Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
5.
Sergeant Davis provided my parents and me with a private room to talk. Needless to say, we were in there for quite a few hours. I was fairly certain I should’ve been given some kind of debating award when I finally managed to convince them.
There was shouting, tears, and pleading. Now, the three of us sat in sullen silence. Many compromises were made, more on their part than mine, but still. I had to promise that if my mission took longer than a few weeks, I’d redo my final year at St. Bastian’s. Needless to say, I was highly motivated to get it done quickly.
“I’ll be monitoring the reports from the prison daily,” my father said. “And if I get even a hint of trouble, I’ll remove you personally.”
“That makes two of us,” my mother added, and I was grateful for how much they cared about me, but at the same time, I needed to do it. Belinda had lost her life because of me. I couldn’t just continue as normal and allow the possibility of others being hurt, too. I needed to finish this thing with Vasilios to move on finally.
There was a knock at the door, and my father went to open it, revealing Peter, his face full of concern.
“Darya!” he exclaimed as he barrelled into the room.
“We’ll give you two a moment,” Mum said, taking my dad’s hand and leading him out. As soon as they were gone, I launched myself at Peter, melting into his familiar comfort and warmth. His arms and chest, his scent that I knew so well.
We stayed like that for a long time, absorbing one another. I wasn’t sure how many minutes had passed before Peter broke the quiet. “What the hell’s been going on? Everyone’s saying you killed Belinda, but I know that can’t be true.”
“No one out there filled you in?” I asked, my eyebrows shooting up.
“No one’s told me anything. I had to wait for hours. I’ve been driving myself insane wondering what happened.”
I swallowed thickly, hating that he’d been out there worrying all that time. I quickly filled him in on everything, from the moment I knew I’d been spiked through to Sergeant Davis’s proposal. Peter listened intently, a focused, serious look on his face.
When I finished talking, I noticed how he slowly shook his head. “Darya, you can’t do this. Do you have any idea how dangerous it will be? I can’t believe Sergeant Davis even suggested it. You haven’t even finished school yet, and you know nothing about dealing with the kind of criminals you’ll face inside the prison.”
I took both his hands in mine, drawing him close. “If Vasilios has found a way to interfere with my life from inside the magically warded walls of a place like the Prison of Thorns, then who knows what he’ll try next. I can’t sit idly by and wait for another disaster to strike. There was no love lost between Belinda and me, but she was killed, and more than likely, it was because of me. I have to take action. I love you, Peter. You’re the most important person in my life, and it means everything that you back me on this, but … well, if you really don’t want me to go, then I won’t.”
I was making a huge concession. My parents hadn’t wanted me to do it, and I’d spent hours arguing against them until they finally gave in. But Peter was the love of my life. I wouldn’t leave him unless I had his full approval.
He let out a tired breath, staring into my eyes as he squeezed my hands. “You’d honestly stay if I asked you to?”
“I’d do anything for you,” I replied fervently. It was the truth.
His shoulders began to sag like the weight of the world rested upon them. His gaze was full of agony when he finally said, “If this is something you need to do, then I’ll support you. I don’t know how I’m going to stand missing you, but I’ll do it for you.”
I threw my arms around him and pulled him close. He wrapped his arms around me so tight I could barely breathe, but I didn’t care. I needed this, needed to be as close to him as I could get before we were inevitably torn apart. Soon, I’d be countless miles away from him, on a remote prison island where I wouldn’t see him for as long as it took to complete my mission.
I buried my face in Peter’s neck and breathed him in, committing his smoke and amber scent to memory. It would be the only thing to keep me going during the lonely nights I would spend in a prison cell.
Peter shifted us so that he could press his lips to mine. The kiss started chastely but soon deepened to something much more intense. I drank him in like I was dying of thirst. Then we heard footsteps approach out in the hallway and quickly separated.