“What?” I asked, my voice low and breathless as I registered his words.“Yes, ma’am. I’ll explain everything.” He promised.“Ma’am, your speech..” Claire interrupted; uncertainty rang in her voice. She didn’t know whether to attend to her work or do something on my behalf, by stepping out of her role.“N-No..” The word flew unsteadily from my lips and I gazed back at Cameron, “Tell me, now!” I said sternly, after gathering my strength.“I suggest we remove ourselves from the crowd, ma’am.” Cameron gazed at me with worry as he spoke the words, yet another reason to cause a dreaded feeling to crawl into the pit of my stomach.I nodded, before turning to Claire, “Distract them.” Her eyes widened at my order; to actually step out her role nonetheless. I could see the gears working in her mind through her eyes, before she reluctantly nodded.

The woods brought nothing but utter darkness. In the nighttime woods, the trees stayed black, its trunks against a strange bluish charcoal sky, such darkness. The path in front had become the deepest brown and moonlight could do so little when it came shining its light, only causing the stones to glimmer, but the canopy of trees prevented any other light from getting through.I cried out in frustration, as my heels caught against fallen branches and roots of the large trees. Running in Jimmy Choos was impossible, but running bare feet, and here where sharp thorns could cut through your flesh would be worse. The pain would simply slow me down.I could still hear the cracking of the fire, and its heat. Though it had died down a little, it was still there, following my feet with each step I took. The eerie silence of the woods made me quiver; my insides shaking as I struggled to take steady and soft breaths. Though, the br

I stared at him for the longest time, blinking only once or twice before I threw my head back and laughed; I convulsed into laughter at the nonsense he spilled from his mouth. His eyebrows knitted together, frowning at me as laughs fell from my lips in waves, before a perplexed look formed on his sculpted face. As my erratic laugh died down, I took in a few breaths before asking, “So what? You’re Toothless?” I snickered, placing a hand on my mouth to stifle another round of laughs.Confusion washed over his face, “I have teeth.” He muttered.“Oh! Oh my God, you don’t know Toothless? The greatest dragon of all?” I asked him incredulously.“The greatest dragon of all was my father.” He told me sternly, as if it was something he truly believed.I scoffed, “Ok stop!” I shook my head at him, “I shouldn’t even find this entertaining, you need help! There isn’t

TW: Graphic vi/len/e (o,c) ahead in this chapter- sh//ting (o,o)I gaped, stepping out into the porch, trying to find some path that led away from this house. But the woods surrounded from one end to another, and endless darkness ahead due to the thick woods. The house was caged, hidden within the woods.“Why would you leave?” An incredulous voice asked from behind, once again I did not bother to look which of the two men it was.“I have a life to get back to. My company needs me.” I didn’t know why I even bothered to explain to these men. I had my own life to lead. I had the right to make my own decisions, I refuse to stay here imprisoned by this ridiculous nonsense. I had one mission, and one mission alone. I wasn’t going to put everything I loved in danger, even for the man that came from my dreams. The woods eventually stop into an old

“Is that-” I was about to ask a question, but the pain that shot through my leg, cut my words off with a scream. Tears invaded, stinging my eyes, but I held them back.A strangled gasp escaped my lips as I looked up at Austin, who was throwing away the arrow that was once pierced through my flesh, “You little, son of a-”“You’re welcome.” He rolled his eyes, before an arrogant smirk decorated his lips.“Who gave you permission-?” But once again, I was cut off and I felt a twitch of an angry spark at the disrespect he gave me, “I was helping. It could have been poisoned.” He said, narrowing his eyes on the weapon he had discarded.“I’ll sue you, if you just caused more damage.” I threatened him, well knowing if he wanted to, he can rip me apart with whatever supernatural strength he possessed. He stared at me for a second or two, perhaps