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The question was, what could he do? How did he need to change his view of things if he hoped to survive?
Grant?
A lightning bolt of adrenaline flashed through his veins. Natalie. She’d reached out to him, but he couldn’t answer. He didn’t dare. He wouldn’t risk her life.
She kept talking. I can sense you’re there but you’re not responding, so I’m going to share a couple of things. I made a mistake not challenging you after you left your rooms earlier tonight. I knew you’d shut a door. Truth? I wasn’t much different. I’ve been scared out of my mind to know love again, because the pain of losing Aaron and Grace had torn my heart to shreds.
But I don’t want to live that way anymore. I don’t think you do either. We need each other in this Godforsaken world. I need you, Grant, and those are the hardest words I’ve ever said in my life. I need you. I need to sleep beside you during the day and work beside you at night. I don’t want to live my empty, work-driven life anymore. I want you, a life with you, whatever that needs to look like. So, what do you say?
Salty tears burned Grant’s eyes then ran down his cheeks. Every word spoke to the deepest place of his heart, the place he’d shut down for six long years. His chest rose and fell. Still, he couldn’t respond. He wouldn’t risk it.
Grant, I know Kryder has you and that you’re chained up. Please let me help. Together, we can do this. Without each other, isn’t it possible we both die?
Her words disrupted his thinking like a poker to a burned-down fire. Flames of new thought erupted. If he didn’t make it out of this dungeon, what would happen to Natalie?
The answer was simple: Kryder would find some way to get to her, even if she never left Agnes’s compound. He’d wanted her from the beginning. He’d already stated his purpose of one day, no matter what it took, possessing her.
A nearby scream intruded. A woman was being hurt in the next room. He heard the woman say, “I’ve lost him. I can’t see him. You have to believe me, Alpha Kryder.”
“You need another boost of sapphire flame.” Muffled orders followed.
“No, please don’t. I’ll try without it. I will. I’ll try hard.”
“Too late.”
A moan followed. Grant suspected the woman in the next room was the fae Kryder used to keep tabs on him and on Natalie in the future.
If Natalie was here, he knew exactly what she’d say. She’d move heaven and earth to get the woman out of Kryder’s hellhole.
Though his lips were torn and bleeding, a smile began to form. He didn’t give a shit about the pain. Joy had started flooding his heart and sending streams of feel-good everywhere.
His woman was game, courageous and big-hearted. She would never say die, never give up, never stop until her fae sister was safe in Kiara’s refuge. She shared his mind, how he viewed his role in their world, what he believed should be done to set things right in Five Bridges.
She was the woman for him.
Grant reached out to Natalie and felt a rush of relief flowing toward him. Hey, beautiful. I’m here. I was a fool to let you go as I did. I pretended I was worried for your safety. But the truth was I was scared out of my mind of loving you with the strong possibility I could lose you.
But I do love you, with all my heart, with every ripped up, torn up, uneven part of my being. Will you have me, my beautiful fae? Will you marry me?
He heard a telepathic gasp, then a chuckle. Hell, yeah, I will. Now how about you build a dreamglide and get your ass over to my studio.
He glanced down at the cuts, bruises and seeping wounds. I look like hell.
Just come because I’ve got a plan.
Of course, you do. His smile broadened.
Just get over here and don’t worry how you look because I suspect I’ll need to get used to it.
As Grant continued to smile, he tasted a whole lot of blood but didn’t give a damn. He closed his eyes and focused on putting a dreamglide together.
Given what he felt for Natalie, it took less than ten seconds. The only problem was, he was still strung up in chains in both places. He’d wondered if it would be different in the dreamglide. Apparently not, when it came to a whole lot of iron links slung over a fat hook.
Despite that he was bound, he made a mental picture of Natalie’s Revel studio and put the dreamglide in motion. He found her seated in her winged chair, very relaxed, and hovered several feet above her.
I can sense you’ve arrived, she said.
I am, he said. Brace yourself because I’m still bound.
