Read Online Phoenix Tonic by Shelley Martin - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shelley Martin
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your temper in here, you could kill people.” He didn’t bother to add that the facility had been evacuated. Pulling a high back leather chair out of the desk, he turned it around and settled into it. “I’m trusting you here, Hailey. Use the shower as long as you need. We can talk afterward. I’ll see if I can find something for you to change into.”
Her eyes locked onto him. “Did you set that up earlier? Between my brother and I?”
Her accusing tone held a promise of danger in it. How was he supposed to answer without making her angrier? “No. I didn’t set that up. I’m sorry that happened to you. We had warned him several times that you were dangerous and not ready to receive visitors. And we asked you several times to take the suppressant. If either of you had listened to our direction, this wouldn’t have happened.”
She drew the sheet tighter around her shoulders. He could see she was struggling. She wanted to be angry with him, but the tonic made her want to be docile. “Kira said it worked better than expected. Which meant someone was expecting something.”
His gaze locked onto her. Telling her Kira was behind the situation wouldn’t help matters. Kira was the only female they knew who would keep their secret. “We knew that if you came into contact with a male, no matter the relationship, you would respond negatively. The people that are in charge of you know not to expose you to any men.” He quickly held up a hand, cutting off the comment she was about to make. “I have clarified things with Kira and doubled security. I never want to have something like that happen to you again.”
He waited for her to process the truth. Either way, he could not let this happen again. It would have been pretty disturbing if she’d gone too far. But as it was, the simple reaction of her body had been almost scarring to her psyche. He shook off the thoughts. “Go ahead and get a good shower in.”
“Why are you doing this?” Hailey’s voice whispered, ragged and low. “I thought you just took what you wanted.”
Kallian sighed and stood up. He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked to the door. “Because everyone keeps telling me I should have let you die. But I know you, and I know you will prove them wrong.”
Chapter Eleven
“Don’t let him get to you,” Hailey whispered to herself in the mirror.
Kallian Markham had left the room, showing his trust in her. She could have easily burnt down the wooden door and bolted. But she was naked and covered in the ashy remains of her room. And there was nowhere she could go without putting people in danger. She wanted to puke at the thought of how she’d reacted to her brother’s presence. Shame riddled her consciousness.
Regret weighed on her mind over rejecting the suppressant. She could have avoided the whole incident. Poor Brian. He probably didn’t have a clue what had happened. She’d have to email him later and tell him the side effects were real. She decided to leave out which side effects, though.
The mirror began to fog up from the heat of the shower. “Just keep your mind empty.” Her feet stepped into the privacy of the tile and frosted glass shower. She felt like a real person as the water, like ribbons, washed over her. She used Kallian’s expensive shampoo and familiar scented soap. Her senses focused on the smells, heat and surroundings.
This place radiated calm and warmth, like the Kallian she used to know. And she doubted he mounted hidden cameras in his private office. But she needed answers, and it seemed like he might be willing to talk.
Her hand lingered on the shower handle as she turned the water off. When she went out there, in his presence, she wouldn’t be herself anymore. She would succumb to whatever it was they’d done to her. The thoughts wouldn’t leave as she toweled down her hair.
After he left the first time she was literally weakened. When his lips came so close she could feel the
Her eyes locked onto him. “Did you set that up earlier? Between my brother and I?”
Her accusing tone held a promise of danger in it. How was he supposed to answer without making her angrier? “No. I didn’t set that up. I’m sorry that happened to you. We had warned him several times that you were dangerous and not ready to receive visitors. And we asked you several times to take the suppressant. If either of you had listened to our direction, this wouldn’t have happened.”
She drew the sheet tighter around her shoulders. He could see she was struggling. She wanted to be angry with him, but the tonic made her want to be docile. “Kira said it worked better than expected. Which meant someone was expecting something.”
His gaze locked onto her. Telling her Kira was behind the situation wouldn’t help matters. Kira was the only female they knew who would keep their secret. “We knew that if you came into contact with a male, no matter the relationship, you would respond negatively. The people that are in charge of you know not to expose you to any men.” He quickly held up a hand, cutting off the comment she was about to make. “I have clarified things with Kira and doubled security. I never want to have something like that happen to you again.”
He waited for her to process the truth. Either way, he could not let this happen again. It would have been pretty disturbing if she’d gone too far. But as it was, the simple reaction of her body had been almost scarring to her psyche. He shook off the thoughts. “Go ahead and get a good shower in.”
“Why are you doing this?” Hailey’s voice whispered, ragged and low. “I thought you just took what you wanted.”
Kallian sighed and stood up. He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked to the door. “Because everyone keeps telling me I should have let you die. But I know you, and I know you will prove them wrong.”
Chapter Eleven
“Don’t let him get to you,” Hailey whispered to herself in the mirror.
Kallian Markham had left the room, showing his trust in her. She could have easily burnt down the wooden door and bolted. But she was naked and covered in the ashy remains of her room. And there was nowhere she could go without putting people in danger. She wanted to puke at the thought of how she’d reacted to her brother’s presence. Shame riddled her consciousness.
Regret weighed on her mind over rejecting the suppressant. She could have avoided the whole incident. Poor Brian. He probably didn’t have a clue what had happened. She’d have to email him later and tell him the side effects were real. She decided to leave out which side effects, though.
The mirror began to fog up from the heat of the shower. “Just keep your mind empty.” Her feet stepped into the privacy of the tile and frosted glass shower. She felt like a real person as the water, like ribbons, washed over her. She used Kallian’s expensive shampoo and familiar scented soap. Her senses focused on the smells, heat and surroundings.
This place radiated calm and warmth, like the Kallian she used to know. And she doubted he mounted hidden cameras in his private office. But she needed answers, and it seemed like he might be willing to talk.
Her hand lingered on the shower handle as she turned the water off. When she went out there, in his presence, she wouldn’t be herself anymore. She would succumb to whatever it was they’d done to her. The thoughts wouldn’t leave as she toweled down her hair.
After he left the first time she was literally weakened. When his lips came so close she could feel the
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