Page 402 of Once Upon a Fable
She shrugged and smoothed the front of her sweater. “I didn’t have any clothes up here, and I didn’t feel like going downstairs in just a towel. Not with Jareth roaming about.”
I held out my hand, my heart skipping a beat when she took it. “If it makes you feel any better, he is honorable. He wouldn’t do anything, even if you were stark naked.”
She sniffed and squeezed my hand. “I know. I get that he’s loyal, and you guys trust each other with your lives, but...”
“But?”
“I can’t get a read on him.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Unlike you being able to read me from the moment we met?”
She laughed under her breath. “Exactly.”
“You took advantage of my lack of interaction and saw thingsIwasn’t even ready to see.”
“Perhaps.” She fell into step with me as I pulled her down the corridor toward the staircase. I’d never thought I’d willingly come up here and spend time in these bedrooms, but thanks to Gem, the curse of this place had lifted just a little further, giving me more than just rooms but layers upon layers of freedom.
“I’m sorry too, by the way. I got a little ahead of myself. You seem...better. And I grew impatient for everything.” She smiled softly. “Instead of being impatient, I’ll just be grateful for the progress you’ve made. If it’s okay with you...perhaps, I could figure out a way to let my mother and brother know I’m okay, and then I won’t have such a need to rush back.”
I stumbled on a step, halting us. “Of course, that’s okay. I’m not keeping you from them.”
Her eyebrow arched as if calling me out on my bullshit.
“Not anymore at least,” I growled.
“Good to know. Then I’ll try to give them peace of mind without leaving.”
“How? How could you do that?”
“I’m not sure. My PLB perhaps? That black piece of technology you broke on my first night? It’s a locator beacon. If I could figure out how to fix it then—”
“More people would arrive.”
“Yes, but they wouldn’t take me away if I told them I wanted to stay. They could relay a message.”
I snorted with scorn. “You honestly think they’d just turn around and leave you here, in a house of horrors with a guy who looks like me.” I ran my finger along her neck. “With bruises signaling to the world what I’ve done to you?”
She shivered as I dropped my touch. “You might have a point.”
Fresh anger spilled through me. “You’re free to leave at any moment, Gem. If you miss your family, then you should go. Iwantyou to go. I was going tomakeyou go—”
“ButIwant to stay.” She shook her head, tugging me the rest of the way down the stairs. “We’ll figure something out, Kas. I’m sure of it.”
I pursed my lips, mind racing, head throbbing. After everything she’d given me, I couldn’t stomach the thought that she still felt trapped. That she was still effectively my prisoner, even if we had fallen for each other.
But how the hell was I supposed to give her what she wanted? I wasn’t ready to face the outside world. If I was honest, I didn’t know if I’deverbe ready. The thought of men surrounding me? Women touching me?
Fuck me, it was enough for me to pass out cold in the foyer.
“By the way, you look nice too,” she added almost shyly as we reached the bottom of the stairs. Her attempt at switching the subject wasn’t lost on me.
I deliberated ignoring her and continuing with our argument, but what was the point?
There was no easy answer; not tonight at least.
“The choices are getting limited these days,” I said, glancing down at my latest wardrobe choice. “I used to wear something until it fell apart, but...it’s cold tonight, and my skin still burns from the icy shower, so I indulged.”
She nodded. “You look hot.”
