Chapter 18

He'd drugged her again. It was the only thought Autumn could hold on to as she struggled toward consciousness. Her body ached, and her shoulders were rolled back into an awkward position.

"Wakey, wakey." Something cool and hard brushed her temple at the words.

Inhaling a slow breath, Autumn gathered what energy she could muster and opened her eyes.

Mark - or a very blurry version of him - crouched in front of her. His lips curved, and as his face resolved into a clearer image, she registered the cold fury behind the smile. How had she missed the signs of this in him all this time? She, who prided herself on being so attuned to others' behavior, hadn't seen. Maybe she hadn't wanted to see.

She licked her lips and tried to swallow, but her mouth felt full of cotton.

"Thirsty?" He produced a bottle of water and held it to her lips.