Page 51 of Their Fierce Little Monster

But I’m already nodding. “Whatever it takes to make sure he’s fine. Kazak would do anything for me. Once, the Viscount locked me in a shed for talking back, and Kazak snuck me food and water. At night, he’d sit outside the door and talk to me to keep me company.”

“Wow, that’s dedication.”

I shrug, well aware that what we have is complicated, but the attraction toward one another is undeniable. Even if I’m still out of sorts with him hiding the truth from me. But that’s not my concern at this moment.

“Then we should go down there now, as the guards will switch in a few minutes.” And all of a sudden, we are out in the doorway. We rush on silent steps, past sconces guttering with low light, and there’s not a sound in the compound. Part of me is curious about where Corvin and Lian are, but I suspect that with their freedom, they’re out in the city exploring. That’s what I would do.

“Not many work in this building, so no one should spot us.”

We turn left and right, through doorways, and down stairs, when we enter a storeroom and slip round the back. That’s when I spot circular cakes the size of my hand with sugar showing through the paper. Kazak loves cake, and I pause. “Insy,” I whisper. “Can I take one, please?”

“Quick.” She waves at me impatiently, and I grab two of them, tucking them against my stomach. Then I run after Insy.

We dart through a narrow doorway and descend a staircase made of stone. It reeks of still water, which splashes under each rushed footstep, while more drops drip overhead. One hits my nose and I wipe it off, unsure if that’s even water.

The dim torches on the wall steal the darkness, revealing more descending steps.

It’s unbearably oppressive with heat down here. Finally, we reach the bottom of the staircase, and Insy pauses in front of an old metal door. She places her ear to it. We stand there for the longest moment, all while my heart races. I keep glancing back up the steps, feeling as though we’re about to be busted.

A rat suddenly scurries out for the shadows and darts right over my feet. I leap back, a scream in my lungs, but I suppress it as I watch the thing dart into a hole in the wall.

Disgusting.

Finally, she eases the door open a crack and peers through. Then she waves me forward.

“Five minutes,” she whispers in my ear. The new prisoner is down the hall on the right. On the left is the door the guard will return through. You hear a sound, run for your life back here, understand?”

I nod frantically, then she opens the door and shoves me forward with a flat palm against my back.

Stumbling forward, I catch myself a few steps in and quickly take in my surroundings.

Stone walls, ceiling, and flooring, all dimly lit, and it smells like every sock ever worn has been fermenting down here. I inch forward several steps before I find the closed door on my left, along with chains hanging from the wall, but I hasten toward my right. It’s a long hall and I hurry past several empty prison cells on either side of me.

I wipe the sweat on my forehead from how hot it is down here.

Finally, I reach the last cell on my left, and past the wall of metal bars, I find Kazak. He’s stretched out on a threadbare cot, hands laced behind his head, boots crossed over one another, and he seems pretty comfortable, considering the conditions.

“Kazak,” I call out softly.

His head jerks up instantly, eyes wide at spotting me. He scrambles to his feet in seconds and closes the distance between us with a few long strides. “Dawn. Gods, why are you down here?”

The bridge of his nose creases, yet I’m too focused on seeing him, just as huge and unimaginably rugged as I remember him. Merely seeing him leaves me breathless as I study his face, searching for any scars or bruises. But he’s clean, and there’s fire in my chest as he reaches a hand through the bars and clasps mine.

His touch already has me feeling giddy.

“More importantly, are you all right?” I manage to get out.

“I’m fine. I’ve survived worse, trust me.” His thumb strokes the back of my hand, and it stings to see him locked up because of me.

I hand over the cakes I’ve been cradling. “Got you something. It’s your favorite.”

He collects the half-squished cakes, the corner of his mouth lifting, and I love seeing him smile. “So, you came all this way to bring me cake? Now I know you must have forgiven me.”

I laugh softly. “Don’t push it. I was worried.” He tosses the cakes back onto his bed and gives me his full attention. “You look different.”

“Nope, still the same old me.”

He holds my gaze, both hands now threaded through the bars, grasping my hands. We’re leaning in so close our faces practically touch. “The king is not going to see us for another few days, so you may be here a bit longer. Then the Gamemaster said you belonged to the crown because of the law you broke.”