CHAPTER 3. MY OWN TERMS.

EZRA'S POV

My heart felt like it was going to fall out of my chest.

I had planned this for months. Years even. But now, as the time loomed even closer, I started feeling myself get cold feet.

What would happen if I failed and they caught me? Caelan would never trust me again. Would they kill me? I had no idea why I was this important to the family and somehow, I doubted I was that relevant to them.

There was a sharp knock on my door that made me jerk back to the present.

Shit.

My feet moved fast as I quickly pulled open my door to see Dorian standing there, hands tucked into his pockets.

“Hey.”

My heart lurched in my chest and I cleared my throat, leaning against the doorframe. “What's up?”

He looked behind me, peering around the large space I called my room. “Can I come in?”

For a second, I couldn't say a word, the words seeming to be stuck in my throat. I didn't expect anyone to come to my room. Definitely not Dorian. What did he want?

I finally nodded. “Yeah sure.”

Just as I stepped aside, he strolled in casually, dragging my bedside chair and slumping down on it.

Quietly, I shut the door behind us, my heart racing in my chest as I turned to look at him.

He looked so out of place in my space, his dark clothes contrasting sharply to the white wallpaper on the walls behind him.

For a second, he didn't say anything and his expression didn't change. Then finally… “Take a deep breath. I can smell your fear.”

My heart skipped another beat. “Jesus, that's not exactly comforting.” I whispered, dragging myself back to my bed.

This was Dorian, what was I even expecting?

His gaze followed my movements. “You know I'm still getting a hang of these whole thing…”

My brow lifted but I didn't say another word. Just stared at him as I waited for him to tell me why he was here.

“You missed the briefing last night. You sick?” He finally pointed out.

Ah.

My hand automatically went to the back of my neck and I scratched at the skin there. “I wasn't really feeling it. Was anything important discussed? I'm guessing so because you're here personally to deliver the message.”

His expression didn't change but his lips pulled lower. “It's called a briefing for a reason. We're having a council visit. They sent out the notice. They call it a consensus of the non vampire individuals living in each household. Routine.”

I forced a smile. “Yeah, of course. When is that?”

“February.”

My mind worked fast. February. I was leaving in a few hours. I won't be here in two months. They could handle it themselves.

“Got it. I'll put that in mind,” I blurted out.

He nodded slowly and pulled himself up from the chair. “Father is already putting you a lot on the company’s financial deals. Don't mess up. See you at breakfast then, Ezra.”

Caelan was beginning to involve me a bit too much in the family's business.

Tempting. A bit too tempting.

I nodded firmly, watching him walk out of my room before I slammed the door shut.

Shit.

I needed to get out fast.

*****

At 3am, I zipped my bag shut, slinging it over my shoulder before I gently snuck out using the window.

Lay low.

My gaze flickered to the watch strapped to my wrist. I had approximately two minutes to get to the east gate or I was going to miss my opening.

I found a safe way to slide down the roof, knees knocking together as I finally landed on the ground in the courtyard, cold air brushing past my face.

I moved along the South wall and that's when I heard them ㅡ two staff members around the corner, voices low and unhurried like they had nowhere to be.

Shit.

My back immediately pressed against the wall and I tried not to even breathe. Hopefully the suppressants I had on would keep my scent cloaked from their keen senses.

“Greaves still hasn't confirmed the morning roster. I've sent it three times.”

“Send it a fourth. Copy Maren.”

A short laugh as they passed the pillar where I was pressed against. “Does that even work?”

“Every single time.”

I waited until their voices settled back into a murmur and I went left, through the gap between the south wall and the equipped outbuilding, tighter than I remembered, the wall was cold against my shoulder, and came out on the other side, facing the east gate.

Finally,

The maintenance panel was open and the camera casing was dark.

Without wasting time, I moved, my heart racing in my chest. In ten seconds, I cleared the gates, hit the streets and kept walking.

The immediate feeling was priceless as I stepped into the road.

I…I was free.

My gaze darted left and right. That… was my ticket to the main city where I would flee from the country.

I had already planned the transit hub four blocks east. The 3:55 car.

My feet moved fast as I stole into the night's air.

The car was already waiting when I got there, engine thrumming and three passengers already seated and paying me no attention whatsoever. No one knew me. Good.

I slid into the back seat and tilted my head back against the seat as the car began to move, the estate somewhere behind me in the dark getting smaller, becoming a point and then becoming nothing.

Something gnawed in my chest. Was it pain? Regret? Happiness? I wasn't sure what exactly I felt but I was proud of myself. No one got out of the estate without Caelan knowing at least. But I had succeeded.

A whole year of planning and I had done it.

Said goodbye to the place and family I had been with for twenty years.

Now, I began my own life.

And on my own terms.