I suddenly don’t want to go back there. “Is there a bathroom around here?” I ask, wanting to stall for time, I don’t want to go back to that room where I know that man is waiting and looking for any reason to kill me.
Tarina nods, her hypnotic blood red eyes searching my face. “Yes, down the hall, the last door next to the waiting area on your left.” I follow her instructions and walk to the bathroom. Just as I open the door, I notice Caroline and Josiah are no longer in the waiting room; I wonder where they have gone. I step into the bathroom, it has a few stalls, three sinks and a huge mirror. The white tiles gleam under the bright fluorescent lights.
I quickly wash my hands and wet the back of my neck. I already want to leave. Looking in the mirror, I will myself to go back in the room and face the man. When I turn around, though, I’m not alone.
I didn’t hear the woman that stands in front of me come in. She is gorgeous with her blonde hair and green eyes, she has soft facial features, and I can tell she has a lovely figure under her tight floor length gown.
Her eyes narrow when I look at her face, her lips pressing into a tight line. “You must be Tobias and Theo’s new plaything,” she says, looking at me not even hiding her disgust. “I just had to see which pathetic thing they decided to take as a mate, although you are prettier than I thought you would be. So, where are they?”
“Excuse me?” I ask, wondering who this stunning, yet nasty woman is standing in front of me.
“Your mates, you pathetic human, where are they?” She says, leaning on the door frame.
I roll my eyes and go to walk past her; she is really getting on my last nerve. She places her arm in my way blocking the exit. “Move,” I say, glaring up at her.
“Well, aren’t you a feisty one, not even intimidated when I could snap you like a twig. I figured you must have a backbone to take something that doesn’t belong to you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, now move!”
She leans in closer with a smile playing on her lips that indicates she is up to no good. Suddenly, the door bursts open and she straightens up as Caroline walks in, a shocked look on her face, before it turns to anger.
“Imogen come here,” she says, not taking her eyes off the woman, who I can tell she hates for some unknown reason. The woman moves her arm and steps slightly aside, allowing me to pass.
“What are you doing here?” Caroline spits at the woman.
“I’m here to drop off the documents and to see for myself if the rumors are true.”
Caroline glares at the woman. “Go back to my son’s, Imogen,” she says, not taking her eyes off the woman.
“I’ll be seeing you real soon, Imogen,” the woman adds, throwing a smile that shows her fangs to me as I walk out.
I make my way up to the last door again and step into the room. Alaric’s eyes snap to me and he smirks when I walk in. I stand awkwardly, not wanting to get any closer. And again, the door is thrown open and in walks the woman from the bathroom. Alaric smiles at her before holding out his hand, which she takes.
“I don’t believe you have met,” he says, a cruel smile on his face.
“And they won’t.” Says Theo, moving between me and the woman and cutting him off.
The woman steps forward and hits Theo in the chest with a white envelope. He growls at her. “Next time you want to divorce someone, do it in person, don’t send your parents.” She spits at him.
I look at Tobias confused, and Theo tries to pull me from the room. I pull my hand from his before walking over to the woman and standing in front of her. “Who are you?”
“Bianca, their wife,” she says, her voice so cold I fight the urge to shiver.
My stomach drops somewhere deep, I can feel the blood leave my face. They lied to me. I can tell she is enjoying the reaction I have to her name.
“I’m also the one who gets to decide your fate.” She smiles cruelly.
Tobias looks at Alaric, shock and anger on his face. “What is she talking about?” He spits, taking a step towards him.
“She is a member of the council, and since you decided to take a mate before divorcing your wife, we thought it is only fair she could have a say in it. Decide when your new mate will be forced to choose, death or the change,” he says.
I look at the woman, she has a sly smile on her face. One I don’t like, she is taking great pleasure in my discomfort and I know instantly I’m not going to like the next words that come from her pouty lips.
“You have three days, Imogen. Enjoy them; I will take great comfort in watching them snap that pretty little neck.”
I feel tears build up, before they can fall, I rip my hand from Theo’s and run from the room. I can hear yelling behind me as an argument breaks out, but I don’t care. I just want to get as far away from here as possible, Josiah and Caroline jump to their feet as I run past. “Imogen!” I hear Caroline call out to me, but I just keep running.
I keep running, bumping into people in my haste to get away from the nightmare that is becoming my life, only stopping when I run into Percy at the doors leading into this place.
Percy looks up at me with a red licorice strap hanging from his lips as he chews on it with his pointy teeth. He pulled the strap from his mouth, startled. “Imogen, what’s wrong?”
“I need to leave. Let me out, please.” He looks around me, noticing Theo and Tobias aren’t with me, he scratches his bald head nervously.
“I don’t think I should. Where are your mates?” He asks.
“Either open it or I will.”
“That’s not possible. Only supernaturals can open this door once inside, I’m sorry, Imogen, I can’t let you leave without your mates.”
I can tell he genuinely feels bad for not being able to let me out, to escape this suffocating place. Panic seizes every atom in my body, my heart hammers in my chest so hard, I’m afraid it is going to bounce right out of my chest. I clutch my chest, trying to calm myself. I haven’t had a panic attack in ages. I suck in a breath, trying to get much-needed air. I close my eyes, trying to ground myself as the adrenaline starts pumping through my veins, the familiar fight or flight kicking in.
Percy touches my shoulder. “Are you okay, love?” He asks worriedly. “Your mates should be here soon. I’m sure they wouldn’t leave you for too long. That I’m certain of.” He speaks softly.
“My mates are the fucking problem I want to escape from!” I scream, anger taking over. I’m so done with the lies, done with them getting their way. I shove past Percy and walk to the doors. “Open it now!” I demand.
Percy takes a step back. I do feel guilty for yelling at him, but I just need to get out of this place, need to get away from them. Percy shakes his head. “I’m sorry Imogen; I can’t do that,” he says, looking back towards the door nervously that leads to the quadrangle. I look up and people have stopped, looking in at me. Their curious faces watch me argue with the elf. I turn my back on them before hitting the door with my fist.