1
TOBIAS
Pain.
Noise.
Screams.
The horrible pulling sensation in my arms. My neck. My thighs.
It’s happening again.
He’s here.
He’s here!
He’s going to kill me.He’s going to—
A silent cry rips from me as my bound hands fly to my throat to push the monster away. But no one is there. Neither are my hands bound. The heavy steel shackles that have burned me for weeks are gone. Vanished.
I stare at my bare wrists in disbelief. How are the shackles gone? The man with unnatural golden eyes said it was impossible. He said that the spell would never break. He made me believe I would die on that stage.
With a shaky hand, I touch my left shoulder and flinch when I feel the heat beneath my skin.Okay,so that hasn’t changed. But what about the shackles?
The surface beneath me dips as I sit up, and something soft slides across my legs. I’m stunned to discover I’m on a bed—anactualbed, with thickpillows and warm blankets and everything. Am I dreaming? This hasto be a dream. The coven would never let me use one of their private rooms. Hell, they’ve barely let me off the stage, except to use the bathroom or shower.
A tall glass of water and two granola bars wrapped in wax paper sit on the nightstand. I unwrap the first bar quickly, my stomach growling loud enough for someone to hear. The thick, grainy texture clings to the roof of my mouth, making it difficult to chew, but the taste is like nothing I’ve ever had before. Full of sweet honey, nuts, and tiny pieces of chocolate. I can’t even remember the last time I had chocolate. The food is so dense that I almost can’t finish the second bar, but I force it down anyway, not knowing when my next meal will come.
Bright light filters in through a tall curtained window, and I glimpse blue sky in the opening. It makes my breath catch. I haven’t seen the outside of the club in weeks. I don’t even know. If I can open the window, I might be able to climb out.
Scrambling off the bed, I shiver when my toes touch the cold wood floor, and goosebumps race over my skin. The mesh top and reflective briefs I’m wearing provide no warmth—they never have. They give no comfort or privacy either, meant to draw attention when I dance.
Snagging a blanket from the bed, I pull it tight around my shoulders before going to the window. As soon as I pull the curtain aside, I’m blinded by a brilliant white light. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust, then a few moments more to register what I’m seeing.
Where the bustling city streets of Prodigy should be lies a vast snow-covered lawn surrounded by trees.What the hell?
I rub my eyes. This has to be a dream. Or a nightmare.
Multiple tracks trail toward the trees. So I’m not alone, then. Am I still with the coven? If so, where are we?
I try the latch on the window, but it’s too difficult to move. Just as well. In these clothes, I’d freeze before I made it ten feet. But I need to get out. I need to get away from these monsters.
Fisting my hands, I rush to the door to try that too. Of course, it’s locked. Banging on the door, I’m met with only silence. My heart plummets. This isn’t good. This isn’t good at all.
I turn around and scan the room for something,anything,I can use to defend myself, but the room is bare. No lamps, no metal frames. There isn’t even a hanger in the closet. It’s like no one has lived here.
I yank open every drawer—nightstand, dresser. All empty. A latch on the side secures the drawers in place, preventing them from being removed or disassembled. The dresser is on peg legs. If I can kick one free, I can use it as a bat.
A terribly short bat, but a bat nonetheless.
When I try to move the dresser, it doesn’t budge. Someone bolted it to the wall.Dammit.
A heavy wooden chair sits next to the bed, looking ancient yet well-built. Too heavy for me to throw. With a grunt, I lay it on its side and kick the center rung with all my strength. I try again and again until I hear the first split of wood. Just as I raise my foot to try one more time, a noise echoes from the other side of the door.
I whirl around, expecting someone to enter the room, but the doorknob doesn’t move. Shadows dance across the gap below the door as footsteps rush by.
“Sage, Forest needs you downstairs.” The male voice is vaguely familiar. Like I’ve heard it in a dream.
