“Lucien?” Rook jerked to a stop as I almost dropped to my knees. “What’s happening? What’s wrong?” Her fear shot into me as I focused on finding my feet again.
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine.”
Pulling her close, I broke into another jog. “Come on.”
A shuddering boom erupted somewhere behind us as something exploded in one of the labs. Ripping the long sleeve of her nightgown, she wrapped the scrap of white material around her mouth and nose, eyes watering from the black smoke.
I wanted to scoop her into my arms and carry her, but...I needed my arms free to kill.
At least the smoke didn’t affect me. I could see perfectly clear—the fire in my blood keeping me immune.
Another explosion sent dust raining over us from the ceiling. One of the pipes groaned and fell off its brackets, releasing hot air from the heating ducts.
“Just a little further and we’ll take the lift to the reactor levels.”
She just nodded, following my lead.
I guided us through the black smog, heading toward the lift at the end. I’d thought Marcus was a lunatic when I’d pored over the schematics of the London headquarters. No stair access was allowed into the basement levels...only a lift.
All I could see was a death trap, but now...now I understood.
If there was only one way in and one way out—a way that required a code or key—then he could ensure his unfortunate prisoners could never escape.
The elevator pinged—the doors slowly opened.
A river of armed guards poured out.
The red flashing lights and sirens lit up the smoke with noise and chaos as more men appeared behind, trapping us. Rook pressed against me. It didn’t matter if there was ten or a hundred men.
They were all dead.
The agonising bite of the frequency emitter tore into my brain as they raised weapons and fired.
Rook cried out.
My skull threatened to split apart but the fire got loose and took control. A wave of flame exploded outward, incinerating the men, melting their gear into their skin. The smell of burning plastic, hair, and flesh filled the corridor.
The ground was suddenly littered with smoking corpses.
The frequency stopped without anyone’s finger still around to push the button.
Shaking away the lingering pain, I grunted, “This way.” Pulling her toward the open lift, my left knee gave out. I landedheavily. My head swam.
What’s going on—?
“Lucien?” Rook rested her hand on my shoulder, shaking me with panic. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”
I...didn’t really know.
“I tripped, that’s all.” Shaking my head, I shoved back the sudden wave of exhaustion and stood.
Her eyes narrowed on mine. “If you’re burning up, we need to—”
“I’m not. Your ice is keeping me nice and cool.” Cupping her soot-covered cheek, I kissed her quickly. “Don’t worry. Now get in the lift before the doors close—who knows what keycard we need to make it work.”
Stepping over the freshly dead, we darted into the metal elevator just as the doors closed. Rook staggered into my arms as another explosion sent the entire thing rocking.
