I try again, angling it differently, but the key won’t even enter the mechanism. “Fuck,” I mutter, examining the lock more closely. It’s a different model than mine—newer, with a different keyhole entirely.
“What’s wrong?” Lithia asks from inside.
“The key doesn’t fit your door,” I reply, frustration building in my chest. “It’s a different lock.”
There’s a moment of silence. “You need to go,” she says finally, her voice flat. “Get out while you can.”
“No.” The word comes out as a growl. “I’m not leaving you.”
“Don’t be stupid, Kier. This might be your only chance.”
I rest my forehead against her door, mind racing. I could try to find another key, but that would mean confronting guards—dangerous with the silver still weakening me. I could search for tools to break the lock, but that would take time we don’t have.
Or I could leave—which would mean sentencing her to death.
The thought makes my wolf snarl in rejection.Never.
“Kier,” Lithia says again, her voice gentler now. “Go. Find my pack. Tell them what Zella is doing. That’s how you help me.”
“No.”
“What?”
“I said no.” I turn back toward my cell. “I’m not leaving you.”
I hear her frustrated growl through the door. “Dammit, Kier! This is no time for heroics.”
“It’s not heroics,” I reply, already moving back to my cell. “We both go, or neither of us does.”
“That’s ridiculous! You need to leave!”
I slip back into my cell, closing the door until it’s just slightly ajar—enough that it won’t lock, but not enough to be noticeable to a passing guard.
I return to the hole in our wall, finding Lithia’s arm reaching through. She’s giving me the bird.
I chuckle.
“You had a chance to escape!”
“And I’ll have another one,” I say calmly, settling back against the wall. “A better one, when we can both take it.”
I hear the slap of her palm against stone. “This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. You’ve been here for three years, and you’re throwing away your freedom for what? Some wolf you’ve known for a few days?”
“For you,” I say simply.
She’s silent for a beat. “You’re a fool,” she says quietly, but there’s no heat in the words.
“So I’ve been told.” I reach through the hole, extending my hand. After a moment, she takes it, her fingers warm against mine.
“We’ll find another way,” I tell her. “When they come for us tomorrow, we’ll be ready.”
“Ready to die, you mean.” But she doesn’t let go of my hand.
“Ready to fight. Together.” I squeeze her fingers gently. “Get some rest. We’ll need our strength.”
She sighs, a sound of exasperation and resignation. “If we get out of this alive, I’m never letting you forget how stupid this decision is.”
“I’d expect nothing less.” I smile, settling more comfortably against the wall, her hand still in mine. “You can tell me all about it on our first date.”
