Mated To My Obsessive Stepbrother

Chapter 359

KASMINE.

I refused the food again.

It sat there on the floor- lukewarm, bland, probably drugged but my stomach twisted so violently I thought I might pass out from the pain.

I was starving. My body screamed for it. My lips were cracked, and every bone in me ached from how cold it was in here. But I’d rather starve than give these monsters the satisfaction. How could I trust them? How could I be sure they wouldn’t slip something into the food to make me weak, compliant… easier to transport or silence?

My fingers were numb, curled into my sleeves for warmth. I sat hunched in the corner of the dim cell, trembling, half from cold, half from hunger, but I was hopeful Kester would find me. I knew he would.

I didn’t care how stupid I’d been to take off the necklace… the one thing that would have helped him find me.

I had to believe he’d come anyway. I had to.

Because the only thing worse than this… was thinking he might not be alive.

But he was. I felt it in my chest like a pulse. He was angry, and hurt, and probably losing his fucking mind right now, but he was out there, breathing and fighting. I just had to believe that because that was the only thought that gave me hope

and kept me sane.

There was no way I could think otherwise. If I do, I’d choke on my own fear.

The door creaked open again, and I didn’t need anyone to tell me who it was because the atmosphere changed with that

sinister stillness that always followed him.

He kept coming in here like clockwork and saying nothing, freaking me out. I was utterly terrified of him, and if that was

his game plan, then I must say it was working perfectly.

“Kasmine. A little bird tells me you haven’t been eating your food, hm?”

I flinched. His voice was too calm, and somehow, that scared me more than if he’d screamed.

Nagel stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a soft click. He leaned his shoulder against the wall and watched me like a lab rat he was tired of poking.

He tilted his head slightly. “Oh, sweetheart,” he said, dryly amused. “You’re not here because of what you did.”

My lips trembled as tears blurred my vision. “Then why? What did I do? What do you want from me?”

He chuckled under his breath, shaking his head like I’d just asked the dumbest question alive.

“It’s not about you,” he said, pushing off the wall and walking toward me, “You’re just here because of your mate’s sins.”

My breath hitched. I pressed myself harder into the corner. The chill from the walls sank into my skin.

went on, crouching so we were almost eye level, “I have very little problem

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Chapter 359

Stepping on toes that don’t

he can count.”

He sounded so detached.

think dragging me into it is fair? That I deserve

wasn’t supposed to be you.” He shrugged. “You just happened to be the string we

down my face. I wiped

“Jake told us

I froze.

hold on him. That you were the one thing that could make him hesitate. Stupid, right? Love… or whatever

My chest twisted.

was struggling with the job. Couldn’t finish

true? All

God. Jake?

I’d

my face. “But then… you went and picked

just a little. “And just like that,

I whispered, “You’re

it was the best thing that ever happened to our plan. Unfortunately, your darling Kester went

for a while, as if mourning the dead before

something,” he said, not looking back. “You’ll need your

anything,” I said, “I don’t care if I die here. I’m not touching a single thing

don’t know what gave me the courage… I didn’t feel brave, not even a little… but words came pouring out like

choked out. “He will. And when he does, you’ll pay for everything you’ve done.

a beat

turned back around. His eyes rested

Chapter 359

steps toward me, then stopped. “Is that

throat was tight, and fear

my words. Then he said, almost to himself, “You think he’ll make me pay

Another step closer.

“Interesting logic.”

up instinctively, but there was nowhere left to go. My spine was already pressed against the damp stone

his head, his

I haven’t committed,” he said, ‘I might as well commit some

ribs as he kept

since your mouth is too empty for food… but busy enough to bark threats,” he murmured, now standing inches away, ‘maybe it’s time it

fingers glaze

froze. Everything inside me locked

this, peering deep into my soul with those dead

knees were shaking. I hated that I was