PREPARATIONS

JASMINE'S POV

On sighting Xaden and Erik with a little girl on Xaden's arm, I instantly froze. 

The girl said, "Uncle Xaden, why is this woman wearing chains? Don't they hurt her?"

I felt my heart suppress once I heard her call him Uncle. 

Why was I worried if she was his daughter? It was none of my business anyway. 

No one said a word. 

"Huh, Uncle Xaden?" The girl asked, tugging at Xaden's top. 

Then she turned to me. "Don't they hurt?"

I gave a weak smile. "No, they don't, dear."

She frowned as if she suspected I was lying. 

Xaden was staring at me. 

I hadn't seen him since the night before, when he had saved me in the room from the other girls. 

He had steered clear of me, and from what I saw, he didn't want me an inch around him. 

"Jade, why don't we let Uncle Xaden talk for a minute, okay?" Erik said, breaking the silence.