Chapter 9: Erin

“Want to tell me where you were yesterday?” Dez glared at me, his eyes vibrantly blue in the sun streaking through the window, matching the color of his tie that hung loosely around his neck. He opted out of a blazer today, only wearing a white-collared shirt and tan slacks that looked tailored to his physique.

We sat in a room resembling an office. A large glass desk expanded across most of the room alongside an oversized white chair with silver rollers, which Dez currently sat in with his legs crossed and arm propped up on its armrest. Behind him, more floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the front of the estate with its ever-falling red and gold leaves, golden fields, and its stone and glass gate I had been in front of seconds ago before a red-faced Dez flashed in front me and warped us both here—to where I was now being interrogated. The plush white loveseat I sat on across from Dez, however, was certainly a better arrangement than being trapped in a kitchen dining room chair. My toes curled inside my sneakers, remembering the way Cal’s eyes had dissected me, making my insides churn with a fear I’d never felt before.

Based on Dez’s question and reaction, I learned two things: 1) Roughly a day (in this dimension) had passed, meaning either time works differently between Cal and Dez’s dimensions or time had passed when I entered through the portal. 2) Dez, as far as I currently knew, was none the wiser of my whereabouts or what power I now held in the pocket of my purse that was still strapped to my side.

“In my room,” I said, keeping a straight face. While Dez could certainly still make my life hell, per our contract, he couldn’t harm me physically if what Cal had said was true. Dez also promised my price wouldn’t involve harming me or Megan, which gave me a lot more confidence in this situation than when I had stumbled into Cal’s bedroom. At least now I was somewhat assured knowing these two powerful beings couldn’t hurt me, but I still had to play it safe.

“Funny, you weren’t there when I checked. Let me try this again: Where. Did. You. Go?” For a moment, Dez looked panicked, but was that because of his inability to find me or something else?

“I don’t know why it matters.” I mirrored him, crossing my own legs. “Based on what Rowan told me, you didn’t have any intention of speaking to me after announcing my date with the Council. Which, by the way, I disagree with. There has to be a way for the Council to hear my case before then.”

“Don’t change the subject.” He leaned forward and propped his chin on his folded hands, his full gaze concentrated on me. I tried not to squirm in my seat.

“Fine, I wasn’t in my room. I was snooping around your mansion.”

“Don’t lie to me. I didn’t sense your presence in this dimension.”

He can sense that without looking? I suppressed a frown, keeping my face blank. There went my idea of coming and going as I pleased. “I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe you don’t know this dimension as well as you should.”

“Sweetheart, I created this dimension. I know its ins and outs as much as I do my own being. It’s a reflection of me.”

Well, it makes sense why there was such a large estate—it was to match Dez’s ego. My lips twitched.

The smell of vanilla and sandalwood assaulted my senses as Dez materialized beside me. His thigh felt warm against mine, and his arm snaked around my shoulders to pull me closer to him. I gasped and jerked away, but his hand dug into my shoulder, forcing me still.

“You can’t hurt me, our contract...” I started lamely, my throat suddenly dry. My skin felt inflamed everywhere his body touched mine, and I tugged against his grip, wanting to put space between us. Dez had other ideas.

He leaned closer, my heart ratcheting against its ribcage as his lips hovered inches away from my face. It was the closest anyone had been to being intimate with me in a long time. I stared into his eyes, silently pleading for him to let me go since I’d suddenly lost the ability to speak. His pupils expanded, the black islands expanding to eclipse the hint of greens and yellows that branched out into a fierce blue. He inhaled deeply, a smirk tugging at his lips.

“I don’t have to hurt you to get what I want, love.” His fingers slid across my cheek to tuck back a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch gentle.

It was too much.

I surged to my feet, clambering away from him, and he let me. “Don’t touch me.”

He remained in the same position, arm propped on the back of the couch, his eyes half-lidded with a lingering smile. “Oh, but you want me to, dear.” His smile grew. “You can deny it all you want, but you desire me. I’ve been alive long enough to read the signs. The subtle hints your body gives away even if you refuse to acknowledge them. You know, this extended time we have together doesn’t all have to be awful.”

Cal’s words came to me. Pawns. Playthings. That’s all these beings saw me and other humans as. Dez was no exception.

I curled my fingers into fists. My nails bit into my skin, bringing me back to reality and away from the stinging truth in Dez’s words that I refused to acknowledge. “Stay the hell away from me,” I spat.

In the same instant, he was back behind his desk, legs tossed up on the glass with his arms resting behind his head, looking all too pleased with himself. “I’m afraid I can’t do that. Until you tell me how you left my dimension, you’ll be seeing a lot more of me.”