Captive

Chapter 11 (Part 2)

It seems the Queen was after the answers to the wrong questions. Something that I wouldn't correct. But it wouldn't stop me from getting those answers for myself.

Greysi rolled her eyes. "Right. I'm sure you'd have done far better if you were in my place. But you're not. So fuck off with your bullshit concern. If you really cared, then you'd let me drown at the bottom of a bottle. I need it if I'm going to erase what I just saw long enough to catch any sleep," she added in a mutter as she pulled her shirt away from her skin and assessed the bottle to see how much she had lost.

Her frown deepened.

Lowering her arm, she tried to move past me again, causing the arm that I had slowly lowered to spring back up. Glaring at the obstacle, she didn't bump off it this time. No, this time she gave it a shove with her free hand.

The dirt that coated her feet from the trek had her losing traction on the smooth surface, resulting in her feet slipping on the marble floor and her pushing herself back. The counterintuitive results had the tips of her ears heating in frustration.

While she straightened, I pulled the bottle from her hand.

"Hey- give that back!" She tried to grab it back from me, but all it took was lifting it into the air to thwart any efforts. She tried to jump and grab it, but that only had her rubbing up against me until I felt the rum her shirt had absorbed soak into mine.

"I don't think that's a good idea." In fact, from the desperate edge in her voice, I was beginning to think she might have had a problem.

"I don't give a shit what you think." Realizing she didn't have the muscles her legs required to jump high enough to grab it, she crossed her arms and backed off. "Give it back."

"How about we go for a walk instead? The air will clear your head and the exercise will help exhaust you for a better sleep." All the while providing me a chance to get answers.

"No. I want to drink." There was no room for debate in her response that only backed my thought that she had a problem. From my understanding, it was easy for humans to fall into the habit of consuming mind-altering substances that were detrimental to their health.

"I know. I'll let you. Every fifteen minutes, you can take a shot."

"Five," she countered in an offer she knew I wouldn't accept.

"Fifteen," I repeated, firm in my decision and not willing to go any lower. She would be flat on her ass before we even made it outside.

That didn't stop her from trying again. "Ten."

I lowered the bottle, holding it out between us. "Fifteen or none."

"Fine. Every Fifteen minutes." She swiped it from my hand which made no move to evade her. "But I get to take one now to start."

She didn't wait for my agreement before pressing the bottle to her lips and taking a deep swing. Instead of lowering the bottle, I saw her throat move to swallow the mouthful she had and filled it with another again, urging me to take it from her before she could chug any more.

The burn of the rum had her releasing a fit of coughs that had her sputtering the liquor out across the floor.

"You only get four more in total," I added, narrowing my eyes in warning before turning to gesture toward the exit. She kept her eyes locked with mine for a battle of dominance that she would not win.

When she came to the same conclusion, she darted her gaze away, pretending as though the evasion held no significance.

Leading her down the halls and past the living area, instead of heading for the indoor garden that was large enough to accommodate a night stroll, I led her to the staircase that led down to the wing's main entrance which was located at the back of the castle. The Queen had her own at the other end that was separated by a stretch of lush and thriving flora that rose over our heads to obstruct the unwanted view.

I turned in the other direction, leading her around the castle to take in the gardens that were visible from the windows in my room. By the time we had reached the beginning of my private garden, fifteen minutes had easily passed.

Having kept some semblance of track, Greysi wordlessly stuck her hand out, demanding the bottle.

I brushed past it without giving it a glance. "You already took this one. Fifteen minutes ago with the other," said as I brushed past her, holding it out of reach.

"That wasn't what we agreed to."

I continued walking, keeping my ears open for any sound of her taking off. But I knew she knew better. Her last attempt had scared her from trying again.

So why did I feel the increased need to keep an eye on her ever since we left Silas's cell?

Just as my steps slowed and I began to wonder if I would have to chase her down, the sound of a reluctant jog to catch up followed Atlas's ear-piercing cries.

Captive is complete and available on Patreon. Stolen, book 3 of The Blood Stone Series, is currently being updated. Read more at:

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Their Thief: Redemption is being updated on Inkitt.