Chapter l242

Chapter 0242

Beside me, Elva yawned. “I’m tired, Mommy.”

I immediately crouched down beside her. I touched my hand to her forehead, but I didn’t feel a fever. Still, my nerves were frayed and I couldn’t help but worry. “Do you feel hot?”

“No. Just sleepy.” She rubbed at one eye.

I hated to leave early. We really needed this victory to stay in the competition. The stakes were so much higher now that I knew the underground organization had their sights on me and Elva. The minute we

stepped foot off the palace grounds, we’d likely be snatched up.

But I couldn’t chance Elva’s health. She’d been doing so well since she started receiving regular

treatments. I wouldn’t dare risk taking her heath any steps in the wrong direction.

“Honey, do you want to go

“There you are, Piper.”

A shiver rattled my bones. I knew that voice. I dreaded that voice.

I looked up and Terry was beside us, standing too close, peering down with the eyes of a viper.

“A pleasant picture, seeing you on your knees,” Terry said. He smirked, but the joy of it did not extend

beyond his l*ps.

“A vile thing to say in front of a child.” I pushed myself up to my feet, then ushered Elva behind me.

“I meant it innocently, I assure you.”

I hadn’t needed Julian’s mental self–defense lessons to know that was a lie.

“But is that anyway to greet me?” Terry continued. His gaze narrowed slightly, like a predator eyeing his

prey. “After all, we are such good friends now that you feel comfortable visiting unannounced. I only

wished I knew you were coming. I would have prepared one of the cells for you.”

He was needling me, trying to get a reaction. I had to stay calm, as Julian had helped me train. I couldn’t

let him get to me. Only if I was calm, could I poke back.

“You had your hands full, as I recall,” I said, attempting a sneer.

Something sparked in his eye, a flicker of fire. “Yes. I did.”

I tasted bile.

This wasn’t going to work. I didn’t want to go toe to toe with Terry. I didn’t want to even be in the same room as him. But I especially didn’t want to talk about my sister somewhere Elva could overhear.

“You shouldn’t expect a return visit,” I said, struggling to maintain my composure. I was proud when my voice didn’t waver. “That path has been permanently sealed.”

It was a bluff. The secret tunnel might have been sealed but I already knew Terry had brought Piper back into the house through some other means. Unfortunately, I couldn’t call him out on it and press for more

information. Not with Elva in earshot. 2

Just then, Elva peered around my shirt to look up at Terry.

Terry flashed her a crooked grin.

Elva gasped and returned to hiding behind me.

“Why don’t you just go?” I said. “I’m sure many other women would be interested in speaking with you

tonight.”

His smile turns cruel.

I wanted to run from him. To take Elva, and fly to an entirely different continent if I had to. Whatever it

took to get away from him and keep him away.

Terry leered openly at my barely–exposed cleavage. He licked his l*ps.

“Oh, Piper. Don’t you know? I’m a benefactor tonight. And as a benefactor, it is my obligation to speak

with each and every candidate, including you. Such a lovely little practice, isn’t it? A bit of money, and I

get what I want?”

I swallowed the rising lump in my throat. “You donate the money to charity,” I said. “You don’t get

anything.”

“I get time with you,” he said.

“That time is up.”