Page 62

Azizia

I traipse out of the trees, panting and feeling dizzy. It’s so damn hot out here. When I reach the road, I stop and look around, trying to recall which way I came from. I take a deep breath and wipe the tears from my eyes.

Did I even come in this way?

I look behind me, then back at the road. I’m not sure how to get back to the mansion, but I better do it soon. Xadrian is going to be mad if he finds out I didn’t head straight home when he told me to. The Felix guy sure is going through it right now, and I swear he must think I’m someone else. I couldn’t really focus on that when I was finally getting the attention from my husband that I’ve so craved. For just a moment, everything seemed perfect. But the second that beautiful woman left with Felix, Xadrian barked at me to get away from him and get home at once. He’d meet me there shortly. Then he stormed off in the same direction as that woman, and if she didn’t seem so obsessed with Felix, I’d think she was fucking my husband too.

But he told me to go home, so that’s what I’m trying to do now.

With one last look around, I choose a direction and hope for the best.

I walk and walk and walk, my only worry is getting back home.

Maybe I should worry about that man I brought into the woods. He didn’t seem very happy when that woman took him, but for some reason, it felt like he was supposed to go with her. Still, there is something nagging at me. Kidnapping isn’t right, I know that, and it seemed like she was kidnapping him, but…

I shake my head.

I shouldn’t worry about it. It’s not my problem. What is my problem, is my husband. Or better yet, making him happy. Figuring out what I need to do to do that. He’s been so grumpy lately and I want that to change. All I want is for him to be happy and to love me. We’re going to get our happily ever after, like he promised the day I was sent to him. He showed me he is capable of loving me a few minutes ago, so I just have to figure out how to get him like that all the time. It shouldn’t be difficult.

Without realizing it because I’m caught up in my thoughts, I hit the road that leads to home.

I smile as I pass a large cluster of blood-red bushes, the one that tells me I’m going the right way.

“Zia, is that you?”

I whirl around just as Rae steps out of the bushes. My eyes widen, and I jump up and down before running into his arms.

“Rae-Rae!” I squeeze him tight, and even though he returns it, hugging me much harder, I feel like something is wrong. Why do I keep getting these strange feelings that things are off? He puts me down on my feet and he’s frowning. “What’s wrong?”

“What are you doing?” he hisses, yanking on my arm and pulling me into the bushes.

“I’m going home,” I say, pointing over my shoulder and looking around. “Why are you hiding in the bushes?”

“Why are you going home?” he asks.

“Because that’s where I live,” I say with an eye roll. “My husband is waiting for me.”

His eyes narrow and he leans close to me. “Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine, why?”

“Zia…” He blinks a few times. “Let me get this straight. Right now, this very second, you’re walking back to your home to get to Xadrian?”

“Of course I am. Where else would I be going? Are you coming with me?” I take a small step back but he yanks me closer to him.

“Am I com—hell fucking no I’m not going with you because you’re not going back there.”

“Don’t be silly,” I say, turning on my heel.

Rae grabs me again, pulling me deeper. It gets darker, and thankfully, a little cooler.

“We have a problem,” he grits out.

I open my mouth to ask what he’s talking about, but someone else answers.

“What now?”

I rear my head back when I see another man hiding in the bushes too.