Page 90 of Sage Haven

And all I could think was—liar.

As he left me alone in the darkness.

20

REICH

Iknew bringing herto the Pit was a mistake.

The Pit was never meant to hold someone like her.

But I did it anyway.

Because when it came to her, logic stopped existing. I didn’t have a choice. No clean answers. No contingency plan. Lucas had forced my hand, and I wasn’t about to leave Sage out there in the open for men like him to circle.

And I sure as hell wasn’t ready to let her go.

Still, the moment the steel door sealed shut behind me, I felt it, the slow creep of regret twisting through my gut. This wasn’t how I planned it. Not here. Not yet. I had told myself that when I brought her in, it would be controlled. Calculated. Everything on my terms.

But Sage had a way of throwing everything out of balance.

And Lucas Renner... his eyes on her told me there was more to her story. Something deeper. Something dangerous. And if I was going to get answers—real answers—I needed her here. Somewhere I could watch her. Keep her close. Keep her safe.

I had her room prepared ahead of time. Surveillance in every corner. Comfortable enough that she wouldn’t spiral. A bed. Soft sheets. A dresser. A mirror that wasn’t glass. I even chose awarm light instead of the sterile white bulbs Castor swore by. Little details that offered the illusion of safety. Of control. She’d believe it was a trade or a type of comfort for answers.

And maybe it was.

But I didn’t think I could give her back when this was done.

I stepped inside, the heavy door slicing through the dark with a hollow groan. The thin beam from the hallway cut through the shadows and landed on her like a spotlight. She was slumped in the chair where Castor had left her, restrained but not to the point of pain.

That had been my stipulation.

She stirred at the sound of my boots on the concrete, her body slow to respond, like she was fighting through a fog. The remnants of the sedative still dulled her movements, but not enough to mask the way she stiffened when she realized she wasn’t alone.

Even wrecked, she was stunning.

A disaster I wouldn’t mind getting lost in.

Her head turned sluggishly toward me with eyes heavy but burning with something fierce beneath the surface.

Her voice rasped through cracked lips, “Why are you doing this?”

No fear. No begging. Just exhaustion. Defeat.

But I wasn’t stupid enough to think she’d given up.

She didn’t break easily and part of me respected her for that.

I didn’t answer her question. I didn’t owe her an explanation.

“Soon enough you’ll know,” I murmured, keeping my tone flat. Emotionless.

Her gaze sharpened, a dagger aimed straight at me.

“I did what you asked,” she said, voice low but hard. “I stayed away.”

It was almost funny. She thought this was about my field. A fucking patch of flowers.