“I’m sorry—” he pants, then stops at the sight of Emmett. “How’d you get down here?”
“Ivy,” Emmett answers.
“Never mind,” Rhion says. “Explain later, I’ve come to rescue you.”
“How gallant,” Emmett says.
I shoot him a glare and look back to Rhion. “How are Faith, Marion, and Lydia?”
Rhion gives me an uneasy smile. “Alive, but locked in their rooms. Bram has been in a rage, and I fear Mor is only encouraging him. We need to get you all out.”
“I opened the door once, I can do it again,” I say, and Rhion’s eyes widen. “I just need the time to focus.”
Rhion sorts through a ring of keys until he finds the right one and sticks it in the lock. “Then let’s get you somewhere safe.”
The cell door opens with a creak and Emmett helps me to my feet.
Rhion looks anxiously over his shoulder. “I knocked the guard out, but he won’t stay asleep much longer.”
Emmett’s body is tense as we creep through the damp corridors of the dungeon, but he carries on without faltering.
We’re to the stairs when Rhion pauses. “Wait—” He stops, his eyes wide, but we’re too late.
The guard is awake, and he’s sounded the alarm.
Dozens of guards stampede down the narrow staircase, blockingour only means of escape.
“Ivy!” Emmett screams. He lunges toward me, but the guards reach me first. My head snaps back as I fight, but they’ve pulled my hands behind my back and my broken hand makes it agony to pull away. They pull chains from their belts and bind my wrists while I wail in pain.
“Don’t touch her!” Emmett yells. It takes four guards to restrain him, and six for Rhion.
For a beat they just hold us there, with our limbs pinned.
And then a silhouette appears at the top of the stairs.
Bram walks down slowly, relishing our fear and the power he has over us.
He comes directly to me and bends so his gray eyes are level with mine. “You wanted me dead?” he asks. His mouth is turned down, his voice thick with pain.
“You’re going to kill us, what does it matter what I want?” I snap.
He leans in even closer, until our noses nearly brush, and I know he’s savoring the hate coming off me in waves.
Over his shoulder, Emmett struggles in vain against his chains, and I hate myself for failing him.
With deep hopelessness, I reach once more for the door, and then I find it. Thatclick.
A small square of light appears in front of me, between Bram and Emmett. Bram’s back is to it, so he doesn’t see, but Emmett’s eyes go wide.
I nod, just barely.Go, I will him.Save yourself.
“Don’t look at him, look at me,” Bram barks, and my eyes snap back to his. My hold on the door is tenuous. I won’t be able to keep it open much longer.
“Go!” I yell.
Bram’s head whips around. Fury contorts his features as he sees the door.
He pushes my body up against the wall. “How are you doing that?” he demands.
