Page 26 of Mushy Stuff (Guardian Mates #1)

I do not sleep at all that night. I pace the floor like a caged animal.

Late in the night, after Pampa goes to sleep, I sneak up to the house to see if I can peer into one of Lydia’s windows.

There are guards patrolling the main house, but I manage to slip by them and get to one of the side windows of her room.

I see her asleep on her bed. Pampa was right; I can see a cuff on her ankle.

They have her chained to the bed. I’m filled with rage that they would dare do this to her, but I quickly try to rein it in before I break the window in front of me.

I test the window to see if it might be unlocked, but it’s not.

I go around to each window in her room and test them all one by one, but they are all locked.

Then I move on to the bathroom. The first bathroom window I try opens.

It’s a tight fit, but I am able to squeeze through.

Once I’m in, I quietly slip into Lydia’s room.

She’s asleep on her bed, on top of the covers. She still has her robe on. I remember enough of life at this estate to realize that this is not right.

I touch her arm and whisper her name, trying to wake her. She doesn’t move. I panic for a moment thinking that she is dead, but I can see her chest rise and fall shallowly.

It’s then that I notice a fine dusting of powder on her collar, and I growl. They must have drugged her again. There will be no waking her until it wears off.

I inspect the cuff and chain. I’m hoping that I will be able to break it, but it’s sturdy and strong.

When that fails, I study the lock on the cuff and try to commit it to memory so that I can explain it to Nanni. Maybe she will know where we can find the key.

Once I’m done, I spend a moment just studying her. She’s so beautiful that it makes my heart swell. Once I get her free of this place, I will give her my mating bite so that she can stay with me always.

No one has hurt her, and I count that as a blessing. I long to stay with her so that she doesn’t have to suffer this alone, but I know I can’t.

Before I leave, I bend down and kiss the top of her head.

I ache to kiss her lips, but I’m worried about that powder.

After I kiss her, I break a couple of mushrooms off my shoulder and tuck them into her hand.

I hope that she will recognize them, and it will reassure her that I am here with her.

I may not be at her side, but I can be with her from a distance.

I slip out of the bathroom window, then make my way back to Nanni’s rooms.