Page 19 of The Puppet Master
My arms cross over my chest, palms running up and down my triceps. “What do you mean you’ve tried?” My mouth stays open while I search for the right question, not for an answer but for a tell. Something to convince myself I’m not losing my mind, reading his behavior—his expressions wrong.
Adrenaline screamsassess the danger.
My brain says he’s it.
But my gut has no words.
“Did they put you in a cell too?” I ask, just fast enough to cut off whatever words were about to slip through those parted lips.
“No.” He slides his palms on his knees, chest expanding like he’s getting ready to give terrible news. “That’s only for the women… You’re the first to escape by the way, so kudos. Usually, new female members are kept isolated for a month before they see any other part of the compound. But now that you’ve seen it, I’m guessing they’ll let you skip that part.”
I stare into his eyes, my heart beating out of control, faster than when we were running. Call it fear or anxiety or dread; whatever it is sinks into the pit of my stomach until my knees wobble.
He’s lying.
The cell was new—I amcertainof it. There were no other women kept there.
But I can’t see it in his eyes. There’s no tell in his expression, none that I’ve learned. And that alone scares me more than waking alone in the dark depths of a cave ever could.
This man is dangerous. And he’s currently unreadable.
How does one analyze what they cannot see?
“Members of what?” I ask, out of breath yet standing still.
“The Shadow Sanctum,” he says, uselessly. “I’ll explain everything, but for the moment it’s important that you understand you’re safe as long as you do what’s asked of you.You can’t run. There’s no leaving. And they will hurt you if you try.” He holds up the hand with the burn. “This was from my second attempt.”
He looks away as if it’s suddenly hard to meet my eyes.Fake, my brain screams, but the contraction in his neck is convincing. “As soon as you integrate into their society, things will get better for you. I promise you that. You don’t want the initiation process to take too long.”
I scrunch my forehead so much it feels exaggerated. “Initiation process?”
He opens his mouth, but it just hangs when an angry voice calls his name from down the hall. Sawyer’s eyes widen as he grips my arm and jerks me behind him, a gasp whistling through my teeth. The protective gesture is so sudden, so seemingly instinctive, I almost believe it.
A human storm wearing the same black outfit as the men we left behind bursts through the beaded curtain, his face an angry shade of red. His gaze finds me, and I back away, hands slapping the dresser as I bump into it.
When he speaks, he spews so much venom at Sawyer, I cringe. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
Sawyer’s hands raise in surrender while I cower.
“Look at her, Thorne.” Sawyer gestures over his shoulder. “She’s scared.”
“She’s an initiate. She’s supposed to be.”
Thorne goes to shove past Sawyer, but Sawyer squares his shoulders as he blocks the ball of rage from getting to me.
“Move,” Thorne growls.
“No.”
No?
“I amnotgoing to let you do to her what you did to the last one. It’s cruel and unnecessary,” Sawyer adds.
“She has to be trained.”
“And she will be. In time. When she’s ready.” Sawyer speaks with confidence so convincing, I forget I shouldn’t believe him. My heart skips at the thought until I can ground myself in reality.
I am Luna Cox. Nobody could evertrainme.
