TWENTY THREE

Hugo, one of the Shark’s males escorted Shira outside, and as she took in the beautiful scenery and artfully planted flowers and trees that formed a garden, she realized that she had not stepped outside since they had come. She suddenly wished she could run through the garden and keep running, feel the wind against her hair, feel the gentle sun kiss her skin. If she were at home, she would not have been allowed outside either, unless she needed the out doors to learn something about sword fight in the open.

She suddenly craved a life that was not dictated to her, first by her family, and now by this – this male who had not yet given her a reason why he had kidnapped her.

He was standing by a lake that was so still, Shira wondered if there were any fish in it. He sat on a rock beside the water, and a fishing line dangled from his hand. Beside him, there was a bag, a basket of fruits and what looked like a blanket. Her heart constricted in her chest. He had really put efforts into