Page 78 of Imprisoned with the Vampire King

A small amount of relief had me breathing out as it did.

"Holy fuck," someone whispered behind me. "We might actually get out of here."

Questions burst to life behind me. People shouting. Demanding things. Asking to trade places in line.

My hands were shaking, my magic pool already running low, and my adrenaline rush nearly gone.

Getting the elevator back down and open wasn't going to be easy. Not even a little. But when I did, Dante would be in it, which would make everything easier.

"Can you keep them all away from me for a minute?" I asked my bruised guard.

He jerked his head, turning back to the crowd and puffing up his very bruised chest.

I stepped closer to the elevator, waiting until it stopped.

"Did it get there?" I asked Dante.

"It did. I've got my family and the fae here to figure out what to do with them as they transition back."

"Thank you."

"Don't. I'm fucking livid. There's hell to pay for you when this is over."

I grimaced. "You're really convincing me to bring that elevator back down."

"Don't test me right now. It's ready. Bring me down."

Shaking my head, I closed my eyes and focused on the magic.

It took a solid two minutes to get the weave done, but the magic burst to life, and the elevator finally descended.

I held my breath until the doors opened.

There was an audible gasp when Dante stepped out, his furious gaze sweeping over me before he took in the crowd behind me.

"Who the fuck touched you?" he asked aloud, his voice deadly as he stepped up behind me, wrapping a possessive arm carefully over my chest.

"Reaper."

"He's dead."

"Next time," I said into Dante's mind.

"We'll see." He refocused on the crowd. Everyone was still silent. "My mate snuck down here to break you fuckers out without my permission," he said flatly.

Suddenly, everyone was looking at me differently.

Very differently.

"You choose whether you give her the space and time to make it happen, or lose the chance. As soon as she's in danger, I'm getting her out. You can bring your questions to me. Disrupt Ophelia, and you go to the back of the line."

No one said a word.

Dante looked at me again. "Do you have the power to send it up yet?"

I shook my head. "I need a few minutes to unravel magic in the hallway."

"Smith!" Dante barked.