Wren POV
I stretch my arms out and frown. The bed is cold. My mates got up without me. I would have thought they wanted to sleep in with me after last night but I guess I was wrong. Opening my eyes slowly, I almost scream. Two pairs of emerald green eyes are staring at me. After last night, I had almost forgotten they were here. Pulling the sheet up around my chin, I offer them a smile. "Good morning."
"Hi, Birdie," Veyra chirps. "We were waiting for you to wake up."
"I see that," I chuckle. "Where are Destin and Charlie?"
Coren flops onto his back. "Downstairs. They said, 'Don't wake her up. She needs her sleep.' So we didn't wake you up. We waited for you to wake up."
Covering my mouth, I muffle my laughter. He mocks Destin very well. I am very certain Destin and Charlie forgot to mention that the twins were to wait for me outside our bedroom, but it is too late now. Both twins are watching me, waiting for something, but I'm not sure what that is. "Was there something I can help you with?"
The twins share a look. It is the same look Charlie and Destin share when they are communicating through their minds. I cock my head to the side and watch them. I wonder if they are speaking to one another. Then they nod at the same time and I am sure they are.
Veyra positions herself perfectly on the bed and widens her eyes. It is a look I am sure she has perfected over her short life. One that will certainly work on everyone to get what she wants. Little tears form in the corners of her eyes, and she sighs. "We want to go outside."
This is most certainly a trap. I know that, but I don't understand why it is just yet. Because if it isn't a trap, why didn't they ask Destin if they could go outside? "Is there a reason you shouldn't go outside?"
Coren kicks his little feet against the bed. "I told you it wouldn't work. Birdie is smart."
I sit up in the bed, bringing the blankets with me. "Why can't you go outside?"
Veyra and Coren shrug. "It's not safe," they say at the same time in a mocking voice.
"Wait," I hold up a finger to stop them from speaking. "Have you never been outside of this cabin?"
They shake their head in an identical way, and anger bubbles under my skin. "What do you mean you have never been outside?"
They shrink away from me, and I immediately feel guilty. It is not their fault I am angry. Coren wraps an arm around his sister, trying to shield her from my wrath. "We are sorry."
I take several calming breaths. "I am not angry at you two. Now let me get dressed so I can get to the bottom of this."
They scramble from the bed and close the door behind me. Their little footsteps run down the hall and into their room. I do my best to keep my anger tempered, but by the time I am dressed, I am seething again. I stomp down the stairs and glare at my mates, who have no idea what is going on.
"Kitten," Destin says too softly. "Is something wrong?"
"Don't Kitten me," I shout at him. "Why are the children not allowed to go outside?"
Destin doesn't seem fazed by my outburst, but Charlie is trying to slink out the back door. "So, Selene can't find them."
"Oh," I am not sure what to say. That is a very good reason not to let them outside.
"The house is enchanted," Destin continues. "Selene can't see in these walls. It is the safest place for the three of you."
My temper had started to fade away, and at those simple words, it flares again. "You mean you plan to keep me locked in here, too?"
"Not forever," Charlie finally decides to chime in.
I ball my fists up at my sides. "Whose idea was this?"
They look at each other, speaking silently. While they decide who is brave to speak to me, I decide to leave the cabin. I reach for the front door, and the handle won't turn. Pushing and pulling against the door, I expel all of my energy trying to open it. My fists slam against the wood, making my knuckles raw, but it doesn't budge.
Charlie tries to pull me away, but I spin and slap him. "Open the door."
"It is for the best," he whispers. "We are safe in here."
"You have two seconds to open this door," I respond coolly.
Destin walks to the door and pushes it open. I race outside and collapse on the grass in front of the cabin. My breaths are shallow and coming too fast. They were going to keep me prisoner and never considered telling me. My own mates.
Destin is standing above me, waiting for me to calm down, but I can't. He tries to reach for me, but a snarl rips from my lips. Jasmine surges forward. Golden fur sprouts on my skin, and my clothes rip. She takes off running and doesn't look back. I have no clue where she is going, but she seems to know her way around.
She runs until our muscles burn and our legs are shaking. The gates of a town are up ahead. She slows to a trot and enters the gates, falling onto the pavement just inside.
"Jasmine," Sophie's voice is clear.
She gives me back control, and I shift in the middle of the road. I draw my knees to my chest and sob. Sophie kneels beside me and wraps a coat around my shoulders. I didn't even notice the weather was changing. It is getting colder.
Her fingers trail over my bloodied knuckles and her eyebrows furrow.
"What happened?" Sophie asks, helping me to my feet.
"They wanted to keep me trapped in a house," I cry. Each word comes out with a sob. "So Selene can't find me."
Sophie cocks her head to the side. "Is that a bad thing?"
"They didn't tell me," I continue. "I can't even open the doors without help. I was a prisoner."
"Oh hell no," Sophie growls. "You are staying with me."
"But your mates," I whisper.
She scoffs loudly. "They will get over it."