She had awoken earlier when a flood of new memories entered her mind. They provided evidence that her cousin, Damien, and friend, Michael, returned from their time traveling journey. They had retrieved the painting. Marcus confirmed that fact. Despite his loss of the painting, Marcus had joined her earlier to gloat. He lost the painting but maintained his control of Celine herself.
Celine stood, shuffling to the window. She breathed in the cool night air. She longed to reunite with her family. She yearned to witness the excitement on Damien’s face as he presented them with the painting. She craved observing Michael’s cool demeanor as he let Damien shine. She desired to gaze into Gray’s stormy blue eyes.
She shook her head, a tear rolling down her cheek as she imagined the shock on Damien’s face when Gray informed him she was missing. Damien would take this the hardest. Guilt would ricochet through him. He’d insisted on solving the problem, even if it cost him his health. Damien wouldn’t sleep, wouldn’t eat until she was found. Yet, according to Marcus, no one would ever find her.
Celine imagined the world without her. Everyone would move on. They would be forced to. What would become of her? Would she spend eternity in this cell? No, she promised herself, she would rally. She would find a way. She had returned to Gray after a twenty-five-year absence. She would return to him again, she vowed.
“Admiring the stars, Celine?” a voice asked behind her.
She closed her eyes, annoyance filling her. “Haven’t we spoken enough today, Marcus?” Celine inquired.
“I assumed you’d be in a better mood. Your friends have returned triumphant! You should be overjoyed.”
Celine stalked from the window to the door. “I’d love the chance to celebrate with them. Perhaps you’d be inclined to open the door and allow me a night out.”
Marcus roared with laughter. “Oh, Celine, when did you become such a comedienne?”
“I wasn’t joking,” Celine countered.
“Then I am sorry to disappoint you, my dear. Any celebrations must be put on hold. Unless you’d care to celebrate with me.”
Celine rolled her eyes, a grimace on her lips. “I wouldn’t care to do anything with you.”
“Oh, why do you insist on being so stubborn, Celine? Do you not realize the potential that exists by joining me?”
“Marcus, we have entertained this conversation many times already. My answer has and will always be ‘no.’”
Marcus sighed. “Then I leave you alone to reconsider.”
“There is nothing to reconsider, Marcus. We are at a stalemate!” Celine shouted as he walked away from her.
“No, my dear,” he answered, turning to face her. “Stalemates exist when there is no way forward for either party. While I agree there is no way forward for you except to join me, I have multiple avenues yet to be pursued.” He turned on his heel, stalking away.
Silence settled over the room as his footsteps receded. Celine returned to staring at the night’s sky. Turmoil ruled her mind. Marcus was correct, he held the upper hand. Centuries of warring between them had gotten them nowhere. She left a wake of destruction and collateral damage wherever she traveled. How much more would she cost her family?
Chapter 2
Damien awoke to sunlight streaming through his window. He squinted against it as he checked the time. His eyes grew wide as he read it. “Nine-thirty?!” he exclaimed, leaping from his bed. He opted for a quick shower before pulling on his clothes, hoping it helped him become more alert. A haze clouded his mind.
As the hot water ran over him, Damien recalled the events of last night. Gray had administered a sedative against his wishes. Frustrated, he climbed from the shower. After wiping steam from the mirror, he stared at himself. A myriad of thoughts crowded his mind. He focused on all of them and none of them at the same time.
He stared at the mirror without seeing himself after a while. The room seemed to melt away as his mind drowned out everything except the buzz of his own thoughts. His eyes stared but did not see. Colors faded; noises dampened.
A loud knock pulled him from his meditation. He swallowed hard, reviving himself. He pulled on his clothes before unlocking the door leading to Michael’s bedroom.
“Morning,” he greeted Michael.
“Morning,” Michael answered. “Do you feel as bad as I do? I assume you got the royal treatment, too? A nice, unexpected needle shoved into your arm?”
“Yep,” Damien admitted. “I haven’t recovered yet. My head is a mess. I’m barely stringing thoughts together.”
“What the hell was in that? It was like an industrial strength sedative. I’ve been asleep for ten hours!”
“Better question is why does Gray hate us so much? We just want to help find Celine!”
“No idea. Did the shower help at all?”
“Not much,” Damien admitted. “I’ll leave you to it. See you after for breakfast?”
“Yeah. I’ll be quick, don’t worry. We won’t miss much more of the day.”
Damien nodded, returning to his room to wait for Michael. He grabbed his laptop, pulling up his phone tracking app. He activated the tracker on Celine’s phone. He and Michael used it before to track Celine here. Perhaps it would work again. He waited as it loaded. After a moment, the screen read NOT LOCATED. He sighed, slamming the laptop shut. He couldn’t track her cell phone. Although being gone a week, her cell phone might be off or dead. He’d try again later, but this route appeared fruitless.
Michael appeared in fifteen minutes, showered and dressed. “All right, let’s get a start on finding Celine!” Damien perched on the edge of the bed. He nodded without moving from his spot. “You okay, buddy?”
Damien nodded his answer. “Hey, we will find her, Damien. We will. This is Celine. She’s indestructible, right? You told me that.”
“What if she’s not?” Damien asked, his voice wavering.
“You can’t think like that. Okay? We’ve got to think positive. We will find her.” Damien nodded again. “We won’t find her if we
