Page 206 of Everdoll

I had nothing to say for this.

“Does it still not feel real to you?”

Resting his chin against my shoulder, he burrowed deeper into the back of my neck.

“It feels like I’m in a dream. And I’m terrified of turning it into a nightmare.”

“I thought you had nothing left to fear.”

“So did I, Mina. But I’m scared. I’m still scared of losing you.”

At the pained tone in his voice, my compassion resurfaced. Sighing softly, I squeezed his hands resting on my stomach.

“Good night, Raymond.”

“Good night, Mina Olind. Sleep peacefully.”

For God’s sake… why was he calling me by my full name? What was going on? But I decided not to dwell on it. We should be celebrating this moment; after all, we were finally reunited after all those years. I shouldn’t overthink it. I should just be happy.

Unaware that I had just delivered myself straight into the arms of the devil, I fell asleep.

Just as he had wished.

CHAPTER 16

Mina

When I woke up, I was on a chair.

My arms were bound to it. I’d slept naked last, but now I wore clothes. A navy shirt clung to my chest, a ruffled black skirt hung beneath it, and I wore nothing under it at all. Whoever had dressed me had left me exposed.

I swallowed and lifted my head. The room was dark, a single weak white light above. It resembled a torture chamber. Soon, a cruel old guard would come whip me, I thought.

But the one who entered wasn’t old. I wasn’t sure he was cruel yet, but his young, handsome face made me lick my dry lips. His navy-black uniform fit his broad shoulders perfectly. A black military hat covered most of his burned hair, a few blue-tinged strands visible at his nape. The insignia on his chest revealed his rank: Commander.

He stalked toward me, a black riding crop in hand. My hips and tits were bound to the table with thick ropes, but I could still press my legs together. Fuck, just the sight of him was too delicious. As he approached with cold eyes, I didn’t know how I looked at him.

What was his aim? What were we doing? I thought we’d just sleep together and celebrate sweetly. But the anger and lust in his gaze reminded me of a forgotten truth:

Our relationship was never made of sugar.

“What are you doing?” I asked, my voice trembling with excitement, not with surprise as I’d wanted.

“The right question should be ‘who are you,’ miss.”

With that damned address returning, I took a deep breath. The whole scene gave me goosebumps, yet it warmed me. As kids, we played such games. I often chose romantic, cute ones. Like princess and knight. But sometimes I’d make up tragic scenarios like this, too. In the world where we were top-tier agents, I’d usually be the one who died. I’d cast Remi in the role of the poor lover who wept for me and was found dead at my grave because of his love for me.

Sometimes, though… Remi would be my enemy. He’d slip into a different role when we played these games. His cold blue-green eyes looked so terrifying that I couldn’t tell reality from fiction.

Now, the green had faded from his eyes, and they didn’t scare me as much as they used to. In the blue behind his furrowed brows, I only wished to drown. I was the only one who got to experience this side of him, this rare, exclusive mask…

The realization that Raymond had so many faces I had yet to discover made my blood run hot. I set my jaw, keeping my head high to meet his gaze.

“Who are you, then?”

I obeyed him. If he wanted to play a game, if it would make him feel better, I’d go along with it. It wasn’t exactly a mature way to heal, but at least it was better than him creating clones of me and killing them, right?

“I’m here to interrogate you, Mina Olind. I’ve been looking for you for years. And finally, you’ve come to me.”