Page 38 of A Yulean Sister’s Guide to Getting Kidnapped

“Sage.”

I was sinking further.

“Sage.”

My body shot up stiff, almost smacking foreheads with whoever was there.

Luckily, they pulled back. The captain stood over me, hat firmly on his head.

My cheeks warmed at the position. It wasn’t that I wasn’t accustomed to it. I woke up in bed with random men often enough, but this felt different for some reason.

I pushed all of that away and sat up, wiping my damp brow and curling my legs into myself.

“What?” I asked, my voice hoarse from sleep.

“Are you okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” My tone was sharp, though it probably didn’t need to be.

“Okay,” he drew in a breath, “you’re late. It’s time to get up and get working.”

I stared blankly at him. “I told you yesterday I’m not doing that.”

“And I told you yesterday, it’s not optional.”

He flung the curtain of the single window in my room open, letting a ton of light in. “Up with the sun,” he said. “Get dressed, I’ll be waiting outside.”

“No I—” before I could finish, he was out the door, shutting it behind him.

“Prick,” I mumbled as I wiped my face and stood up. I shut the curtain again, not needing to remember what was out there. After rummaging through my bag, I found a simple yellow gown with white trim. It wasn’t too big, so I figured it would be appropriate. Luckily, I was able to mostly put this one on alone, but most of my other ones required another set of hands. I wasn’t sure how that would work out, but I’d cross that bridge when I got there.

I sat at my makeshift vanity and pulled out my compact mirror, barely being about to make my whole face out.

Though I could make out how unkempt my hair was. I used my brush, slicking it back into a single braid that looked tidy. It would be better with gel, but this would have to do.

There was the smallest bit of rouge in my toiletries bag that I smudged across my cheeks and lips.

My shoe situation was the real problem. I had three pairs of heels, nothing sensible for any kind of work. I chose the shorter white ones, hoping whatever I was doing wouldn’t end up with me getting dirty, and bent down, doing up all the straps.

I jolted at the loud sound of knuckles on the door. “I don’t have all day.”

“I’m coming,” I said, sounding more like a petulant child than I meant to.

I flung the door open, and he was standing there.

The most annoying thing about this all? How hot he looked just… existing.

Who did that?

There was a whacking sound that caught my attention. I tried to follow it and found it right at the end of his tail, which was rattling impatiently against the floorboards.

“You don’t have to stomp at me,” I said.

He looked confused, until he looked down and seemed to realize he was doing it. The captain stopped, tucking the tip beneath him.

“I’m not, let’s go.”

I wanted to question him about it, but he was storming off again, leaving me to do nothing but follow him. His tail swished behind him, making him move quickly, but differently than I.