point o
every bone in my body. It takes a momen
ing
umma
not
ake my way into the massive bathroom. I stare at myself in the mirror. My face is
to myself. But it doesn'
s stands near the counter sorting fresh produce. She's human,
humans? Probably one that
rs. Stepanov,"
a smile. "Please. And I'd like t
ates. "We
"I just...need to
aside. And then
a bowl and grab a
ys the morning news. A news reporter stands outsi
suspect extremist vampire factions protesting the recent rise in deaths
ng dragged into armore
geted biological weapon. Tensions between humans
ree
ine
ss the thought, th
te in hand. Fully dressed, black suit immac
sharp. "Don'
k down. "It's
her in. "You don't need to invol
rld too," I
ond. Instead, h
aving alre
a wo
eakfast," I offer. "
N
ant me to do anythin
ust stay out
ork," I remind him.
or the smal
arriage... this" he points between us. "This is not a real marriage
f then?" I pause then continue. "at least t
le
h
iciently this arrangemen
en his
months
ee weeks I blamed it on the stress from working at the lab.
as a chance that this marriage could be real. Maybe this was a bridge, that would finally change things
e workday; the house should have been empty. But a distin
A woman'
the hall as if being pulled by an external force
gainst the headboard, his chest bare, looking more relaxed than I'd ever seen him. Beside him, her h
sing myself against the doorframe h
is fingers to idly trace patterns on her ar
ed of hiding, Ardonis. This bed is more comfortable than the hotel anyway." She
t with her again last w
out. I grab the wal
is wearing thin. I want to be the lady of t
al. "The moment she conceives, the clock starts ticking. We will
acing a finger down his chest. "
he lawyers are already drafting the paper work. We'll paint her unstable.
y. "I'll be a mother to it. A be
r head. "Just wait a few more months. Once
ve
am to him. A m
hole through the leather. they didn't want a family, they wanted a product to use as they pleased. They were
screamed, I would lose. They would lock me up and monitor my eve
sappear, be
ys and the emergency cash stash I kept in my old box. I don't pack any bags, no
ile until I reached a grimy gas station on the outskirts of the city. I parked in th
el
nce more as sobs racked my body. "Kelly p
s with a resolve that told
o disappe
re you are and I'l
my location
attery from my cell phone a
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