Lord of Chaos (The Dragon Demigods #7) - Charlene Hartnady Page 0,19

I look at my watch.

“Not at all…enjoy your jog.” He gives me a friendly slap on the back. It takes everything in me to keep from breaking his hand.

I grit my teeth and nod.

He looks at me for a moment or two before finally leaving. I push out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. My adrenaline is pumping.

Fuck!

Double fuck!

This is a huge mess!

I can’t get involved, but I also can’t leave Nia to that bastard. I’ve met the prick, and now it feels personal, somehow. He sees her as his pet. A fucking pet. Even worse, he sees her as a pet that needs breaking. What the hell is that? I scrub a hand over my face.

I look around me. I see nothing. My gut tells me I’m alone, but maybe I’m being paranoid. That’s what happens when I get edgy. That prick might be watching me. It sounded like there are more Huntsman. My mind is in turmoil. Screw it! I decide to go on my jog. It will calm me down, if nothing else. It’ll give me time to think about what to do about all of this. I sling my bag onto my back. Then I place one foot in front of the other, heading out on a path. Before long, I pick up the pace and push myself hard. Until the sweat is dripping off my brow. Until my muscles shake from the exertion. What am I going to do? That question rolls around and around in my head.

What the fuck am I going to do?

9

Nia

What am I going to do?

I get up and pace for half a minute. Then I lie back down, trying to get comfortable. It doesn’t work. It’s only a matter of time before he finds me. Gaire. I hate him so much. I wish I could plunge a knife into his heart and end him, but I can’t. He is my master. I gave him my power. Handed it over to him. I don’t know how it happened. Well, I know, but I can’t believe I let it happen. I’m wiser than that now. I will never make the same mistake again. That’s if I ever get a chance to right my very stupid wrong.

I am pacing again. Where to next? I want to go back to Rage’s house, but I am afraid. Afraid of rejection, but I’m also afraid of capture. Rage might just hand me over to Gaire. No, I don’t think he would. I think he would stand against Gaire. Or try to. As upset as I am with Rage, I don’t want to see him hurt. I think that deep inside him is a nice guy. I’m not sure what turned him into such an angry, depressed person. Such a huge grump. Bottom line, I don’t want to see him suffer. Gaire is the king of making a person suffer. He takes pleasure in it. How did I not see that until it was too late?

I’m sure that Gaire must know I am missing. If not, it won’t be long before he hears. My clock is ticking. He’s coming for me. His ego wouldn’t have it any other way. Escaping was a bold move on my part. I knew it would put me on his radar again. I started to get the feeling that he might have forgotten about me. I didn’t have a choice. I had to get away. I couldn’t live like that. Not for another day. He is coming. He’s coming, and I’m powerless to fight him.

I hear footfalls. Several people. A family. They don’t even slow down. They barely look my way. Then they’re walking off. I’m hiding in plain sight, but it’s still only a matter of time before he’ll find me. Where next? What next? I briefly contemplate turning myself in to Gaire. Of begging for forgiveness, but I dismiss the idea as soon as it enters my head. I’d sooner die than be captured. I know how cruel Gaire can be. I can’t believe I ever loved him. The thought is abhorrent to me now. How did I not see him for the despicable creature that he is?

That’s probably why I like Rage so much. Sure, he’s an uncaring bastard, but at least he’s honest. He’s never lied to me or anyone else, as far as I know. He’s honest and straight down the line at all times. Rage doesn’t seem to care if he offends people