Torn by Amanda Hocking Read Free Book Online Page B

it’ll work.” After looking for a matter of seconds, she pulled out a long black dress.
    “I really don’t give a damn about the clothes!” I snapped. “I want to know why you keep chasing after me! I can’t give you what you want if I don’t know what it is!”
    As she walked to the bed, I realized she was uncomfortable looking at me. Her eyes seemed to go everywhere just to avoid me. Any time they did land on me, she was quick to look away. She went over to the bed, laying my dress on it.
    “You sent them out to talk and now you won’t say anything?” I asked, growing even more frustrated.
    “I’ve imagined this day for a long time.” Sara lovingly touched the dress, smoothing it out in the bed. “Yet here it is, and I feel so unprepared.”
    “Seriously. What does that mean?” I said.
    Her expression pained for a minute, then went to the same blank, serene look she held before.
    “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to get dressed.” She turned her back to me, walking over to a folding screen in the corner.
    A fantasy scene similar to the one on the doors had been painted across on it, and a black and red ball gown hung from the edge. Sara went behind the screen, taking the dress off it, to change in privacy.
    “Do you know where Finn is?” I asked with a painful lump in my chest.
    “That’s your tracker?” Sara asked, draping the robe over the screen. I could only see the top of her head above it.
    “Yes.” I swallowed hard, fearing the worst.
    “I’m not sure where he is. We don’t have him, if that’s what you’re asking.”
    “Then why hasn’t he come for me? How did he let you take me away?” I demanded.
    “I assumed they detained him until they got away with you.” She slipped the dress over her head, so her words muffled for a moment. “I’m not certain of the specifics, but they had orders not to hurt anyone if they didn’t need to.”
    “Yeah, and Kyra’s orders were not to hurt me, right?” I asked wryly, and Sara didn’t say anything. “Can you just tell me if he’s okay?”
    “Loki didn’t report any fatalities,” Sara said.
    “He was in charge of bringing me here?” I looked at the closed doors behind us, realizing too late that I should’ve been asking him these questions. I thought about going after him, but then Sara came out from behind the screen.
    “Yes. And other than Kyra’s… outburst, Loki recounted that everything went well.” She ran her hands along her skirt, then pointed to the dress on the bed. “Please. Get dressed. We’re going to see the King.”
    “And he’ll answer my questions?” I raised my eyebrow.
    “Yes. I’m certain he’ll tell you everything,” Sara nodded, keeping her eyes locked on the floor.
    I decided to go along with it. If he tried to give me the run around, I would bolt. I didn’t have time to waste on vague answers and evasive language. Matt and Rhys were captive, and Rhys couldn’t even sit down.
    But I also needed them to like me, so maybe I could talk them into letting Matt and Rhys go. If that meant I had to be put on a silly little dress, so be it.
    I went behind the screen and changed while Sara continued getting ready. She put one of the necklaces that the hobgoblin had left on the table for her and let down her hair. It was black and straight, shining like silk down her back. It reminded me of Elora’s.
    I wondered what Elora would make of all this. Would she send out a rescue mission to get me? Did she even know I was gone?
    After I put on the dress, Sara tried to tie a loose ribbon on the back, but I wouldn’t let her. She had reached out to touch it, and when I snapped at her to leave it alone, her expression fell into something tragic. Her hands hung in the air for a moment, as if she couldn’t believe what happened. Then she let them fall to her side and nodded.
    Without saying anything, she led me down the hall. At the end, we came to another set of doors that mirrored the ones on her