Dn stepped into the hallway and handed the empty bowl to a housekeeper, then headed straight for the study.


    Someone was already waiting for him.


    While ra had been asleep these past few days, the doctor had run every test possible. Now, he set a thick folder down on the desk. "Sir, I''m afraid there''s more to ra''s past than we thought. She didn''t lose her memory because of the car ident—she was medicated before it even happened. Her memory problems started well before thesest few months, but they must not have seemed serious at the time. Since she didn''t have many friends, no one noticed. I''ve had theb analyze the drugs-simr to the recent ones, but more advanced."


    Dn leaned back in his wheelchair, his face growing darker with every word. After a long pause, he said quietly, "Bring them in."


    Eli was shoved into a pitch-ck room, blindfolded and fuming. "Damn it, don''t push me! I haven''t been treated like this in years. If you don''t let me go, I''m seriously going to lose it."


    Right on cue, someone ripped off his blindfold.


    He blinked, spotting Seth tied up nearby, looking infuriatingly calm. That only made Eli angrier.


    Seth barely spoke, so even in captivity, he never got roughed up. Eli wasn''t so lucky his mouth always got him in trouble, and every insult earned him another beating. But he knew Dn wouldn''t let him die. As long as he was breathing, Eli wasn''t about to keep quiet. What was the point of having a mouth if he couldn''t use it?


    Taking a deep breath, he red at Dn, who sat alone in a chair by the window. Eli cocked an eyebrow. "Wow, dressed up all proper. Almost passes for civilized- too bad you''re still a monster."


    Before he could finish, Seth cut him off. "Just stop. Seriously."


    Eli mped his mouth shut, looked away, and snorted.


    Dn ignored him, turning to the doctor. "Check him for any traces."


    When Eli saw the doctor approach with a syringe, his eyes narrowed dangerously. "What the hell do you think you''re doing?"


    But he was tied up tight-he couldn''t move an inch.


    The needle slid into his arm. Eli shot Dn a re. "Trying to turn me into a brainless puppet, huh? So you can keep lying to ra?"


    Dn leaned his head on one hand, azy smirk on his lips. "Maybe."


    It was weird-Eli almost felt like Dn was in a good mood today. Usually, when


    Eli picked a fight, Dn just ordered someone to shut him up. Today, he actually answered.


    Eli went quiet, staring at Dn for a while before his eyes dropped to Dn''s corbone.


    There it was: a deep bite mark, impossible to miss with his shirt unbuttoned at the top like that. Anyone paying attention would have noticed.


    Eli''s hands clenched into fists. "Go


    31.ne


    on, Dn, keep living in that dream world of yours. When ra finds out you killed the person she cared about most, let''s see if you still have the guts to stick around. You used to just take it in silence when people tried to kill you. I almost feel sorry for you. Maybe all those


    assassination attempts gave you Stockholm syndrome."


    Seth''s face was tight with annoyance. "Can''t you just shut up for once?"


    Eli bristled. "What, you want me to be like you? Never say a damn thing?"


    Seth closed his eyes. "If making


    noise actually solved anything, I''d let you. But do you really think ra


    would leave a mark like that if she care about him? That kind of thing can''t be forced."


    Eli''s cheeks flushed red, his whole body shaking. "She''s just been fooled! Don''t forget what he''s done!"


    Seth didn''t even open his eyes. "Don''t forget what you said when she saved you: that you''d support her, no matter what."


    Eli fell silent, eyes down, shoulders slumping as if all the fight had left him.


    Ten minutes passed before he


    finally muttered, voice hoarse, "I just


    don''t like that guy. He made her lose


    her memory for his own selfish


    reasons. She shouldn''t be like


    is.


    She used to shine so bright, and now


    she''s trapped by him. If he really loved her, how could he fet all this happen..."


    Dn nced up at Eli, his gaze lingering for a moment before looking away.


    The doctor returned, sounding certain. "Sir, he''s got traces of that drug in his system too."


    Dn raised his eyebrows—and, unexpectedly, let out a quietugh.