Page 37 of Kept

“Why?” he demands. “Why would you do that?”

I shrug, trying to look away, but he grabs my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Tell me.”

He looks furious, his eyes black as night again. The little hint of stars I thought I saw has disappeared, swallowed by darkness.

“I didn’t want you to get hurt,” I admit in a whisper.

Although right now I’m starting to regret it. Enzo is giving me a funny look that’s making my stomach flip, and Ryder clears his throat.

“All right, then. So, that was Maverick, the last of our merry trio. I’m sure you’ll get to know us better at dinner, Zella.”

Wiggling, I nudge Enzo’s fingers away from my face and scramble to my feet, grimacing at my tangled nest of hair as I trip over it. I can’t go to dinner looking like this.

“Could someone show me where I’m sleeping?” I ask. “And did you bring my pillowcase?”

15 - Zella

“Princess.”

Ryder sounds a little desperate, and I turn to him with a sniffle. He hands over another box of tissues, and I tug one out and blow my nose loudly, the honking sound echoing around the large room.

“Sorry,” I cough out, turning to him with a wobbly smile. He shrugs, but there’s a frown crinkling the middle of his handsome forehead.

“So, you like the view?”

Nodding, I turn back to the view that stole the breath from my lungs and had me sobbing like a baby for the last twenty minutes.

“Yes,” I whisper. My fingers raise to touch the clear, floor to ceiling glass. “I like it.”

There’s a shift in the air as Ryder steps up next to me, both of us looking outside. Miles upon miles of greenery sweep away from us, hills and trees and even what looks like mountains in the distance.

And there’s so muchcolor. Brilliant oranges, reds and yellows mix in between, a paint palette I’ve never seen before.

“Is this autumn?” I ask Ryder, bouncing on my feet as I press both hands against the glass, getting my face as close as I can. “It looks like autumn.”

“It is. October. You know the seasons?”

I know the seasons. Despite my limited upbringing, Ethan at least taught me something – mathematics, biology, physics, literature, languages,art.

“He taught me plenty,” I mutter. “Just never anything about the actual world outside.”

Nothing about history, unless it’s directly connected to books or art. I have no idea how the world works, governance structures, politics. They’re all hazy terms to me.

My lips tighten, but I can’t find any anger in my heart.

“How could anyone be unhappy with a view like this?” I whisper, my voice full of awe. “If I’d had a view like this, maybe I would never have wanted to leave.”

Ryder’s weight brushes against me, the touch unexpectedly warm, comforting.

“I think,” he murmurs, “that the limited world you inhabited could never have been enough for you, Zella. Anyone with half a brain could see that.”

Tearing my eyes away – just for a second – I look up at him. Chocolate-colored hair falls lazily over his face, and he doesn’t bother pushing it back. His eyes flicker as he glances down at me, the warm hues not out of place with the world outside this window, almost amber in the fading afternoon light. The darkest hint of stubble lingers at his jaw. “What do you mean?”

He grimaces. “That place… it was one of the coldest places I’ve ever set foot in. Not in temperature, but in feeling. It would have sucked the life from you, Zella. And that would be a tragedy.”

“It would?” I ask softly.

He turns, giving me his full attention, and his lips quirk. “You’re the most vibrant person I’ve ever met. You don’t belong in that cold place, princess.”

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