20

~Tove

I gasp, stumbling back.

“Dax...What are you doing here?"

“I’m glad to have bumped into you, Tove.” He smiles down at me, triumphant. My stomach turns, because this is no accident, and there is only one reason why he has appeared in front of me.

I draw in a breath, glancing at Mary. She doesn't look scared, although I get the sense that she would rather return home than be back in that manor with the Noble's.

“I’m sorry, I need to get into my apartment," I mutter, shouldering past him.

He grabs my arm, stopping me short. He doesn't care that we are in the middle of the street, that people pass us by. He's a Noble, he can get away with whatever he wants...No one is going to save me.

“I’m afraid I’m going to need you to come with me," he murmurs lowly, tilting his head down so he is speaking right into my ear.

“Why?”

He frowns. “You know why.”

“Keo will not be a threat to me any longer. He has promised to leave me alone," I insist.

I've only had freedom for a few weeks. I thought D