Lily woke with a gentle shake, groaning as the sun blared through the windows.
When a shadow hovered over her through her lids, she lifted her lashes to see Jason standing there.
“Hey, there,” he said. “Come on, it’s time to get up.”
Lily shifted to her side, burying her face into the pillow. “No.”
He smiled then. “Tired?”
“Duh.”
“I’ll get us some chai.”
“I want to sleep.”
“But it’s time to get up,” he countered.
“And I want to sleep,” she said back.
“Okay,” he said, chuckling, “I’m going to give you five more minutes, then you’ll pack up everything and we’re leaving.”
“Leaving?” Lily said, staring up at him curiously. “Where are we going?”
“Out of town,” Jason said vaguely. “What clothes do you want to wear today?”
Lily looked at Jason, to what she was wearing, then back at him. “I only have one dress. And I’m wearing it.”
He smiled then. “We’ll have to fix that, won’t we?”
“Were you actually serious?” Lily slipped her legs off the soft, comfy bed and stood her ground, crossing her arms over her chest. “You’re going to hold me captive?”
“Yep.” He stepped over to the bed and hovered over her, leaning down to whisper, “And you can’t escape.” Then he leaned back up, stepping toward the door. “Don’t forget you can’t grab anything anyways,” he added, “your hands are still injured.”
Lily looked at her neatly bandaged hands and back at Jason. He gave her an amused smile and left the room.
“Wait!” she yelled, running after him. When she caught him in the hall, he turned his head to the side, making only his lashes and the tip of his nose visible.
“Where’s Elle?” Lily wondered.
“Don’t worry,” Jason responded. “She’s safe. He doesn’t want her.”
How long was the drive? Where were they going? What was going on? Are they in danger? Who was Mr. Matthews? What did he know about Matthews? What’s the typical lifestyle of “an Enchanted”? So many questions burned through Lily’s thoughts.
“Are we driving?” she asked.
“Yep.”
“You have a car?”
“Yeah.”
“Wait… Can you drive?” she wondered. “Legally?”
He slid her a smile. “What are you, the FBI?”
“How can I trust you?” she demanded. “How do I know you’re not just taking me to Mr. Matthews?”
Jason chuckled, then turned to her, smiling. “You’ll have to learn, Sweetheart. And I know you will, because I will never let you go. You’re stuck with me.”
She half-expected her blood to turn cold at his response... but for some reason... it grew warm.
Along with her entire body.
*****
The drive went by pretty fast.
Lily didn’t sleep well the night before, so she dozed off in the passenger seat.
Her hands stung from the burns scattered across her palms, and the icy grip closed around her throat every time she remembered her teacher’s words.
I can’t wait to take her and make her mine.
A teacher was supposed to be someone she should trust.
They weren’t supposed to be murderers.
The terror forced nausea up her throat, and she kept on having to swallow it down the night before.
She eventually stepped out of the bedroom, finding Jason on the couch, watching TV while leaning lazily against the back of the sofa.
“Do you have some stomach medicine?” she asked him.
But he only smiled. “Can’t sleep?”
A nod.
“I have some sleep meds. Want some?”
Something about him giving her meds to help her sleep didn’t settle with her, and she shook her head. “No, never mind.”
He shrugged. “Your choice.”
And she walked back to the room.
She drifted out of her sleep as the car slowed to a stop.
She honestly didn’t know what she was dreaming, but all she remembered was light for the first time... like she were in the clouds... and she was with someone she loved... though she didn’t remember who...
When she opened her lashes to the sound of Jason’s door slamming shut, she glanced up through the windshield to see a large hotel resting in front of her.
Rubbing her eyes, she sat up, taking in the building.
The siding was a tan color... a mixture between sand and brown...
When her door opened, she looked over to see Jason leaning against the frame of the car, smiling down at her. “You coming?”
“Where... are we...?” she questioned.
He tilted his head to the side. “Get out of the car and I’ll tell you.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You know, you can’t always win the games you play.”
“Wanna bet?”
She rolled her eyes and jumped out of the car, landing on the asphalt, and looked up.
“We're in Denver,” Jason said.
Lily turned her head to see that he was standing next to her, gazing at the building, as well. “You mean... we’re not in California anymore?”
“Nope. About...” he clicked his tongue, “thirty hours?”
I was asleep that long?
“We’re not sleeping together...” she clarified.
“Tempting offer, but no. I got us a two bedroom suite.”
She looked down, blowing out a sigh of relief.
At least they didn’t have to sleep in the same bed...
“Are you ready?” Jason asked Lily as he held out his hand.
She pulled away from his grasp, glaring at him. “This better not be a trap.”
“Even if it was, you’re not allowed to escape,” he sang, then wiggled his fingers.
“I’m not holding your hand, Jason.”
“Take it,” he said, “or I’ll grab yours.”
“I don’t trust you.”
He smiled. “I’m well aware, but that doesn’t mean I care.” He nodded his head to his offer. “Take my hand.”
She shot a glare down at his palm, letting him know she didn’t enjoy this before taking it.
“Good girl,” he praised, making her cheeks flush.
“Don’t call me that.”
“Why?” he said, grinning. “You don’t like being praised?”
“I don’t like you.”
“Aww...” he said, sticking his lip out. “That hurts my feelings. Don’t lie like that.”
“I’m not lying,” she said. “And I’m glad I hurt your feelings. You deserve it.”
“Just for that,” he said, brows raised, “I’m picking you up.”
She looked at him then, trying to step away but his hold on her hand only let her back a couple inches. “Jason, no.”
But he grinned, throwing her legs out from under her faster than she could handle, and she nearly screamed if he didn’t shush her first.
“Quiet,” he said. “People are going to think I’m killing you.”
“Why haven’t you already?” Lily countered.
“Reasons that you won’t understand.”
What was that supposed to mean?
But he led her into the large building without another word.
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7003OOrSi
