56

19

NIGHT

According to Mom, Bryn had not only stopped trying to escape, but she’d also requested to work in the kitchens. I didn’t like it, but we would benefit from the extra pair of hands, so I couldn’t find a good reason to refuse her request. I had no choice but to allow it.

I’d wondered if this wasn’t all a ruse orchestrated by Bryn. If she could get me to drop my guard, she would have more opportunities to escape. That was the excuse I used as I watched her all through dinner. Though I finished two helpings of food, I couldn’t remember the taste or the texture of the meal—hell, I could hardly recall eating at all. I had hoped the time away from Bryn would give me the opportunity to regain control of myself, but the moment she was nearby, she was all I could focus on.

After lunch ended, I stormed back into my cabin, throwing open the door and slamming it shut behind me. I dropped down on my sofa, head in my hands, and when I closed my eyes, it was Bryn’s soft face, tight body, and