Page 121 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

“Touch me again, and you’ll regret it.”

He held my gaze for a beat, then smirked.

“Fine. I look forward to seeing how long you last without help.”

He stepped out of the stall.

And just like that, the air felt breathable again.

I stood there, hating that Goran had been right about Dylan. I’d thought it was harmless flirtation, but there was something dark about him.

Atlas shifted behind me, turning his head, sensing my tension.

“I’m fine,” I whispered to him, though my pulse was unsteady.

Dylan wouldn’t get the satisfaction of seeing me run to Goran. Goran would kill him. But then what? No, I needed a better plan.

I dried Atlas, then stepped outside and pulled out my phone.

Nathaniel answered on the first ring.

“Hey.”

“Do you know of any stables out of Father’s reach?”

“What happened?”

I swallowed at the hard edge in my brother’s voice. Nathaniel was dangerous on a good day, but when he was angry…he was lethal.

“Nothing,” I lied. “I just…don’t feel safe here. I keep thinking about dinner last night. This place makes me nervous.”

His tone changed immediately.

“And you don’t know anyone else?”

“No. No one who would defy Father.”

“Okay, I’ll look into it and get back to you tonight.”

Relief loosened the tightness in my chest.

“Thank you.”

“Oh, and Kaylani…don’t leave the property.”

He hung up.

Nathaniel was averse to goodbyes, like they were bad omens, but that warning was weirder than usual.

I looked out the window and spotted Goran standing in the driveway, his eyes fixed on his phone as if it had delivered a death sentence.

For a moment, I wondered if he regretted going along with this.

Regretted me.

The thought hurt. I hated my father for denying me the right to choose my life. And yet I was no better. Worse, even. I had stolen Goran’s choice, then expected him to still support me through all of this.

His life was literally on the line. My father would kill him if he found out.