Page 18 of Dark Goodbye

Blood pumping through my veins, I make my way inside the house, glancing about. No doubt Mogen is with Ladria, giving her a simple meal to test out the resolve of her stomach. Tipping my nose in the air, I catch a faint whiff of the food and pause.

Making my way into the kitchen, I stare at the plate of untouched food as my own stomach rumbles in protest. Despite the gnawing at my insides, I push the desires to the side to contemplate why it’s here. Either she’s still not hungry, or Mogen still hasn’t fed her yet.

With quick strides, I walk through the house, stopping in the communal room. There is Mogen, her weary body resting on one of the many lavish couches strewn about the place. Her eyes are closed, but based on her breathing patterns, she’s far from asleep.

The flash of the silver leash catches my eyes, and that’s when I see her thumb poised above the button. My blood runs cold as I tear out of the room and into my bed chambers. If Ladria isn’t eating, then she should be chained back up to the bed, resting.

I know Mogen didn’t have permission to administer another dose to help Ladria sleep, but the omega should be worn out from the events of the day and not need it anyway. Hand on the door, I listen for any sort of movement inside but hear nothing.

With a strong shove, I force the door to fly open, not allowing Ladria the chance to stop whatever nefarious things she might be plotting or doing, and yet, the bedroom is empty. There is no sign of her anywhere. The only evidence that she’s still on the premises is the slight movement of the leash as it jerks about in slight increments.

I follow the trail, my pulse pounding in my ears. What could she possibly be doing? The chain lies on the floor, still barely moving. If she’s in there using the bathroom, shouldn’t it be moving more than that?

No doubt she’s just trying to stall for time, giving herself a free moment before resigning herself back to being chained up. Shaking my head, I turn once more and walk back into the common area, pausing as I reach Mogen.

“I know you’re not asleep. So please do me the honor of not pretending for my sake.” Though my fingers itch to shake the woman, I refrain, keeping my errant emotions in check.

A soft smile tilts her lips as she plays along with the game that we’ve played together since I was a child. It takes her a moment, but eventually, her eyes crack open. “Never can fool you, can I Master Davix.”

Tenderness blossoms in my heart for a moment as I stare down at the elderly woman, irritation fleeing as I note her soft skin and deep wrinkles. “No, Mogen,” I respond, tempering my tone to reflect the change in my heart. “You cannot fool me.”

How much longer will we even be able to play this game back and forth? Shoving it out of my mind, I refuse to think about it. I’ve already had one brush with a potential death today, and I don’t need to let my mind wander to another one. I’ll deal with that when and if it happens.

“I take it everything went well with the king?” She pushes up on the plush couch and winces as her old bones accommodate the movement.

“Rest, old mother.” I lay my hand on her shoulder and gently push her back down. “I’m here for a moment. I can take care of things with Ladria. I trust she gave you no trouble?”

“Well, she’s a bit of a mouthy thing, but nothing I’m not used to.” Looking up at me, she winks, drawing a chuckle from between my lips.

“I hear you. I hear you. How long has she been in the restroom?”

Mogen looks up at me, a frown marring her face before she glances at the clock in the room. “I-but that can’t be.” Her body shakes as she pushes back up on the couch, her eyes wild as she glances about the room. “And she’s still in there?”

Dread pools in my gut as I once more push her back down to the couch. “How long, Mogen?”

CHAPTER 9

Davix

“I-I merely closed my eyes for a moment. It was no more than five minutes!”

“And yet?”

“How have thirty minutes lapsed without me realizing it? It’s not possible. The timepiece must be wrong.”

“Rest here.” Reaching down, I take the end of the leash and hold it in my palm, resisting the urge to mash the button preemptively.

For all I know, she’s in trouble and not at all plotting something nefarious. But then, this is also the same omega that disappeared without a trace. Gone, as if she was plucked from all the face of the earth. I can’t trust her, not yet.

Glancing over at the timepiece, I note how long it’s been since I stashed Malus. With the amount of drugs I pumped into his system, he should still be well and truly knocked out, but I don’t want to take the chance. If he wakes up before I’m able to prepare the room, to set the scene, then I lose a massive part of my upper hand.

I want — no, need — to be there the moment his eyes open. He needs to feel the fear of me looming over him, tools in hand. Force his mind to wonder as to what I have planned. He will beg for death, demand it, but I will not give in.

Hand on the doorknob, I pause, once more listening to the sounds from within. Flowing water is all I can hear, but that only means there’s a chance she’s covering something up, trying to hide things from me.

Again, I tamp down the flare of anger that threatens to consume me. Not all of it is about her, and it wouldn’t be fair to unleash it needlessly. The gulf of mistrust between us cannot be built up if I jump to conclusions or fly off the handle.

When I open the door, however, all forms of anger or rage dissipate as very real terror climbs up my spine and chokes me, robbing me of breath for long enough that I sway in the doorframe.