Chapter 72

XANDER

"Are you going to get some work done or will you keep spying on your little hostage?"

I look up from the monitor long enough to glare at Donovan. Then I go back to watching Adriana's clip.

She is reading a book Daciana found and has been giggling and laughing to herself. It was a marvel to watch her be herself in that way. I don't think I've ever seen her smile as much as she was doing right now.

Not when she was here, though no one expects that, or even with her mother. The few days I spent watching her through that mirror portal. She was never smiling like this.

A possessive part of me was jealous she was finding something amusing and I wasn't the reason for that. But a more delusional part of me was just happy she looked this free in my territory. Forget that I had nothing to do with it.

That was how the voices in my head were in a constant battle with each other. The much darker and pessimistic side, and th