NOVEL NEXT 352 What is Taking So Long?
Why wasn't August back yet? Had she been caught? No, if she had been caught he would have brought her back here, surely.
Penelope was pacing the dark room where August had left her. She felt like a caged animal. Not only that, she had only drank a little juice that was brought in and she was feeling faint. Was it the juice? Had he put something in it? Or maybe it was simply because she was going out of her mind with worry.
August was their best hope of stopping this monster who had been kidnapping and imprisoning alyko for decades. If something happened to her and Penelope was stuck here… not only would they have failed to kill him, but Penelope would be stuck here indefinitely. She couldn't imagine a hell worse. Pacing the confines of a small room with nothing to live for. No hope for tomorrow. Just awaiting the next meal or the next alyko trick that the vampire wanted her to perform. No, she would starve herself to death before she let that happen.
But she was getting ahead of herself, her thoughts racing towards an end that was not going to happen. It simply couldn't happen. August was fine. She was enjoying the freedom and couldn't resist the lure of continuing to look for the alyko wherever they may be. And this castle was huge—it was really like a giant maze if you didn't know where you were going.
"Goddess, I hope she didn't get lost," she whispered to herself.
A rapping knock startled her, and her eyes focused uneasily on the closed door. Shit.
"Who is it?" she called, hating the way her voice shook when she did.
She was a celebrated neuroscientist working on a global clandestine experiment for Goddess' sakes. She was brilliant and accomplished and confident. Not only that, she was a Winter alyko. That was a source of great pride to her. She was not going to cower before anyone, especially not a simple knock at the door.
"Your meal is here," a male voice responded.
More food? She glanced at the tray of mostly uneaten food from before. Was he trying to fatten them up for the slaughter or what?
Penelope tiptoed to the bathroom and turned on the water before closing the bathroom door. Hopefully that would be convincing as to where August had gone. Honestly, the fact that there was a powerful giant cage in this room would likely keep them from questioning too much. How would August manage to escape? It would be completely unexpected.
She took a deep breath and walked to answer the door. There was a young, clean-shaven lycan on the other side with shoulder-length wavy blonde hair. He looked vaguely familiar. He pushed the cart of food forward so she could pull it into the room without him having to enter.
He chuckled. "I don't think so. Boss says I'm supposed to make sure you eat." He put his hands in pockets and remained standing just outside the door.
"Did he make this?" she asked, glancing over the food uneasily. There was baked salmon with some kind of glaze, steamed broccoli, butternut squash with brown sugar, side dishes of fruit, and water.
"No, ma'am. I made it," he corrected her.
"Is there something weird in it?" she glared at him.
"No, ma'am," he frowned.
"Why does he want you to make sure we eat?" she asked, biting her lip in an unconscious slip of the underlying apprehension that was brewing.
"Just you," he corrected.
"What?"
"He told me to make sure you eat," he explained.
"Oh, well I will," she waved at him dismissively and was about to close the door when he stopped her.
"I have to watch you eat. If I don't, he will just come up here and make sure of it himself," he said.
Penelope groaned. "I am not hungry."
He sighed. "I will wait as long as I have to, but none of it is going to be any good once it gets cold. Maybe the fruit will."
Her stomach turned. She was going to have to eat this. If she was stubborn or delayed too long, this male would start to wonder why August hadn't come out of the bathroom yet. Alternatively, she could shut the door in his face like August had, but then she could expect a visit from Zagan, which would be so much worse than this harmless pup.
"How much do I have to eat?" she asked, staring at the food with a frown.
Her fear was that there was something in it. Why had her heart behaved that way before? Even if Zagan had drank her blood, she couldn't understand why she would have had chest pains like that. It was terrifying.
"You are a Winter, right?" the male's head tilted to the side, and crossed his arms in front of himself.
"Yes."
"From what I understand, you are among the most powerful alyko there are. Why are you afraid of the food?" he asked.
"I'm not afraid of it," she scoffed.
His eyebrows arched, indicating he didn't believe her. "There is nothing nefarious about my food. I take pride in cooking. I'm one of two lycans that he allows in his private residence. And if he wanted to do something to you, trust me—it wouldn't be underhanded like this. He would just do it."
Penelope sighed. He was probably right about that much. She picked up a fork and cut into the salmon, trying a piece. Her face lit up.
"It's good," she said.
An instant smile bloomed on his face.
"What is your name?" she asked, taking another bite.
"Brandt."
"Compliments to the chef, Brandt," she added.
"Thank you, ma'am. Once you are both done, just go ahead and roll it out into the hallway. I will be by to get it later."
"Penelope," she said between bites.
"What was that?" he asked, pausing as he was about to walk away.
"You can call me Penelope. Not ma'am," she told him.
"Okay. Sounds good, Penelope," he smiled.
If you are enjoying this story and want to support me as an author, consider voting for my current book that is entered into 2023 WSA, "CEO of Seduction." <3
emme_z
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