Page 341 of The First Taste

Things that could potentially impact my life in real ways.

After a few more seconds, I unlock my door and pad out into the hallway. My feet automatically carry me to Persephone’s door. This isn’t the first night I have found myself here on her doorstep.

Last night, chased by the same dream, I watched her sleeping. And I felt…

Better, somehow. Or less alone.

Not that I would want her to know that, of course.

I stealthily swing the door wide and look at where she should be sleeping. I’m expecting her to be in the same spot on her side, blankets pulled up to her chin, a restless frown puckering her sleeping face.

But instead, I find the bed bare. There is no one sleeping here.

An instant feeling of anxiety churns in my gut. Where is she? My fists clench and my heart beats hollow in my chest.

No one leaves me.

I’ll hunt her down.

Make her stay.

I whip out my phone, ready to pull up the security cameras. There is a text from Ares.

Tangiers is a go. We’ve established contact with four ship’s captains. How are the papers progressing?

Shaking my head, I ignore the text.

I swipe through several screens until I open the security camera app. I have cameras installed on all my properties; they often come in handy, though I’m not often presented with such an obvious need for them.

It only takes a little bit of sleuthing for me to catch her leaving her room. About five more minutes, and I know exactly where she is.

Sitting by herself at the sandy cove that slopes down from the mansion.

Heading there is a few minutes’ walk. Then again, the furthest point from the house is only ten minutes away. It’s a very small island.

I trudge onto the beach and spot her. She’s still slumped there, staring off over the moonlit sea. The rush of the water disguises my footsteps and allows me to creep up on her.

I’m only ten feet away when Persephone notices me with a start.

“Jesus!” she mutters, her hand flying to her heart. “Someone should tie a bell around your neck.”

I fold my arms, vexed. “What are ye doing here?”

She looks away with shrug. “I’ve been asking myself that since I arrived.”

I walk a little closer, coming around to see her face. “That’s not what I meant, and I think ye know it fully.”

She shoots me an exasperated glance. “If you must know, I came out here to flee. Only to find out that there isn’t anywhere to go but out into the water.”

Her mouth tightens and she looks down, dropping her gaze to the sand. I tilt my head, pursing my lips.

“Ye thought… what, that there was civilization just beyond the house?”

Persephone glares at the sand dunes all around her. Digging her hands in, she raises her hands and lets the sand filter through her fingers.

“I don’t know what I thought. I can’t simply trust that you are going to be truthful. You’re just some psycho that I don’t know. Not to mention the fact that you kidnapped me! How am I supposed to believe anything you say?”

Her voice wobbles and breaks on her last word. I stride over to her, peering down at her. The urge to grab her and shake her is nearly unbearable.