Blindsided : Part 2 of the Intended Series by Abigail Grant (good books to read for adults txt) 📕

I'm not sure of how long I've been here because I was drugged for part of it and I don't have a way of keeping time. From the view of the sky that I can see outside, it is afternoon some time, and Thrane left at least a couple of hours ago. He is going to be back by dark, which will be here way too soon.

I groan and yell at myself. “Why did you run off, you idiot?” I shout at the ceiling and sit on the floor under the window, careful not to jostle my ankle too much but it still throbs like crazy. I rest my tired head in my hands and think about all of the people that I love, wishing I could see them again and tell them how much they mean to me.

I think about the wonderful mother who raised me and how much fun we had together.

Aunt Mags treated me like I was her biological child and she always put me first, no matter what.

“I love you, sweetie pie.” she’d say to me every night before bed. She doesn't even know what has been going on with me and she'll never know where I disappeared to. I know she will search but I'll just be gone forever, like my parents.

I think about Kassy and smile a little at my goofy best friend. She is so stubborn, but she is my rock. Liam is already like a brother to me and he is so good at keeping me grounded and always feeling comfortable. I hope he and Kassy stay together because I know they are meant to be. Even though I haven't known Alexa for long, she is already someone I'd consider family too, as well as the rest of the Cole family.

Gavin's handsome face continues to flash through my mind as I stare at the intricate curves and designs that crawl up the wooden bed frame. I feel so much regret over the things I never said to him. He is my Intended and I should have known from the very first time I met him that I would never escape him. He has taken up my entire heart so quickly, without even trying in the least. In actuality, it seems like he has been trying to make me not fall for him, but I really have.

I can feel hot tears fill my eyes again at the realization of my true feelings for Gavin. I love him, and I cannot believe I never got the chance to tell him, even if he doesn't feel the same, it needed to be said.

60

The more I think about the people in my life, the more my blood heats up. I feel so much hate and anger over the situation that Thrane has put me in. He has taken me away from the world before I'm ready to go. I’m not dead yet.

My hands feel hot and I look around for a way to use my energy toward any means of escape. Remembering my lessons with Alexa about element manipulation, I stand up straight and watch the window. I was never able to move anything before, but I can't just not try now. I'm not a quitter and I refuse to die here.

I close my eyes and think about the wind blowing outside. I know it's there because the trees are swaying. I can almost feel the wind on my skin as I focus on the idea of it. I hold my hands out in front of me and envision pushing and pulling the wind, playing with it. Some of my energy releases and I can actually feel the air wrap around my fingers, like a tangible thing.

I continue pushing and pulling it for a while, and like a french braid, I gather up more of the gust until it becomes so thick and strong that I have to release it, or I will lose control. “Come on!” I yell and throw my heavy hands toward the glass window along with my hot energy. A hurricane gust of wind shatters all of the glass in the room before flying away from me completely.

I sit in my spot, stunned as I watch the glass trickle from the window like thick raindrops and I smell the delicious scent of pine and incoming rain. I let out three short maniacal-sounding laughs and stand again, ready to finally escape, but immediately tumble back down in pain from the pressure on my ankle.

I hop to the corner closet attached to the bathroom and find a man's large T-shirt inside. I tear it into strips and wrap it as tightly as I can around my ankle and foot, adding the hair tie from my ponytail around the wrapping, hoping to keep it as sturdy as possible. I hobble over to the window and the grassy ground is a long way down, but there are grooves in the brick house that lead all the way to the bottom.

Taking a deep breath, I swing my good leg over the edge of the window frame and stick my foot into a small groove, steadying myself. I pull myself over and stick my other foot into another pocket. When I stretch the other leg back down to find another spot, I flinch, and a whimper escapes me from the pressure that my bad ankle is enduring.

I just keep descending, ignoring the pain, so that I can get as far away from here as possible, knowing that much worse pain awaits me with Thrane if I stay.

When my feet find the ground, I let out a long breath, feeling like there may be hope for me after all. I scan the grounds, noticing how beautiful the landscaping is and I look up to see the large red-brick house looming over me. I glance left and right, deciding that the coast is clear, and I take