Страница 55 из 150
Stumbling to my feet, I snatched up the chain and tripped into the corridor. I crashed against the wall as I reached for the banister. The stairs blurred into one unending slide.
My vision played tricks. My palms slipped on the railing. The chain bounced and plinked behind me as I dragged it down the hazy steps to the foyer. My knees threatened to buckle as I reached ground level, wincing as the soft thud of bronze links on carpet became high-pitched pings of metal on marble.
Hurry.
Swallowing sickness and forcing my balance to remain operational, I stumble-strode into the kitchen and once again crashed against the doorframe.
Still there.
She was still asleep where I’d left her.
Thank God.
My ears pricked as she mumbled something softly.
Asleep but not for long.
My hands shook as I traded the long length of the chain for the leather belt at the end. The fact I wore no other clothes apart from the boxer briefs she’d dressed me in was convenient as I slipped the leather around my waist and snapped the padlock into position.
Gemma groaned under her pile of blankets. Her arm moved to rub her head.
Now.
Or it’s too late.
Rushing forward, I practically fell on top of her as I plunged to the floor, grabbed the leash still tethered to her ankle, and snapped the final lock into place.
I’d told her I was grateful she’d tried to remove it.
I had too in the past.
And we’d both realized it wasn’t removable without a key. She’d tested it and found the reality of her entrapment. Now, I’d ensured she could move around Fables. She could continue caring for me, could go where I went, and help me fix the damage she’d caused with my vegetable patch.
We would be each other’s shadows as we prepped and prepared for a season change. We would be forever linked, and I could finally, finally relax. Finally trust that she was here to stay.
I wouldn’t have to keep her in the basement. I could harness her strength and borrow her hands in order to do the things I currently couldn’t do. All the while, she could continue enjoying sunshine and books and my twisted company.
We could walk and talk; we could learn and grow.
We could spend decades bound together, and she could never leave.
She’s truly mine.
Utterly and completely.
And she would hate me for every second of it.