There’s a long enough pause that my mouth goes dry. I hesitate before getting on the elevator, wondering if he’s going to know what happened…or if he even cares.
Talon
As long as it’s not going to be a problem. You know, for our future.
Me
It’s not a problem.
At least, it’s not for me.
Talon
Good. Dad’s been asking when we’re making it official. Talking about addressing the Board to approve things for us… After finals, yeah?
Me
Talon
Don’t do anything stupid. We’ve waited this long.
We have waited. But not for the same things. When the time comes, we’ll stand next to each other and play the roles we were assigned. And that’s enough for him. For now.
But he’s always felt like a whetstone around my neck. The yoke I couldn’t shake.
Maybe I’m delusionally waiting for Aiden to rescue me.
Again.
When I throw open my door, I freeze. Breath caught in my constricted chest.
There’s nothing on my side of the room… No chair. No curtain. No lamp.
My pulse pounds between my temples as I rush to the bare mattress, hurling my bag down and yanking open drawers.
Nothing.
My clothes? Gone.
Shoes in the closet? Vanished.
Who the fuck did this?
“Ashlyn?”
I scream and spin around, ready to hit whoever it is. The giant size of the man in front of me has me shrinking back. His partner is the shorter kid who was with Henry the day he handed me the Red Night invitation.
“Who the fuck are you?”
“We’re here to escort you to your new, uh…place.”
Of course…Thetapledges. Good, obedient little errand dogs.
I hold up a finger to stall them and stab at my phone.
“Hello?” Aiden answers with a voice like amber honey.
“What thefuckdid you do with my stuff?”