Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 44666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
“Where is he today?” I ask, increasingly aware of his dwindling patience for my despondency. Each time he brings me food or tries to coax me into some semblance of myself, the worry etched on his face chips away at my defenses. He hasn’t breached my walls yet, but knowing him, it’s only a matter of time before he busts through.
“The legacy members arrived this morning.” Selma lifts the lid off a silver platter of gourmet lunch offerings. “Chancellor Castle is in a meeting with them now.”
My back stiffens. “A meeting about what?”
A furrow tugs at her brows. “That’s a question for the chancellor when he returns.” She exits the room before I can press her further.
I glance at the artisan sandwich and salad I have no intention of eating. A hunger pang tears through my gut, but the idea of putting food into my mouth, let alone swallowing it, makes me nauseous.
Letting out a sigh, I pick up my fork, knowing Liam will be upset if I don’t at least make an effort. I take a nibble, my gaze drifting to the sea, soothed by the faint sound of waves breaking against the rocky cliffs.
At some point, he returns, and I realize the sky has deepened to a dull gray. Fresh snowfall blots out the late afternoon sun, casting my quarters in shadow. Disoriented and confused, I glance around the room, once again wondering how time passed by without me.
Liam settles into the chair on the other side of the table, where my lunch sits untouched between us. Wait…barely touched, since one corner of the sandwich has a bite missing. I don’t remember eating it, so it’s probably safe to assume I sampled the salad, too.
“You’re still not eating.” He crosses his muscular arms, a preamble to the battle he’s about to wage.
“I tried.” With a gesture at the evidence of the bite I’d taken, I add, “No one else has been here to touch it.”
At least…I don’t think anyone has. Did I nod off in my seat? It would be a miracle if I had, since every time I close my eyes, I see Sebastian the way I left him in Los Angeles over a week ago.
Two weeks ago?
However many the days, he was alive, and he was mine.
With a sigh, Liam runs a hand over the unkempt scruff shadowing his jaw. “You can’t go on like this.”
Shrugging a shoulder, I fiddle with the useless fork on my plate. “I don’t know what you want from me.”
“I want you to try.”
When I fail to respond, an uncomfortable stillness fills the air.
“The legacy members are here,” he says.
“Selma told me.” I give him a pointed look. “Though she wouldn’t tell me why.”
His fingers tap an irritating dance across the table. “You know why.”
Stubbornly, I shake my head. The why is unbearable.
“The auction must go on,” he says, pinching the bridge of his nose as his eyes fall shut. “And with Tatum and Sebastian gone—”
“Stop.”
Please, I can’t do this.
His hooded gaze promises harsh truths, making me squirm in my seat.
“What will it take to get through to you? Because I’m at a loss.” Agitated, he runs his fingers through his hair, tousling the deep copper strands. “I’ve tried giving you space to grieve, stood as your rock when you needed it, but you’ve been impossible to reach. Everyone’s worried sick.”
“Who?” I ask, absently stabbing a piece of wilted lettuce with my fork.
“Landon and Elise, Vance, Ford, Faye…”
“She called?”
He raises a brow. “She spoke to you over the phone. Do you not remember?”
I shrug again, lacking the energy needed to explain how I sort of do, but I can’t recall a single detail of the conversation—just like I can’t remember what Landon and Elise said when they came to check on me.
“Novalee…” He trails off, releasing a heavy breath. “This isn’t healthy. I know you’re overwhelmed with grief, and rightfully so, but refusing to accept what happened will only make it harder for you to heal.” He pauses, his words hanging in the air between us. “He’s gone.”
“If he’s gone,” I spit out, emphasizing each word, “then so am I.”
His complexion drains of color. “What are you trying to say?”
“I-I don’t know,” I stammer, my words tinged with a blend of anger and sorrow. “I just…I don’t want to be here anymore.”
“But you are here, and pretending otherwise won’t change what’s coming, because we still have an auction to face.” Liam leans in, forehead creased as our eyes lock. “Everything has changed. I’m brainstorming another plan with Landon, but I need you to try. Your transition into the House of Capricorn is tomorrow.”
“I don’t care about tomorrow,” I say through gritted teeth.
Liam drags a hand down his face. “We’ll discuss this later. Right now, there’s something else we need to address.”
“Something else?” I scoff, my tone dripping with sarcasm. “Is the collapse of my world only a minor inconvenience to be dealt with later?”