Page 65

He swings the door closed, and at the click of it, we sit in darkness. Listening. Waiting.

I no longer hear the growls, or Cadmus. All is quiet, unnerving.

Agonizing.

Breaths stuttering, I have to will myself not to think of Cadmus lying in a pool of blood for having tried to save our lives. My whole body trembles, poised, terrified.

At thunderous crack against the steel door, I startle, reaching out for something to clutch and settle my ragged nerves. I hold my breath to contain the scream cocked at the back of my throat. Another slam, this one followed by growls, leaves a dent in the metal of our enclosure, concave enough to touch my knees. Slapping a hand over my mouth, I scream quietly into my skin. I can feel Brandon trembling beside me, and I thread my hand in his, squeezing. More growls. More crashing, clawing. If they tear away this door, this is exactly the way they’ll tear into us. Mercilessly. We’ll be eaten alive. The way they’ve undoubtedly already torn into Cadmus.

More dents pock the metal, each one beating against my shins as a reminder that it won’t be long before they break through.

A yelp signals what must be another fight, as they battle for their next meal. I turn to Brandon, choking back tears of what I’m guessing will be our last moments, as the dogs relentlessly slash at the door. The next thud cracks it open just enough to let a small bit of light through, and I see Brandon’s lip quiver with panicked tears. Flashes of black on the other side show the furious movement of the vicious dogs on the verge of their next feeding. Another yelp, this one louder than the last.

I clamp my eyes and wait for the slaughter.

A booming voice echoes over their growls, so strong and commanding, it would make thousands of men shudder, believing it belonged to a god. A deep and furious voice that strums a chord so familiar, I wonder if it’s real.

The growls cease.

The dogs whimper.

My heart leaps into my throat.

Valdys.

As I push open the door, I watch an enormous figure retreat, his back to me, flanked by three of the four dogs as they trot alongside him.

“Valdys?” My voice is weak, almost a whisper, and I can’t see through the shield of tears in my eyes to know if he’s heard me, but he comes to a halt.

The dogs swing around, baring their teeth, hunched in a way that makes me momentarily regret making my presence known.

The man turns to face me.

A sob tugs in my chest, and I slam both hands over my mouth to cap it. My ribs ache with the incessant pounding of my heart.

His hair has grown out a bit from the shaved cut of before, slightly scruffy, but still cropped. Hair has grown out on his face, as well, but fails to hide the new scars--one across his lip, another that extends from his forehead and over his nose, disappearing beneath the dark beard at his jaw. His brows flicker, tears gathering in his eyes, but my attention flicks to the dogs beside him, standing guard, as if protecting him.

Without taking his gaze off me, he snaps his fingers, and they sit to attention, their tongues sweeping over their exposed teeth.

Rubbing a hand down his face, he shakes his head. “Stop. Fucking stop!” As he turns away from me, my body stiffens with the shock of his rejection, confusion swirling in my head.

I climb out of my hiding, feeling a hand tug my arm.

Brandon means well, protecting me against the dogs, but I unclasp his grip. Although I should be fearful, not even the hounds of hell can keep me from what I want right now.

“Valdys! Wait!”

At the sound of my voice, he twists around again, panic rising in his eyes.

“Please, Cali. You’re not real. Don’t do this to me. Not now.”

“I am real.” I push to my feet, standing where he can see me. “I’m real.”

Brows pinched to a frown, he steps toward me, cautiously, as if wary. As if he’s been through this before, seen me in this hellish place, and was met with disappointment.

The dogs remain on their haunches where he left them.

Stood before me, he towers over my smaller frame, and my whole body hums as he reaches out a hand, hesitating at first. The moment his fingertips make contact with my skin, I break into tears.