“But that is your plan, right? To hurt me before I hurt you.”
“I didn’t have a plan. Like at all. I never plan anything. That’s sort of your department. Not mine. And besides, no one could plan for someone like you.” Abi held onto Nash’s biceps. He needed closeness after Nash had walked away from him. And he didn’t want to think too hard about why. “I don’t know if you realize this, but you came into my life at the exact wrong time. In just four days, you’ve torn down every wall I’ve built around myself, almost as soon as I’ve put them up. I’m not even swearing off men anymore. Obviously, because here I am, chasing you down Main Street straight into the fucking lion’s den of bars. Why? Because we’re already partially bonding. Which, no, has never happened before? So, no, Nash. I’m not playing a fucking game here.”
He really needed to pick an emotion and go with it. He probably seemed crazy, but he didn’t know if he cared. He’d laid himself bare. If Nash broke his heart, Abi had only himself to blame now.
“Look at me, boy.” There went Nash, commanding Abi to do something. That Abi liked it should have bought Abi a clue last night.
Their gazes met.
“What if we didn’t?” Nash whispered, his eyes sparkling with affection.
“Didn’t do what?” Abi bit his lip, holding his breath as he waited for Nash to answer.
“Break each other’s hearts.” Nash cupped his cheek and kissed him. “I won’t if you won’t.”
Chapter Fourteen
I won’t if you won’t.Nash’s words played in Abi’s head like a broken record as he slithered his way across the ground toward the prison, shuffling into the arena.
Abi’s favorite form, besides his human one, was a snake. He could get in and out of places undetected when he was low to the ground.
He stayed in the tall grass, out of sight, and thought about Nash, waiting in the car, pissed off that Abi had gone in alone, as if he needed a big dragon getting in the way. All he had to do was stay small and try not to kill anyone.
He moved when he saw an opening, following beside a slave. The blades of grass brushed against his body. No one saw him, even though he was inches from their feet.
When the door came into view, Abi changed into a mouse and scurried as fast as he could inside.
The lighting was dim in that part of the building. Shadows sat in corners waiting to swallow someone, and so Abi waited too, while people shuffled down the corridor. When the door banged shut behind the last guard, Abi moved with them, hugging the wall.
One slave saw him. He had bruises covering half his face. His right eye was swollen shut. Yet he still seemed happy to see Abi, as if Abi were a bright spot in his darkness.
Abi wanted to explain his presence there. It wouldn’t be much longer before Peter sent a team to rescue them. But he had to stay hidden.
A guard fell in step beside the slave, blocking Abi’s view of him. The guard held a rifle, but he aimed it at the ground since the slaves didn’t pose a threat while chained together. They would barely move as they shuffled together, trying to walk in sync so they wouldn’t trip.
“You’re going to die tonight. Mallor will see to it.” The guard looked smug.
Abi shifted into a cottonmouth and slid along the wall.
“You shouldn’t have fucked with Mallor. Oh, wait. That’s right. You didn’t fuck him when you probably should have.” The guard leaned into the slave. “Maybe I’ll fuck you before you die and describe it to h—”
Abi bit the guard and then shifted into a cockroach and scurried as far away as he could get.
“Ow…what the fuck?” The guard lifted his pant leg and found the bite on his ankle. Two blood trails slid into his sock, soaking it.
The slaves shuffled past him.
Another guard came up behind him. If someone was in charge, it was him. He wore something similar to what the other guards wore butexuded an air of authority. “What the fuck, man? Can’t this wait until we get everybody settled?”
“Something bit me, man.”
“So get a fucking tetanus shot tomorrow. Right now, do your fucking job.” He walked away, further up the way, unlocking cell doors while another guard unshackled the prisoners one at a time.
Concrete walls separated each cell. The doors were thick metal with a lock on one side, much like a prison cell block.
Abi shifted into a rat and made his way around the perimeter. He projected what he saw to Peter.Left at the side door where I had just entered. Then follow the corridor to the cells. Easy to find, but you’ll be sitting ducks. Keep the element of surprise on your side for as long as possible.
When he made his way past the cells, there were several shut doors. He’d reached the skyboxes. He was almost positive. They faced the arena, so it tracked, but he wanted to make sure. He also wanted to find Mallor’s private rooms.
