Chapter 10
Talia’s POV
I was deep into the book resting in my lap when the door handle rattled.
I sighed, exasperated. My thoughts were already a mess especially now that I wasn’t chained anymore and the last thing I needed was Vermont barging in to unsettle me all over again.
“You can’t stay away for a few hours without coming back to torment me, can you?” I called out as I stood, unlocked the door, and pulled it open.
I froze.
It wasn’t Vermont standing there.
It was Abena.
Vermont’s mother stared at me like she couldn’t quite believe her eyes. For a brief second, we were both stunned into silence.
“What are you...” she gasped. “Oh my goodness… it’s you.”
Shock flashed across her face, then fury followed just as fast. Before I could react, her hunched frame shoved past me with
