Malrik did his job almost too well. He beat me into submission, just not his.
“You care too much,” I finally say, sharing only a fraction of what I’ve uncovered about this monster. “I’m not sure what about, maybe I’ll never know, but a bit of advice for you, Rik. Just stop giving a shit. It takes all the pressure off.”
I turn away, hurting like a son of a bitch with every step I take, but I don’t limp or wince. I want him to question everything about who I am and what he’s forced me to become.
I want him to be afraid when I get the hell out of this place.
It’s about damn time you figured out who Rowan Prescott is.
That internal voice almost makes me stumble as I reach the exit, but instead, my steps quicken nearly as fast as my heart rate does. A warmth blooms behind my ribs, bright and wild, a howl rising from somewhere deep inside me.
Wolf?
Were you expecting anyone else?
Oh, how I missed her attitude.
I thought you were dead, I say through our mental connection, which grows stronger by the second.How are you back? Where did you go?
Malrik didn’t shatter only that room, she says, her voice slightly shaky.He broke his own spell that kept me contained, but don’t worry, I have my tricks, and I wasn’t alone.
The urge to shift pulses through me as a growl builds in my chest. I flex my fingers over and over again.We need to get out of here.
We will, she promises.And I know exactly how we’re going to do it.
Chapter 11
ROWAN
The room is dim again, washed in silver light from the too-small window above my bed. The faint pulse in the air feels different tonight—less like a cage breathing around me and more like it’s waiting. Listening.
I sit cross-legged on the mattress, the ache from Malrik’s last hit still radiating through my chest. Every inhale stings, every exhale feels like fire, but I’m not broken. Not yet anyway. At least with Wolf back, my accelerated healing is once again where it should be.
I run a hand over my ribs. The faint heat pooling beneath my fingertips is another reminder of what I’ve been living without. “I can’t believe I’ve survived these last two weeks alone.”
The words slip out before I can stop them—half confession, half disbelief.
The room warms, subtle but undeniable, like The Keep is trying to drape a blanket around my shoulders.
I huff out a shaky laugh. “You’re really sticking with me, huh? You must like punishment.”
Because there’s not a chance in hell that Malrik is going to let this go without a fight until he has everyone bowing to him, including this castle.
We’ll be long gone before that happens,Wolf says confidently, and just the sound of her voice makes my muscles relax.
So, where have you been?I ask again since she never answered earlier.And how do you think we’re getting out of here?
Even if The Keep is willing to help us escape, we have no idea where we are. All I see is snow outside the tiny window. Sad to say, but I think I’d rather be trapped inside here, growing stronger, than out there, freezing my ass off with no real plan except “run until my legs fall off”.
Spring will come eventually…maybe.
My insides churn at the thought of being away from my family and even Cade for months, but before I can spiral, Wolf replies.
We’re going to break out of the castle and make a run for it, she says as if that’s the easiest task ever.We’re in Glacier Crest Pack Territory, and it’s only about twenty miles of rough terrain before we’ll attract help.
Or more people who want me dead, I remind her.It was the other wolves who came for me before. What makes you think we’ll find help and not another captor?
Because that’s not what my ancestors told me.
