Page 49 of Condemned By Pain
I take a few deep breaths, then flash him a grin. “We should keep killing as the last option.”
He lifts his hand—the one still holding the gun. I freeze when he raises it to my face. He taps the barrel lightly against my cheek.
“Your heart won’t lead you anywhere good.”
Then he turns and walks away. I rub my cheek where the cold metal touched, my gaze fixed on his retreating back.
Chapter 14
Elowen
I touch the blindfold over my eyes. I move my fingers to untie it.Two gloved hands catch my wrists from behind.
“Don’t, Princess,” he murmurs, lowering my hands to my sides.
His hands slide up my arms, his touch so gentle it makes me shiver. Then he releases me and moves away.
I tilt my head, listening for his footsteps. He circles around to stand before me.
“I want to seeyou,” I whisper.
He cradles my face in both palms—bare now, the gloves gone.
I place my hands over his.
“Let me see you.”
His breath warms my skin. His mouth hovers over mine.
“You won’t like me if you see me.”
“That’s not true. I’ll like you no matter what,” I promise.
“You won’t, Princess,” he whispers, his words brushing my lips, and then his lips follow.
I shudder at the touch.
I reach up to hold his face, but my hands find nothing. I can feel him kissing me, but there’s nothing there to anchor me.
I reach behind my head and tear the blindfold off.
My eyes snap open—I’m staring at the ceiling.
The dream still thrums in my chest. Sweat trickles down my neck and back. And instead of horror, I feel an ache. A flicker of longing for this dream to become real.
I drag a hand down my face.This is Stockholm, Wen. Go back to sleep. Dream about things that make sense.
I close my eyes. The dream dances behind them. I open them again.
I glance at the wall clock. Past midnight. I sit up in bed. Bruno lifts his head and watches me. I pat him, then get up.
“Let’s go upstairs.”
Bruno and I creep quietly through the hallway of my captor’s wing, to the stairs, and up.
Once we reach the top, I quicken my pace and hurry to the piano.
I settle onto the bench and look around. The roses are bathed in silver moonlight, their fragrance saturating the entire space.
