Chapter 46 - Mine Stays Margot's POV I was three chapters deep . Completely gone . Trapped in another world hidden inside of the little book . The castle walls were dripping in shadow , a storm was brewing beyond the gothic gates , and the heroine desperate and half - starved - had just stepped into the manor's grand hall , its chandeliers long - dead and cobwebbed like forgotten memories . I could feel her heartbeat syncing with mine as she tiptoed across marble floors , drawn by a warmth that shouldn't have existed in such a lifeless place . Then she met him . The man in the dark . - He didn't have fangs not yet . No red eyes , no claws , no threats . Just a calm , inviting smile , a jaw sharp enough to make a nun sin , and eyes that promised he could ruin her if she let him . He was handsome in the kind of way that made you forget you were supposed to run . A wolf in gentleman's clothing . She didn't know he was a vampire yet , but I knew ... My fingers gripped the edge of the pages . God , what I wouldn't give to trade places with her for a night . To run from something of my choosing , instead of the trap I'd been dragged into against my will here . But I guess this wasn't really against my will , was it ? Considering I had willingly applied , signed the contracts , and boarded the damn ship to come all this way ! But still ... it was difficult not to think that this whole thing had been a scam at times . Putting my life on the line every five seconds and praying to come out the other end alive just to get the damn money ! A sudden knock at the door split the atmosphere like an axe to glass . I jumped , my heart springing up in to my throat as a common reaction now . One foot was still stuck in the fiction , the other now planted firmly in the brutal reality of my world . Coban stood from the bed without a word , already moving toward the door with slow , impatient steps . I peeked above the top edge of the book , still clutching it close to my chest as if the pages could protect me . Coban cracked the door open- just enough for his expression to shift . Irritation . His tone followed it . " Took your time . " His voice had dropped into that dangerous register again - sharp , cold , full of hidden 1/4 3:23 pm P Chapter 46 - Mine Stays threat . The kind of tone you never wanted aimed at you . A figure slipped in past the crack of the door . He was smaller than Coban . Leaner . His build more wiry than powerful - like someone who depended on speed and attitude over brute force . He wore an oversized black tracksuit that hung off his frame , his braided hair swinging slightly as he moved , skin a sun - drenched shade of brown that contrasted against the clinical white walls around us . Then came her . I didn't see her at first - not until her head popped around behind him , her red hair bouncing into view like fire . My heart dropped as soon as her eyes locked with mine . One of the other girls from the ship . Mint - green clad . The redhead with the lashes and the attitude . Her face lit with recognition could stop it . - or maybe it was just shock - and a tiny gasp escaped her mouth before she Coban didn't waste a single second . - " Not her , " he said immediately , his voice slicing through the air like a blade . His finger pointed sharply , eyes narrowing with a flash of fire . " Get her out . " Montel turned back slightly , surprised , his mouth parting into a shape of protest . " My bitch ? " he asked , jerking a thumb toward her . " Don't worry , she won't snitch . Sure you won't , darlin ' ? " He spread his arms wide with mock affection , putting on a performance as though we were in front of some kind of audience . But snitch about what ? What exactly were they both up to ? The girl caught the cue quickly . Her voice climbed into something sugary , high - pitched and syrupy - sweet . " Course not , bubs ! " she giggled , batting her lashes and curling into his side like she belonged there . I stared , disgusted . It was so fake . So dramatised . But when I glanced back at Coban , I knew . He wasn't buying it either . His face darkened like a thundercloud had rolled over it . "This is my fucking room , Montel . Get her the fuck out of here . " His voice didn't rise yet , but it thickened like smoke before a fire . - 2/4 3:23 pm P SDD . Chapter 46 Mine Stays Montel hesitated , glancing at me for the first time . I saw the way his brow lifted , taking me in like I was a piece of meat left on someone else's plate . Then , bold as ever , he shot back at Coban , " Well I want yours gone too , then . " I nearly choked . Excuse me ?! Who the hell did he think he was ? Bargaining over me like I was some unwanted third party ? I had more right to be here than he did ! This was Coban's room . Our room , as far as this messed - up arrangement went . But I didn't say anything - just clenched my teeth , eyes shifting immediately to Coban for a reaction . He stood still . Dangerously still . Thinking . - Then , suddenly - violently - he moved . - Coban shoved Montel so hard his entire body careened sideways , slamming into the wall with a loud thud . The guy stumbled , his slides squeaking , before catching himself with a hiss of annoyance . " I'll knock each and every one of your gold teeth down your throat if you try me again , " Coban snarled , his voice now thunderous . " Get the whore out . Mine stays . " My stomach flipped at the sound of that word . Mine . It shouldn't have made me feel the way it did like I'd just been picked , protected . Claimed . Montel tutted loudly , clicking his tongue , brushing invisible dust off his sleeve with dramatic flair . " Alright , alright , quit the demands , Santo , " he muttered . Then he turned to the redhead . " Darlin ' , go wait outside in the common room . Find a seat . I won't be long . " She didn't move right away . Instead , she rolled her eyes . Actually rolled her eyes . Was she crazy ? My gaze snapped to Coban , just in time to see it happen that moment where the predator beneath his skin reared its head . 3/4 3:23 pm P & DD . PD Chapter 46 Mine Stays " You got a problem , bitch ? " he barked , stepping around Montel in two long strides . The girl stiffened , her entire demeanor shifting from cocky to cornered . Her eyes flicked to Montel , silently but he didn't move . He stood perfectly still , arms crossed , like she wasn't his begging him to intervene - to defend . I could see it in her eyes when she realised . She was on her own . Her mouth opened , closed , then mumbled , " N - not at all . " And with that , she turned , retreating fast . Cowardly . Not even a backwards glance . Coban stared after her , muttering a string of curses under his breath as the door shut behind her . The energy in the room thickened again . Tense . Toxic . Ready to boil over at any moment . " Let's get this shit done , " Coban growled , storming toward the chest of drawers for a surface top . I ducked my head quickly , pressing back into the pages of my book . But the words no longer made sense . - The castle , the vampire , the heroine in the storm they all blurred together now , drowned by the weight of what I'd just seen . The show of dominance . The volatile power . The violent peace that came after . I wanted to know what the pair of them were doing , as things were seemingly pulled from Montel's underwear , placed in bags on top of the surface . And yet , even through all of the chaos and curiosity , one thing kept echoing in the back of my mind . Mine stays . Chapter Comments 5 Write Comments < SHARE 3:23 pm P The Prison Project Chapter 47 - Mind Reader