“I was going to leave you there because we were too afraid to set you free. I only did so because I was out of options and hope.”
“You overcame your fear,” Indon said, “and we thank you for that.”
“Don’t thank me. You deserve your freedom.”
“And so do the amsirah.” He squeezed my shoulder. “You must get some rest, child. It’s going to be another long night, and you’re exhausted.”
I didn’t know how I’d ever be able to sleep while Ryker was in the hands of that monster who sired him, but I had to try at least. I’d been awake for over a day, and we had a battle to face tonight.
I couldn’t go into it even more exhausted than I was now. Adrenaline wouldn’t be enough to push me all the way through, and I could get someone killed if I were too slow to react right.
“I will,” I murmured as I dug the toe of my boot into the dirt.
“And child—” Indon waited for me to look up at him before continuing. “—you must get rid of that finger in your pocket.”
CHAPTER NINETY-TWO
Ellery
I blinkedas his words sank in. While we’d been formulating our plans for tonight, I’d completely forgotten about Ryker’s finger.
That awful memory came rushing back with such intensity that it nearly choked me. He was right, of course; even I could smell it now, but the idea of touching it again made me sick.
“I don’t think I can touch it,” I whispered.
He released my shoulder and waved a hand at my pocket. “May I?”
I pondered this as part of me remained unwilling to relinquish this small piece of Ryker. Then my hand went to my other pocket, where his wedding ring was tucked inside. I still had that, anditwas what mattered.
“Yes,” I whispered.
With surprising gentleness for one so big, Indon dipped a clawed-tipped hand into my pocket. I looked away as he removed the finger; I couldn’t see it again, but I felt its weight lifted from my pants and shoulders as he took it away.
“Rest now, child,” Indon said. “We’ll see you tonight.”
“Until then, enjoy your freedom and the black rocks.”
Indon’s chuckle followed me as I turned and walked away. I couldn’t see what he did with the finger.
I was so tired that walking was difficult, and more than a few times, my legs trembled and I nearly fell, but I pushed onward. Eventually, I found my way back into the cavern.
Scarlet sat by a pile of blankets; she was the only one still awake. When I trudged over to her, she lifted a blanket from the pile, and I slipped beneath it.
She gripped my arm and squeezed it. “Sleep now, Lery.”
I hadn’t thought it would be possible for me to sleep, but my body had other plans.
CHAPTER NINETY-THREE
Ryker
I hadno idea what day or time it was. We lived between darkness and torment; we could have been here for only a day, an hour, or a week, though it felt like a year.
One of the other amsirah imprisoned with us had broken down into a sobbing, blubbering mess the last time they tortured him. He’d spilled every detail of his life, including losing his virginity to his mother’s friend, but since he had no idea where Ellery and the others had gone, he couldn’t reveal that information.
That didn’t stop the duke and his cohorts from continuing their abuse. When they finally dragged the broken man back to his cell, he’d stopped screaming but was still sobbing.
We all waited to see who they’d come for next, but when the outer door clanged shut, darkness enveloped us again. More time passed in a haze of tumbling thoughts and a growing desperation to be free.
