The Alchemist of Broken Dreams by Sienna Rose Blackwell 33

DYLAN 

My stomach growled again, loud enough to echo in the quiet room. 

I scowled down at it, as if sheer willpower would silence it. I’d been holed up here for hours, refusing to leave since Hunter dragged me in and locked the door behind us. Not that the door was still locked, it’s just that he’s preventing me from leaving the premises. 

I glanced toward the small table near the corner. The tray of food the maid had left for lunch still sat there, untouched and cold. My stomach let out another loud grumble as if to say, You idiot. Just eat. 

I sighed, finally caving, and dragged my feet toward it. 

But before I could take a single bite, the door creaked open. 

I froze. My eyes widened in panic, and I immediately put the food back on the plate and spun on my heel before I darted back to bed, sitting stiffly on the edge and staring at the opposite wall. Ignoring him. 

His presence filled the room without him even saying a word. I didn’t need to look to know it was him. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him walk toward the untouched food. He stood there for a second, as if confirming it with his own eyes. 

“You didn’t touch your food,” he said softly, his voice calm. Too calm. 

I rolled my eyes before turning to face him. “I’d rather starve myself to death than stay here,” I said, my tone sharp and defiant. 

He didn’t react. Not to the words. Not to the venom in them. His dark eyes simply watched me, steady and unreadable, like he was peeling back layers without needing to touch me. 

I stood, instinctively backing away when he took a step forward. 

He stopped–just a few inches from me. Close enough for me to feel the heat radiating off his body. Close enough to make my breath hitch. 

Then, without a word, he lifted a paper bag between us and held it out. 

“Wear this,” he said, his tone firm but low as he held out the paper bag toward me. “We’re going out for dinner.” 

I blinked, completely caught off guard. “What?” 

His expression didn’t even twitch. “I said we’re going out.” 

I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, lifting my chin in defiance. “I’m not going anywhere with you.” 

A slow, dangerous smile crept across his face. One that should’ve come with a warning. “I wasn’t asking, little 

10:33 Thu, Dec 25 M… 

Chapter 33 

dove.” 

And then, before I could protest or even take a step back, he closed the distance between us in a heartbeat. Strong arms wrapped around my waist, and the