<div> Chapter 7: 7
 My new guard was a lot nicer than Caine and I should have been happy but I found myself missing the grumpy brute.
 I hadn't seen him since the incident with General Trent. I tried to search for him on my own but I wasn't allowed into the guard quarters- none of us were- so I searched everywhere else. I checked in the dining area, I checked in the kitchens and in every nook and cranny that I knew of but I couldn't find him.
 The only other thing left was to ask someone but I couldn't risk it. The General was already under the impression that we were in cohorts, I couldn't make his theory more believable by going around asking for Caine so I tried my best to keep my growing frustration at his absence to myself.
 "This is pathetic, even for you," I looked up to find Joshua standing in front of me.
 I rolled my eyes and tried to leave but he was quick to grab my hand. Behind me, my guard did nothing but he watched the scene with careful eyes. I wasn't sure how but I knew that Caine wouldn't have been quiet.
 "Let me go," I kept my voice low. We were in the dining area and the last thing I wanted to do was draw more attention to myself. "I don't want to speak to you."
 "I left you alone for a week. You are being impossible. I'm your only friend here."
 "I'd rather not have friends," I snapped as I pulled my hand out of his grip. "We have nothing to talk about. I'm not going to marry you or have your babies. You can leave me alone."
 He scoffed. "I'll stop asking about the babies then. Look, I'm sorry I left you alone. I just- you're my only friend here too. I'm sorry."
 I had never heard Joshua apologize before and maybe I was a pushover but it was terrible not having anyone to speak to. The past week was torture for me, it felt like I was living on autopilot. This place was bad enough but being alone, that just made it worse.
 I shuffled over to the side and gestured for him to take a seat. He grinned and didn't hesitate before slipping in next to me.
 "Are you going to tell me about why your guard was changed?" I shrugged because the truth was, I didn't know exactly why myself. "What about the growling you claimed to have heard?"
 <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:10px;text-align:center">
 <div></div>
 </div> "I didn't hear anything, it was just my mind," I repeated the words I said to everyone.
 I thought Joshua would drop it but he didn't. He leaned over to me and dropped his voice to a low whisper. "I know you're lying."
 I tried to pull back but he kept a hand around my shoulder. To the outsider, it would look like two friends just whispering to each other. His voice was so low that not even our guards could hear us.
 "Some people are missing," he told me. "I didn't even know it myself because they're not important people."
 "Not important?"
 "You know what I mean," he waved me off. "I heard the cooks talking about how one of their friends is missing. Then I heard that two maids mysteriously vanished. No one else knows but it happened around the same time your mind decided to play tricks on you."
 I didn't know what to say. A part of me wanted to tell Joshua the truth but Caine was very clear with his instructions. He asked me to stay silent so I did. I pulled back from Joshua and shrugged.
New novel chapters are published on freewёbn૦νeɭ.com. He seemed shocked. "You're not going to say anything?"
 "If you're worried about it maybe you should investigate it or talk to the general. I am in no position to give advice on the matter."
 He stared at me like I had grown two heads. His eyes were wide with anger and frustration. I wanted to reach out and comfort him, tell him that he wasn't crazy but I forced my expression to remain calm.
 After a long beat of silence, he scoffed and stood to his feet. He stormed off but his guard hesitated for a split second, his eyes were on me, almost probing, as if he could see directly into me. I stared right back at him, forcing myself not to cower or quiver.
 It all happened in less than five seconds but he gave me a barely noticeable nod before disappearing after Joshua, almost as if he were congratulating me for not saying anything.
 I didn't know what that meant and I barely had time to figure it out because I saw him.
 He had his back to me and was heading towards the storage rooms but I knew him anywhere. I knew that ridiculous man bun and those broad shoulders. I didn't give my guard a warning before rushing to my feet and running after him.
 I heard a small curse behind me as my guard rushed to follow me. I weaved through the other people, trying to put as much distance between us before darting into the storage rooms. There were plenty doors in the very long hallway and I couldn't see any sign of Caine.
 I was about to turn around and give up when a hand wrapped around my wrist and I was pulled into a dark corner. A scream bubbled out of my throat but a gloved hand covered my mouth.
 "Do you have a fucking death wish?" Caine hissed, releasing my mouth only when he was sure I wouldn't scream.
 His eyes were harsher than before, almost colder too. There was an edge to his voice too, something about him had changed, I just couldn't put my finger on what.
 "I was coming to find you. I haven't seen you around in a week."
 "Did you ever consider that maybe I was avoiding you?" he took a step back from me. "Go back to your guard, Nadine."
 I stared at him in shock and annoyance. I searched for him for a week and he was dismissing me just like that, like I was a dog that he could treat with disdain. It pissed me off more than I thought possible and before I knew what I was doing, I was shoving his chest hard.
 The action caught him off guard and he raised a brow in my direction. I did it again and again, channeling all my anger and frustration into shoving him as hard as possible. He allowed me do it three times before grabbing both my hands.
 He spun me so fast and pinned me to the wall with his body, caging my hands atop my head.
 "Don't you fucking dare," he hissed, his warm breath at the shell of my ears.
 I should have been angry- I was angry- but underneath all of that anger was something else, something fiery and warm in the pit of my belly. I tried to convince myself that it was something else but every ragged breath from his chest, the feel of his body against my back and his warm breath by my ear only stoked the fire inside of me.
 "I will let you go and you will go back to your guard, do you understand me?"
 "Fuck you."
 "You're not my type, princess," he drawled. "Leave and don't try to find me again."
 He released me but I didn't move. I heard his footsteps receding and I let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding.
 The storage room was quiet once again and I never would have even known he was here if I couldn't still feel the indentation of his body against mine.
 <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:10px;text-align:center">
 <div></div>
 </div> With my head bowed, I dragged myself back into the dining area.
 I had barely taken two steps when my guard rushed over to me. For the first time in one week, he spoke. "Where the fuck did you run off to?"
 "Isn't it your job to follow me?" I kept my tone bored. "If you can't keep up, just say so. I'll ask for someone else."
 I hated speaking to him like that but it was necessary. He pursed his lips, the anger evident in his eyes but he said nothing. We started towards my room when I felt something. It was almost like rumbling under my feet. I stopped and turned to him wondering if he had felt it too when the lights started to flicker.
 "What the hell is going on?" I whispered.
 "I don't know. I have never-"
 There was another rumbling, much bigger and worse than the last one. I had to grab onto a table to stay secure. Before I could ask this time, a loud alarm blared, red lights flashing bright.
 My guard grabbed my arm and tugged me. it was the first time he had ever touched me without permission and I looked around to see other guards doing the same to the people they were assigned to protect.
 "Where the hell are you taking me?" I asked but he ignored me. I tried to break his grip but he was stronger.
 While we were taught how to defend ourselves, they were taught to fight.
 He dragged me into my room and slammed the door behind us. I tried to push past him but he was faster, his hands wrapped around my mid-section and threw me back harshly.
 "I'm sorry but we have a protocol," he pulled out a sharp knife from his pocket. "I have to do this."</div>
 
 <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center">
<div>

</div>


 
 
 
 
 
</div>

Chapter 7 - 

Chapter 7: 7 My new guard was a lot nicer than Caine and I should have been happy but I found myself missing the grumpy brute. I hadn't seen him since the incident with General Trent. I tried to search for him on my own but I wasn't allowed into the guard quarters- none of us were- so I searched everywhere else. I checked in the dining area, I checked in the kitchens and in every nook and cranny that I knew of but I couldn't find him. The only other thing left was to ask someone but I couldn't...

Love Among The Ruins

Chapter 7 -

Love Among The Ruins - Chapter 7 -