Escaping The Beast: A Darkhills Romance (The Darkhills Series Book 2) by Elizabeth Greene (young adult books to read TXT) 📕

“Oh, no- really it’s fine,” Katherine looked down at where he bent to gather up a tray laden with two slices of burned toast and another glass of milk. “That would’ve been my go-to breakfast of choice, I just slept in late. That’s my fault, really.”

Mr. Jones didn’t even acknowledge her words as he turned and made his shuffling way down the corridor, past a pile of clutter that had been left outside her room. She wanted to go after him to check he was OK, as his reaction just a moment ago was anything but normal, but something shining in the untidy mound of stuff caught her eye.

It wasn’t clutter. It was her stuff.

She quickly put down her lunch tray on a nearby console table and rushed over to the pile of boxes, bags, and books. It looked like half of her wardrobe had been delivered, all her study books, as well as notepads that she had been switching between, a bundle of power cables and of course her precious laptop, sat proudly on top. An envelope was placed beside it, along with a single yellow rose.

Katherine frowned, she had been so thrilled with seeing her things she had forgotten that she had told Lucian that she didn’t want them fetched for her; she wanted to get them herself. With a huff, she bundled her things into her room and heavy-handedly shoved the delicate flower into the vase by the fireplace, squeezing it in next to yesterday’s lavender rose. With a few choice expletives muttered under her breath, she quickly set about unpacking her study things on the small desk in the corner of the room.

She flipped open her computer and opened up her emails, eager to see what she had missed in the past couple of days. One email grabbed her attention. She had an assignment due next week. Not just an assignment, a presentation to give. She scribbled down the details on a stick note and stuck the reminder on the screen. She had no idea how she was going to be able to deliver it, not with her jailer refusing to let her leave, but she would at least create the slides and send those to her tutor with an apology.

Next, she unpacked her clothes, slotting them in amongst the rest in the walk-in closet. She would be damned if they would become creased, now that she had her clothes, she would make a point of wearing them instead of the outfits that Lucian had provided. Upon finding her running leggings, sports bra, and a tank top, she tried to ignore the zing of joy she felt as she pulled them on. Yes, she was glad to have her things, but she was not happy with how she had acquired them. Storming back out into her room, Katherine snatched up the wax-sealed envelope and the clumsy-looking PB and J sandwich and sat down upon her bed to read what the controlling bastard had to say for himself.

Dear Katherine,

Please accept my apologies once again for the unnecessary distress caused yesterday. I hope that you will be more comfortable here now that you have your belongings.

The front doors to the mansion are unlocked, as promised. Should you require anything else, please let me know.

As ever, the invitation to join me for dinner still remains.

Yours,

Lucian

Katherine chewed her sandwich and swallowed the sticky bread down before taking another bite.

Ever polite, ever sincere, ever respectful Lord Nightingale. She was annoyed that he was being so civil. The fact remained that she had told him twice now that she wanted to be the one to go get her things and he had denied her twice. And now she had her stuff, there was little point in arguing because she had what she wanted. However, that didn’t mean that she wouldn’t argue with him. He had deliberately done what she said she didn’t want: had some stranger go into her home and rummage through her things.

She slammed the letter down onto the bedspread and stood to march out of her room. She paused only to finish her sandwich and glass of milk. She didn’t want Mr. Jones to think she didn’t enjoy it. She quickly penned a note to the butler, to thank him and left the empty tray outside the door.

She peered over the balcony down into the Great Hall, it was empty, the heavy curtains pulled shut, blocking out the sunlight. Now she knew why. Lucian could move freely about this home during the daylight hours if the sun were blocked out. She jogged down the stairwell and across the floor towards the giant tapestry. Did she require anything else from him? Like hell she did, she required to give him a piece of her mind.

Slipping behind the heavy fabric, Katherine cursed herself for not bringing a torch again. Never mind. She’d just have to let her eyes adjust and feel her way. She knew where she was going this time so was confident that the worst that would happen would be she would stub her toe, not fall into a bottomless pit. She slowly climbed the dark stairs that led up to Lucian’s room. The short corridor was thankfully empty of any furniture that might pose as a tripping hazard in the pitch dark. She reached the heavy doors and wasted no time pounding her fist against the wood.

A second later a light shone from underneath the door, right before it swung open to reveal Lucian still striding towards it. Katherine frowned, and not just because the doors had seemingly opened on their own accord.

“You were sleeping?” She asked, cocking her head to one side.

“Yes, it is daytime. Is everything alright?” Lucian came to stand in front of her his hands placed firmly on his narrow hips, his chest was back on full display for her to ogle and she quickly snapped her eyes back to his face. That wasn’t