that long, but she’s become one of my favorite people in the world, and I just want her back.
At least the other guys are back. That’s something. The room doesn’t seem so awfully fucking empty anymore. I’m not the kind of person who likes quiet; I’m outgoing, and I like having people around me. I had more than enough quiet after my parents died, when I was all on my own. I hated that time, and I don’t ever want to go back to it.
“So, how’s it all work? What do we do?” I ask, giving Sin’s hand one more squeeze before standing up.
“We give it to her, wait a few days, and see what happens,” Roman says. He’s got a grim look on his face as he gazes down at her. Then again, Roman always looks grim, like he stepped out of a mafia film, with his slightly hooked nose and his looming figure.
“What if nothing happens?” Dmitri growls. He’s asking the question we’re all thinking, but I fucking hate that he says it out loud.
“Then we’ll find something else.”
Roman’s answer is simple, but it’s all that needs to be said.
We’ll keep trying for as long as it takes.
Asher and I help prop Elliot up on the pillows and open her mouth. Thanks to a few other potions Roman was able to get his hands on earlier this summer, she hasn’t had to have a feeding tube or anything put in. She’s resting in a sort of stasis, so if it weren’t for the pallor of her skin and the unnatural slackness of her face, she’d look like she just popped down for a quick nap.
Roman guides her into swallowing the potion while Dmitri watches us with folded arms, his jaw clenching hard.
The liquid goes down her throat, and then… that’s it.
Nothing to do but more damn waiting.
Chapter 2
Dmitri
Moonlight stretches across the floor of the large room, and I stare at it unblinkingly.
Fuck.
This is bullshit.
I can’t sleep. Can’t stop thinking about the asshole that did this to Elliot. We’ve been holding on all summer. Waiting for some kind of fucking miracle.
Scrubbing a hand through my hair, I throw the blanket off and pad toward the door. I can’t lie still anymore. I need to fucking move.
The hallway on the second floor is wide, with high ceilings and gleaming hardwood. It reminds me of my parents’ house in Fairfield—except home always feels claustrophobic as fuck, and this place doesn’t. In this house, I can breathe properly.
My parents wanted me to come back for the summer. You have to get ready, they said. You have your duties. You have plans. You have a future.
But it’s not the life I want. It’s their plan; a future they laid out the moment I was born.
Besides, there’s no fucking way I’m leaving this house until the princess wakes up.
If she wakes up. It’s been two days since we gave her the potion, and nothing’s changed.
And I can’t fucking sleep.
I head down the stairs and tiptoe into the kitchen. It’s a big house, so I’m not worried about waking anyone up. But we’ve all been working around the clock to get Elliot back. If the others can get some shut-eye, I’m happy to let them.
Leaving the light off, I open a few cupboards before deciding that what I really need is a damn drink. I find a bottle of whiskey in the liquor cabinet and uncap it.
A few swigs help, stinging down my throat.
Motherfucking goddamn it. It should’ve been me in those Trials. Not Elliot.
I took it easy in that fight between us in the battle royale. I didn’t let her win, but… I could’ve fought harder.
She’s a powerful magic user and a fucking badass fighter. She’s the one person I didn’t mind losing to, and I had no doubt she’d do well in the Trials. But I had no idea some fuckstick would try to sabotage the whole thing. If I had, I would’ve stepped up and taken that hit, no questions asked. Elliot didn’t deserve to be in danger.
And now she’s hurt. And it’s my fucking fault.
The alcohol’s good but not enough. I put it back and go looking for something sweet.
Yeah, I’ve got a sweet tooth.
Tell anyone and I’ll kill you.
I open the fridge, casting a pale light over the kitchen as I peer inside.
“Hey.”
“Jesus fuck!” Slamming the fridge door closed, I wheel around.
Maddy stands in the darkened doorway, fiddling with the hem of her pajamas. They’ve got little black and white