He was staring at her again. Only this time it was the middle of the night and he was staring because she had a plan. She -had- a plan and it had failed. She'd had a plan and he'd anticipated it. How was she to know?
***
As soon as his breathing was regular, Claire slipped from the bed achingly slow. She opened the bedroom door without a sound and went into the rooms of the other children. She watched them sleeping. She knew she'd miss them.
She went to the front door and put her hand on the door knob. As soon as she was far enough away, she would send her child back. She'd find someone to break the bond her bond with Ruthivan. Then she'd keep on the move and he'd never find her. She turned the knob and pulled the door and a flash of white light blinded her. The door didn't move.
She tried again with the same result. She didn't notice the sound coming from her throat -a muffled, strangled moan. She tried the door again and a sob came out. Then she turned around and saw him standing there. His face was amused, angry, hurt and confused. He covered it. 'I thought I told you stay with me.'
'You've trapped me here!'
'Shh. You'll wake the children.'
'You've trapped me in my own home!'
Ruthivan crossed the room and lifted her into his arms. He looked at her with a pitying smile and nodded. 'With good reason, look at you. I can't let anything happen to the two of you.'
They got into the bedroom and Ruthivan laid her down before pulling his sleeping potion from a drawer. Claire knew the rest of the story and didn't bother to protest as the cloth covered her nose. She fell into a forced sleep, feeling him caressing her cheek. She heard his words as if from a dream, 'I won't let you out of my sight. Our people should never be alone. You'll never be apart from me again. You'll never be alone. I'll be there for you, forever.'
