Illusions That May (Court High 2)

To cement that, I blocked his number, removing his text messages. I obviously couldn’t explain to him what really happened, that I’d been kidnapped and brought back to the place that had become central to my nightmares. I needed his calls and texts to stop, so I made that happen.

One less thing I had to deal with.

The wait for Birdie I passed by either staring through the window or lying down on a bed half the size of the room. Windsor House’s rooms dwarfed my old bedroom, and the whole day virtually passed before I finally got not a phone call but a text message from my friend.

Birdie: I’m so sorry, December, but you staying with me isn’t going to work out. I asked Shakira and Kiki too, but no dice. I’m so sorry. I thought you’d be able to stay. It just won’t work. My dad’s being funny, and I couldn’t get him to budge. I’m so sorry!

But she’d been so sure, and I threw my phone at the bed, not knowing what else to do. I felt like a prisoner both physically and in my own head. I told Royal I had friends, resources.

So much for those.

A knock hit my door, and I’d been so pissed the fuck off I was almost ninety percent sure whoever it was I’d punch in the goddamn face. Especially if it was Royal. I’d punch him for trapping me here, for literally being my only resource for survival. I most certainly looked amped the fuck up when I opened the door and most assuredly looked pissed, so when I whipped open that door, I wasn’t surprised Jax had stepped back. Like he physically stepped back like I was going to tackle him.

I didn’t see what he had, or should I say… who until I finally came out of my head cloud and gazed down at his burly arms. He had a puppy there, my puppy, and she was literally huge! Hershey climbed all over Jax’s arms, face, and everything. She was amped to hell too, yipping and trying to wrestle herself free.

“Jesus, Lindquist.” Jax blanched, putting more distance between us. “What’s your deal? I was just going to give you the damn dog. You look like you’re going to hit someone.”

I kind of was, but all that was forgotten as I put out grabby hands for my cute big girl. A thought triggered she might not remember me, but as soon as Jax slid her over, all that was forgotten.

She licked my face, immediately filling me with adrenaline and dopamine and all kinds of other shit I learned about in science class I couldn’t think of right now.

“Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh! Hi. Hi, honey,” I crooned, squeezing her. She licked my face, giving me her little dog smile, and I laughed, rubbing her. “I missed you so much. You don’t even know.”

The void she left couldn’t be filled, my one regret taking off so quickly, but the wound from that started to mend at the feel of her in my arms again.

Jax laughed, folding his colossal arms. “Well, it seems I did good.”

Not if he stole her, stole her from a friend. I shook my head. “You didn’t take her from Rosanna, did you?” That’s where she’d been staying.

Jax rolled his eyes. “No, Lindquist. Hershey goes to the vet for daycare during the day while Rosanna works. Right, little girl?” He petted her like he knew her, and when she started licking his face, I knew he did.

My eyes widened. “So you took her from there?” I asked, not really okay with how comfortable he was with my dog. It was like they really knew each other, played with each other. Excited, Hershey actually jumped out of my arms and to the floor, and Jax got right down there with her.

“Yes, and no,” he said, getting her on her back. He rubbed her belly while she wagged a leg. He looked up at me. “Well, yes, basically. The daycare she stays at is Royal’s uncle’s practice. You remember he’s a vet, right?”

How could I forget? I’d been inside when the entire facility burned around me. If it hadn’t been for quick thinking that night, Royal… I swallowed. I guess his uncle got his practice up and running again.

“He’s got a new place on Wright Street, doesn’t he?” he crooned at Hershey, looking pretty freakin’ funny with how big he was. A boy and his dog. He flopped her ears. “Anyway, Hershey’s there all day playing with the other dogs. Rosanna doesn’t even know she’s gone.”

“And they let you just take her?”

“For the day, yeah, and every day if you want.” He frowned. “I mean, unless you don’t want me to take her for you…”

I hunkered down, bringing Hershey to me.

He grinned. “That’s what I thought, and how about a little thank you? I did get your dog for you.”

I really didn’t want to owe any of these boys any more favors, but they kept giving me things, things I couldn’t turn down like safety, shelter, and now my dog, and though I didn’t really want to accept them, I felt compelled.

I played with Hershey, Jax watching me. I really did want Hershey here. But my thoughts couldn’t help but wonder at what cost.

Seventeen

December

Jax turned out to be yet another dutiful flunky for Royal Prinze. He not only brought Hershey and returned her to the vet each day, but also got me pretty much anything I wanted. He made sure I had food and even got my clothes cleaned when I asked. I didn’t have to leave my room, but did at night and in the early mornings. That seemed to be when I heard fewer voices outside my door, and I didn’t hear many. In fact, so few, I idly wondered if I’d been put in this section of their Court palace so I wouldn’t be around a lot of people. I saw no one, not even the boys, outside of Jax who checked on me daily. He’d bring Hershey before school in the morning, giving me updates like how she’d been fed or if she needed to be walked, and it truly showed the power of Royal’s hand. He had this guy doing whatever he wanted, all of them.

Even me.