Page 105 of The Vixen

He doesn’t answer. Hewon’tanswer.

Is he dead?I want to scream the question, the only question that matters—but I don’t know that I’m capable without my voice shattering.

Aiden would know.

“Getoffme.” I shove at Thorne’s chest until he lifts himself and I’m able to scramble from beneath him. I stand up and yank my sweater down, my ears burning.

“Luna…”

“No.” I whip toward him. White waves spill over my shoulders as I tug my hairtie free of the too-tight bun. “To answer your question,no, you do not matter more than my projects. The work I do is for my people, and my love for them trumps all. I hope you understand what you’ve destroyed.”

I spin toward the door and take two steps before Thorne’s weak voice stops me.

“I didn’t kill him.”

My teeth clamp even as my chest releases.

“I should have. He attacked me and compromised your father’s wishes. But I didn’t kill him. Foryou.”

I don’t turn to look at Thorne. I don’t think I can. “Where is he?”

“The mines.”

Without another wasted breath, I storm from the room, giving the duffel bag a kick on the way out. If there were time, perhaps I’d burn it. Light a flame to the mines and burn it all. Empty out every account we have.

My father has always told me words are useless. It’s what people do, not what they say that reveals all.

This, I still believe.

CHAPTER 28

SAWYER

“You’re friends with Aiden, right?” I ask one of four Keepers leading us into the mines.

Thick black brows descend as he tosses me a look over his shoulder, a baton jamming into my back. As if that wasn’t enough, I’m shoved forward by the back of my head and stumble straight into a wooden support beam.

Dust rains onto my face, and the smell triggers something deep in my chest. We’re not close enough to the cells for the scent that enters my nostrils to be real. Decay and desperation. Open wounds and caked sweat.

I blink dust from my eyes and ignore Liberty’s trembling as our shoulders brush.

“You need to tell him what happened,” I say to the familiar Keeper as I work to keep my gait even. “He’ll be worried by now.”

“Shut up,” The Keeper behind me growls, shoving me once again. I collide dramatically with the wall and angle my boundwrists to catch on a rock. I’m able to saw the rope only a few times before I’m forced forward. The rope at my back feels no less tight.

Aiden’s friend stays silent. I wish I knew his name.

Whoever he is, Luna trusts him. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have had him lead me to the training house my first night at the Keep.

Liberty yelps as a baton nudges her. She walks faster, but her spine straightens to make up for the display of weakness.

A roar echoes through the mines as we approach the cells. First, the pleas are incomprehensible, but the closer we get, the more hungry they seem. More hopeful.

Feeding time.

As we round the corner, prisoners flood the bars, their arms stretching through to get their share of the day's meager offering. Barely enough to fuel the day’s labor. Not enough to quell the constant nag of pain in the gut.

Two Keepers stand in front of the bars, one holding a long pair of clamps, the other holding the bucket of food. The smell is unmistakable… Karu.