Casimir’s Essence melted away from her, and Madelynn gripped his arm as she steadied herself, keeping her footing this time. Her stomach clenched, but she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, forcing the feeling away.

  “Wow,” Casimir drew out, taking a step away from her as he nodded triumphantly at her. “I’m impressed you didn’t empty your guts all over the floor this time.”

  “Please, do not talk to me,” she breathed out, clamping a hand over her mouth. She was stronger now, she could feel it. But even her Essence couldn’t keep nausea at bay, apparently.

  Casimir scoffed, looking down his nose at her as he crossed his arms. “If you’re done with the theatrics,” he started, his voice low and heavy in the darkness of night, “you should come inside before you freeze your…” his eyes flicked down her in a way that had her folding her arms around her chest… “bits off.”

  Madelynn scowled, but watched as he stepped backward, turning away from her. Then her eyes found the mansion behind him. It was huge. A large white building, longer than it was tall, with golden light spilling from the numerous windows. White pillars, with green flowering vines creeping up the length of them, stretching from the ground to the room scattered across the front balcony.

  “Is this yours?” she balked out, shivering against the chill of night.

  “Yes,” he replied curtly, motioning for him to follow him.

  She didn’t.

  “Why did you bring me here?” she asked, her eyes flicking from the estate back to him.

  He sighed loudly, turning back around to face her with a look of frustration. “If you really must prod so much, I brought you here so, one-” he held up a finger- “you can change into something more appropriate before I send you home to your dear lover. And, two-” he held up another finger- “so you can be introduced to your teacher.”

  “My teacher?” Madelynn questioned, but fell into step next to Casimir anyway. “I thought you were my teacher.”

  Casimir tilted his head and looked down at her. “I am teaching you how to use your Essence. Finnian is going to teach you how to use your mind.”

  Madelynn scoffed, kicking at a tuft of grass as they approached the manor. “And what if I refuse? I think my mind is perfectly fine the way it is.”

  He stopped in front of the front door, his hand on the knob. “If you refuse, I’ll shift you back to your doting husband, and I’ll leave the two of you alone.” He leaned forward so he could speak in a lower tone. “And then you’ll spend the rest of your life wondering what you could have been if you’d just followed me inside.”

  He twisted the doorknob and stepped inside, leaving Madelynn with a choice.

  He was lying. He’d never leave the two of them alone. Callum had made that incredibly clear. Callum had also said he’d have stripped her of her sense of self by now, that she’d be nothing but a pile of screams. And yet, he hadn’t. He’d given her everything. Given her a side of herself she hadn’t even known existed.

  He won’t hesitate to lie to protect the ones he loves.

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

  Casimir’s words flashed through her mind, and her lips parted as her mind reeled. Had Callum been lying to her? Was he trying to keep her to himself? Was he trying to keep her from her true potential? Her mind flashed back to his Essence retreating from her touch. He was scared of her. Scared of what she could be.

  Callum didn’t care about her, he cared about himself. He cared about not being hurt again.

  A flash of rage sprouted in Madelynn’s belly, and her Essence pooled at her feet, sharp tendrils of smoke reaching up into the air. And she watched, in a horrific sort of awe, as they wisped and twisted, as if caught in a breeze, pulling straight through the open door. Into Casimir’s estate. Into a world she wasn’t a part of. A world that was meant for her.

  She didn’t let her thoughts linger any longer, and she followed the draw of her Essence, closing the door loudly behind her. As she stepped into the large, looming, marble hall, she realized that this should feel like a mistake. The smirk decorating Casimir’s lips should’ve felt like a threat. But it didn’t. It felt like she was stepping into a world of opportunity, rather than simply another stifling, oppressive situation.

  “Your chambers are the last door on the right when you reach the top of the stairs. I’m sure you’ll find something to wear. Finnian will find you after.”

  Madelynn stopped abruptly, her eyebrows knitting together as she gaped at him. “My chambers?” she asked, stopping in her tracks.

  “Oh,” he chuckled out, the sound low and demanding. “I didn’t mean to let that slip.” He absolutely did. “I’m sure you’ll find my estate much more welcoming than your current residence.”

  She shook her head at him, her wet hair slapping her cheeks. “I- I don’t understand,” she stammered out. “I can’t just- I don’t…” She took a deep breath, closing her eyes, feeling her Essence flow through her veins- calming her, grounding her. “I don’t live here,” she said finally, her voice wavering as she struggled to find her words. “And I’m not going to.”

  Casimir’s smile broadened as he motioned up the stairs. “Just go and feel it out.”

  She was tired. Tired of pretending, tired of playing games she didn’t understand. She just nodded, suddenly feeling too exhausted to fight against the pull of her Essence.

  She turned and strode toward the stairs, her hand wrapping around the banister as she climbed slowly. The floors were white marble, as pristine as she figured they would be based on the way Casimir presented himself. The walls were a beige tone, decorated with large expensive looking paintings, and the ceiling was decorated with a popcorn texture that formed patterns and insignias she didn’t recognize. In short, Casimir’s manor was beautiful. It was elegant in a way that seemed exactly the same as him, but clean and pristine in a way that made her think he didn’t actually spend much time here.

  She found her room exactly where he said it would be. The door was already open when she approached it and, once she’d stepped inside, she closed it softly behind her. The room was plane, as if he’d purposefully left it a blank canvas for her. The large bed was decorated with boring white sheets, just as hers had been at her parents’ villa. A single, darkwood, dresser stood against the wall, and that was it. The room was so large and so empty. It felt oddly reminiscent of how her brain felt. So much empty space waiting to be filled with something new. It was eerily prepared, as if he’d been expecting her.

  The realization didn’t affect her the way she knew it should have. She should have been appalled. But, as her Essence licked up toward the ceiling, she couldn’t deny the allure she felt.

  She frowned as she approached the dresser. She pulled open one of the doors and her mouth fell open in a silent gasp.

  So many beautiful gowns in deep green, soft pinks, and midnight black. She pulled open the other door to reveal folded trousers and shirts.

  She took a step back, admiring the selection of clothes. She opted for a green gown. It was a deep, emerald tone, with sleeves of tulle and a flat skirt. She pulled it up herself and found herself in awe at how well it fit. How had he guessed her size so perfectly? It had a zip in the back, in lieu of a corset, and she grunted as she tried to extend her shoulders back far enough to zip it up.

  As she was spinning in a circle, hoping that somehow the movement would build enough momentum for the zipper to finish its journey upward, a knock sounded at the door.

  Without waiting for an answer, or any sort of indication that she was even dressed, the door pressed open, and in walked a charming, curly haired man with a smile that made her heart melt.