Chapter 22

I practically inhale the rest of breakfast and rush into the closet to find something that i can wear for the run, excitement bubbling through my skin like a shock of electricity. It has been weeks since i was last able to go out for a run, and whilst i have to do it with Mihai by my side, i couldn’t be happier.
I know I'm a prisoner, and i know that he could change his mind at any moment and decide to keep me locked up in this room, but i also know that he won’t. He is testing me. He's going to see if i run or not given the chance, and i am not going to, not whilst he is watching me. I need to build up his trust first.
If i blow this, i blow all further chances of getting out of this room, and i am not willing to do it, especially when i know that i will fail.
Mihai has a plan, he will have something in place, or someone to make sure that the skies come down on me should i try to escape.
But i am not stupid, i used surprise the last time that i tried, and i failed, now it has gone, i need to be more careful. I need to choose my moment of escape more cautiously if i actually want to succeed. I can’t just decide to run at a moment's notice with no actual plan of how i am going to get home. They will be watching me, all of them. Every single Nati that lives in this godforsaken place.
I grab a green sweater and some thick wool leggings, when i finally mustered up enough courage to look out of the window i realised that we were at the other side of the mountains that i saw, and the ground had been covered with snow. It was laid across the ground like a blanket of death, the Nati might not feel the cold, but i certainly do. And i do not want to find myself frozen to death in the middle of nowhere.
I used to love the snow when i was a little girl, but as i got older it just became more and more of an inconvenience. It's harder to track someone in three or four feet of fresh snow, especially in a city where people walk over each other's steps.
And don’t even get me started about fighting in it, I've ended up on my ass more times than i can count because i tried the wrong move on a sheet of ice. That shit hurts, a lot.
I pull on some thick winter socks and some running shoes, deciding to put on a hat and scarf, as well as some gloves to keep my hands warm. I've said it once, and I'll say it again, i hate the snow.
But no matter the weather, and my particular dislike of it, i am not passing up this opportunity to go outside.
I walk back into the bedroom, shocked to see that Mihai had changed, i hadn’t even heard him leave, let alone come back. He was wearing a black buttoned shirt with black trousers and a suit jacket to match, not exactly to type of clothes to go running in.
Then again, he is a Nati, and he does not feel the cold, nor does he break a sweat running the way that i would.
I suppose being undead comes with its perks.
“You look like you are dressed to climb the mountain pass.” he says, walking around me as he inspects my clothes, rather rudely. “It is a warmer day today, you shouldn’t need all those layers.”
“That’s easy for you to say.” I snap, crossing my arms, “You don’t feel the cold the way that i do, i could have hypothermia and you’d not even know it.”
“I would.” He says, pressing his broad chest into my back, “I’d know the difference in your temperature before you do.”
Of course he would, is there nothing this guy can’t do?
“That’s great.” i say, rolling my eyes.
“Did you just roll your eyes at me?” he asks, grabbing my chin and forcing me to look up at him.
“I did.” I murmur, getting lost in the darkness of his eyes.
It isn’t fair that he’s so breathtakingly handsome, it must be some sort of cruel joke inflicted on me by the universe. “Do it again, and i will drape you over my knee and show you who you belong to.” He threatens, his voice thick with lust.
I have to force myself not to react, and not to roll my eyes, especially not to roll my eyes, because I've never been threatened like that before, and I'm not even sure that i won’t enjoy it. In fact, i am almost certain that i would enjoy it, and that is the problem.
Or maybe i am the problem, i haven’t quite decided yet.
“Don’t make promises you don’t plan on keeping.” I say, raising a single eyebrow as i watch him.
I feel the pressure of his cock digging into my ass, and i can’t help but gasp when his hand wraps around my throat, the images of what we did the night before clouding my mind.
“I never make empty threats, little hunter.” He purrs in my ear, tightening his grasp around my neck.
“Good to know.” I gasp out, trying my best to breathe with what little space is left.
He releases me so suddenly that i stumble, my cheeks flushing a bright pink as i turn around to stare at him, not quite sure whether i am angry or turned on. Maybe i am both, if that is even possible.
There is something seriously wrong with me, I'm certain of it. Normal people shouldn’t be turned on by threats of violence.
Mihai walks away, leaving me stood by the closet door, my eyes wide, “I thought you wanted to go for a run, little hunter?” He smiles, turning back around to pin me with his stare.
“I did.” I say, clearing my throat. “I mean, i do, i do want to go for a run.”
Mihai' smile widens, “then you better hurry up, i have other things to do with my day.”
I hurry after him as he reaches the door, excitement once again washing over me, but it isn’t alone, it is accompanied by fear, and crippling anxiety. A small part of me wants to turn around and run back into the room where i know that i am safe, but i know that i cannot. If i don’t leave the room now, by my own choice, then i never will, and Mihai would have won.
I will not let him or anyone else break me, not now, not ever. I am Mae William’s and i will not be some Nati pet that is locked up in a room all day whilst she waits for her master to return. It isn’t who i am. It will never be who i am.
“Where are we?” i ask as i follow him, trying to use small talk to distract me from the pain in my chest.
It might work, it might not, but as long as my legs keep moving everything will be ok.
“We are in a mansion.” He says, turning us towards the staircase.
“Yeah, no shit, i knew that part.” I say, rolling my eyes. “I mean, where is the mansion? Because i am pretty sure i saw the same mountains at the other place.”
He turns, towering over me, “you do not need to know where we are, all you need to know is we are far away from the last place, and your father will not be able to find us, not here.”
My skin pales as i stare up at him, not expecting the outburst of anger, not when i only asked a simple question.
“Yeah, ok.” I murmur, following him as he descends the stairs. “I was just curious, you know, it wasn’t some part of an elaborate plan to get away, it was just a question.”
Jeez, someone certainly shit in his wheetabix, didn’t they?
I hope he isn’t like the for the entire run, it’ll be pretty shit if he is. My first time out of the room and i rolled for angry owner. Great.
Well, at least it couldn’t get any worse.