Page 118 of Eternal Craving

“Do you have another option?”

He swallowed hard. “What’s your plan?”

“I’m going to pry open your shackles.”

“We’re as good as dead.” Marcus slouched back against the wall.

Ripping the shackles from the wall would be easy to explain away as corrosion, but the clanging of the chains would alert our enemy. They’d have to come off.

“These things are so rusty.” I grabbed hold of Lilly’s cuff.

Masonry sprayed, splattering me with dust, and the chain dangled from Lilly’s wrist. She gawped her surprise.

“Why look at that.” I shook my head in fake amazement. “Turns out I’m stronger than I thought.” I yanked open the metal cuff.

“How the hell did you do that?” Ted sat up.

With a snap, the metal gave on his cuff, too.

They rubbed their wrists as I considered Marcus’ leg. A sip of blood would do the trick, but Lilly and Ted would probably freak out. Ted was so weak, I doubted he’d last long. He clambered to his feet, leaned on me, and I took his weight.

Marcus shook his head. “I’ll slow you down. Just get them out.”

“I’ll come back,” I said.

“If your chance comes, take it and don’t look back.”

“A promise is a promise.” I flashed a smile, though it was forced.

Lilly, Ted, and I headed down the corridor and soon made it to the door that was now open. We passed the statue that someone had pushed back into its original position, and ascended the stairs, then crept our way through the empty foyer.With a turn of the door handle came the cool breeze of freedom. I shoved Lilly and Ted out and slammed the door shut.

Delacroix came out of nowhere and threw me towards the foot of the stairs. My head bashed against the banister. Not since I’d taken Felipe on had I felt such fury. Delacroix’s servants reappeared, dragging Lilly and Ted in with them.

A wave of despair hit me hard.

Lilly and Ted cowered with fear. Fumbling hands behind me tied my wrists together with fine rope, so tight that my hands grew numb. I struggled to get free, but they overpowered me. Delacroix’s iron-glad grip crushed my throat, and his gaze bored into mine.

Lilly and Ted were hauled away.

I glanced up at the ceiling. Even with my hands bound, I believed I could rise, but if I escaped, it would seal their fate.

Delacroix struck my face, and my jaw cracked. He leaned in and his tongue lapped at my neck.

I jolted when he bit hard into my flesh.

He stormed on into my psyche. I struggled tostay conscious as he pillaged the farthest recesses. He was draining me.

I sank to my knees and my face struck the floor. Delacroix’s shoes were the last thing I saw.

The ghost of an Andalusian cantered by on silent hooves, ash swirling in its wake. Its flanks shimmered, eyes hollow with death. I watched, breath caught, as time twisted around it and I was taken back to that memory, that glimpse of the other side.

I was back in the cell.

I’d been shackled to the wall. I resisted the weight of the chain and ran my fingers along my neck. My shirt was stained with blood. Marcus stared back at me. His shackle had been refitted around his left wrist. Lilly and Ted had also been re-secured.

“What happened?” Marcus appeared even more worn down.

Sunaria, where are you?I didn’t even sense her and hated the thought that she may be in danger. “I’m still getting us out of here.”