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“Silla doesn’t depend on people, because she’s lived her entire life standing on her own two feet. Something tells me that her fear of small spaces is deep seated, but I’m waiting for her to trust me enough to tell me. We… it’s new and these things take time,” he says softly. “I’m not going to force her to tell me shit, and you shouldn’t mimic intimacy to get answers either. Silla is quickly learning to be paranoid of others, so she won’t like having to spend time with the Fucked up Threesome.”

I’m starting to hate the way he calls us this. I know others do it under their breaths, but it’s out of fear. Isaac says it out of pity and disgust.

“I don’t think she’d believe it even if I chose that route,” I tell him sadly. “I pretended to be her roommate on her first day, and look where that’s gotten me.”

“Can I ask you something?” Isaac rumbles, watching me carefully.

“Of course. You have a captive audience,” I tease.

Rolling his eyes, he runs his hand through his hair to push it off of his forehead. Isaac’s glasses don’t detract from how dangerous he is. “Do you have any actual interest in Silla? Truthfully?” he asks.

I find myself nodding before I even have to think about it. “I wouldn’t have pretended to be her roommate if I wasn’t interested in her. At first it was the air of mystery around her arrival to FRC, and then later it was how damn beautiful she is. Today in class, Silla became more than just someone I wanted to corrupt and fuck. Hearing her screams and being unable to get her out of the wall made me actually see her…”

“As more than tits and a tight pussy?” Isaac sneers, causing me to wince. “You have a shit ton of work to do for Silla to even think about you as anything other than the woman who tried to break her. I can’t tell you to stay away from her because of the Warden’s orders, but I don’t like this. Tell the other two they’re on notice. The only thing I care about is getting her through this program in one piece.”

“Isaac…” I warn, because I know what the Queen wants from her spies. “You may not be able to do that. Section B is the most difficult program for a reason. There’s a standard to the spies that the queen expects us to matriculate. I can’t spare her from that, and if she’s as innocent as you say, it’s going to be twice as difficult for her.”

Staring at me as he stands, he shrugs. “I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. For now, I need to know that you three won’t make things more difficult for her,” he says.

Sitting up now that Isaac doesn’t have me pinned to the bed, I nod. “I’ll talk to them. It’s just… Sidney and Ayden are difficult to control even on the best of days. I feel like the Warden wants us to spend time with Silla so we can see what she’s really like? He should have been a lot more angry than he was at us,” I explain.

“I’m sure he has his reasons for asking this. I’m going to go back and check on Silla. It’s going to be a really rough night. Sweet dreams, Drya,” he mutters as he leaves my room.

Dropping back onto my bed, I blow out a breath. “Holy fuck,” I whisper. I have no doubts that that man will come back to make my life very difficult if I don’t rise to the occasion.

I’m still staring up at the ceiling in thought, unable to sleep, when my brother slinks back into the room doing his version of a get laid parade. It’s only then that my eyes flutter closed, and even then it’s fitful and filled with a certain girl’s screams.

Twelve

SILLA

Last night wasn’t fun. My monsters came to visit my dreams, and then stayed. Patricia added a sedative to my IV before she headed to bed, and even then, sleep was fitful.

Every time I woke up Grayson or Isaac were there to soothe me back to sleep. They didn’t try to force me to talk, which I appreciated, because my demons are too close to the surface right now. I just…can’t do it right now.

Opening my eyes, my lashes stick together, which is gross. I have gunk on them from crying so much, and rubbing at my eyes helps dislodge the crustiness left behind.

Blinking, I find myself alone in the infirmary. It makes sense, Isaac and Grayson have jobs to do and sleep to catch up on. Not knowing what time it is, I search for a clock as I struggle to sit up.

I’m not connected to the IV anymore thankfully, but the world tilts a little as I sit upright. A whimper escapes as I close my eyes, hoping it’ll help, but instead my body feels as if it’s moving too.

Forcing myself to breathe, I push off the blankets, dropping my feet to the ground. I have to pee from all of the fluids Patricia gave me and I have no idea if there’s a bathroom here.

The door opens as I give myself a pep talk to rise off the bed.

“Silla, where are you going?” Grayson asks as he slams the door behind himself, rushing to me.

I think I wouldn’t have a problem confessing to Isaac that I have to pee and need help, but this is Grayson. My lip trembles as I bite it hard, because I don’t really know where we stand. We had a really hot moment where he watched us on the phone, but otherwise?

It’s not like Gray and I have had a real conversation outside of yelling at each other or some sort of emergency involved.

Why is telling this giant, growly man I have to pee so difficult?

“Silla? Are you in pain? Should I call Patricia?” he rumbles, crouching down next to me.

“No, I woke up alone, which is fine,” I rush to say when Gray winces. “I’m just a little dizzy, and well… I need to use the restroom.”

His eyes widen as he nods. What I do not expect is for this man to carefully pick me up in a bridal carry.