Ronan lets out a relieved sigh. “Thank the gods. Let’s move. I’ll be right behind you once I gather the ones willing to come.” We’re at the bottom of the stairs now, a group of Defenders meet us with Morgana at the front.
“You’re to follow Thorne. He’s leading an attack on the Moonshadow forces that have Cordelia. Be warned, Frostclaw will be with them. We believe it’s a joint effort to attack us.”
Morgana goes pale but she nods. “As you order. We’re ready.”
“Bring her home, Enforcer,” Ronan tells me.
“I will, or I’ll die trying,” I swear.
I pull on the Soul Tie and again, there’s nothing there. I wonder if I’m too late but that doesn’t stop me, it pushes me forward. I’ll make them pay for everything they’ve done to Cordelia, to me, to all of us.
Chapter
Fifty-Five
CORDELIA
Ifigured out how to unhook my chain from the bed. It wasn’t hard even in my weakened state which makes me question the whole thought process behind keeping me prisoner. Once I’m free, I go up to the bars and test them out, hoping to find a weak point like I did with the chain but they’re solid. I bet Keiran thought the bars would be good enough to keep me here.
I throw myself at the door and try to find a leverage point but I get nothing except for a sore shoulder. I hold my hands out in front of me. The cuffs are still fastened tight, no matter how hard I pull on them there’s no getting them off. Silver chains drag behind me while I walk and that gives me an idea. I used the chains on Keiran before, maybe I can do that again when he comes back.
I pick up the chain and wince when it burns my hands. “Hells,” I whisper and keep wrapping the chains around my leather covered wrists until I’m able to whip them a little easier. The first person to come near me is going to end up with a face full of chains. Once I’ve got my chains sorted I walk up to the window. It’s too high for me to reach and I’m too weak to jump. I can see outside from it though so maybe if I’m loud enough I can get help.
“Help me!” I scream. “Can someone hear me?!” No one comes but that doesn’t stop me. I keep calling for help until my voice is hoarse and I hear the door at the end of the hallway open. It’s Keiran. I can tell the second the door opens. He’s pissed, his scent more acrid than cloying.
“Are you insane? Shut the fuck up!”
I turn away from the window to see him standing on the other side of the bars. “Fuck you. I don’t listen to you.”
“What the hells are you doing off the bed?” He leans forward, hands on the bars and I hide my hands behind me so he doesn’t see my cuffs. “What happened to you? You were never like this with me before.”
“Like what?” I ask, glad he’s dropped the fact that I absolutely did free myself. If I’m patient, I’ll find an opening to escape. I can feel it.
“Defiant.” Keiran makes a disgusted face. “You used to hang on every word I said. There wasn’t anything you wouldn’t forgive me for. You loved me more than you loved yourself.”
His words land like a punch. He knew the whole time. My eyes water because he’s right. I did.
“So you knew that the whole time? That I loved you more than me? That you could do anything to me and I’d let you? Just like you knew I was your mate?”
He looks uncomfortable and moves away from the bars. “It’s just one of those things, Cordy.”
“Stop calling me that,” I snarl at him.
“You were never going to be good enough for me,” he continues like I didn’t speak.
“So why am I good enough now? What changed?”
He turns to face me. “I need you now, that's what changed.”
I drop my eyes to the floor. “I used to think you were my friend. That you loved me. I can’t believe I was that wrong about you.” I look up at him. “You were never anything special,Keiran. My love made you special because I made excuses for you. I created a version of you that didn’t exist to love because I couldn’t believe that anyone would be so cruel. Now I see you for exactly who you are, and you know what? The bondrot is making sure everyone else sees it too.”
He growls low. “Save your fucking words for someone who cares. I’m going to get what I want from you.I win.” He pulls the keys from his pocket and unlocks the cell door. The clang of the key turning is deafening in the silent cell.
I bring my hands out from behind my back and let the chains uncoil. “Come on then.”
Keiran enters the cell and leaves the door open behind him. There it is, my opening. I drop low into a fighting stance and Keiran sneers.
“Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”
