread washing over me.

“You’ll be safe. I’ll be there,” he assured me.

Though I trusted him, the thought of walking the halls of Grayson manor alone still terrified me. “Okay.”

“Okay, you’ll be there at noon?”

“Okay, I’ll marry you someday.”

He smiled, and when he smiled like that, all big and excited, I knew everything was going to be okay. “Wish me luck,” he said as he pushed open the door and disappeared from the car as quickly as he arrived.

Seren

“What are you doing home?” my mother asked as I stepped into the kitchen.

“Hello to you too, Mother.”

“I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just surprised. You didn’t let anyone know you were coming.”

“I like the element of surprise,” I said.

“Did you get kicked off the team?” she asked.

“What? No. I just had some stuff to take care of here. I plan on heading back tomorrow,” I explained.

“Well, I’m happy you’re home,” she said, turning to the refrigerator.

“You look better,” I said, knowing that Sawyer had been keeping a close eye on her—and Martine—in an effort to stop any attempts to hurt her.

She spun back around. “Excuse me?”

“When I left for school, you looked weak. You look more like your old self.”

She tilted her head, and instead of glaring at me like she usually did because of something I said, she smiled.

“Stop shooting that shit into your forehead and lips. Age gracefully. You’re hot.”

Laughter burst out of her. “Did you really just say that?”

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