Page 557 of Reign

“Princesa, I need you to come with me.”

Her body remains rigid as I force my door open against the dirt and climb out.

Pain moves across my shoulder from the impact.

I reach back inside for Elena.

She lets me pull her across the console. Her shoes hit the ground, but her knees don’t lock. I catch her before she falls and lift her into my arms.

Another door slams above us.

Light moves through the trees.

They’re coming down.

I scan the bottom of the embankment.

A shallow runoff channel cuts through the wet ground several yards away. At the base of the slope, a wide concrete culvert passes beneath the road, large enough for a person to crouch inside. Water glistens along the bottom, but the pipe is open at both ends. The far opening is barely visible through the darkness.

It’ll hide her.

I carry Elena toward it.

Her arms hang stiffly around my neck. Her face is pressed against my chest, but she still hasn’t made a sound.

I step into the culvert and lower her carefully against the curved concrete wall.

Then I turn to leave.

Her hands close around the sleeve of my shirt.

“No.”

The word is fractured.

I look back.

She’s alert now.

Entirely awake.

“No.” Her fingers claw at my shirt as she tries to pull me toward her. “Don’t. Don’t leave me here. Luciano, please don’t leave me in the dark.”

I kneel in front of her and take her face between my hands.

“Elena, look at me.”

Her eyes find mine. Tears already shine in them.

“It’s open at both ends.” I turn her face slightly toward the faint opening behind her. “You are not trapped.”

“I don’t care. Please.”

“I have to stop them before they reach the bottom of this hill.”

“Then I’m coming with you.”

“No.”