Page 67 of These Deadly Dreams

“Why is it so unguarded?” Connor asks.

“I have two theories to that,” Drew says. “One, they think the outer ward is enough to keep people out. Two, they want people to get inside.”

“Why would they want people to get inside?” I ask, finishing Kai’s last pigtail.

“More subjects to test on,” Cade says quietly. “And now, with Sterling being captured, I’m willing to bet Sam is assuming you’re going to try and rescue him.”

“So this is a trap?” Fear flutters in my belly. Maybe it’s best if I do stay behind. Not that I’d ever admit that outloud.

“It’s only a trap if we don’t expect it,” Kai says, running his hands over his hair with a shake of his head.

“What about the lower level?” Cade asks.

Drew slides the first paper to the side, and flattens out the second. “The basement has been completely remodeled. The classrooms have been divided into three or four sections. Each section is basically a cell.” He points to a spot on the map that has a question mark. “There is a room at the end of the hallway that I’m assuming they use for their ‘experiments’, but I wasn’t able to get close enough. The guard presence increases the closer you get to it.”

My heart thunders in my chest, and I grab the back of Kai’s shirt subconsciously. “Did you see Sterling?” My question is a hoarse whisper.

Drew gives me a sad smile and shakes his head. “The doors were all closed and I couldn’t see inside them.”

“So we don’t know which cell Sterling is in?” Cade asks.

“We do,” Drew says. “There is a guard outside his cell, and I overheard a conversation confirming it. He’s in this one.” He points to a random room, no different than any of the others.

Cade slides off the couch to sit closer to the coffee table. Connor and Drew join him, and Kai scoots next to Cade. I’m left on the couch by myself with only my emotions for company. Emotions Kai is either blocking or is too distracted to notice. We’re going to walk into a trap. My Shields are going to put themselves at risk for me. Sterling is already hurt, I have no doubt about it. Cade and Kai may end up getting killed. I can’t handle this.

My chest is tightening, and each breath is getting harder and shallower. I squeeze my eyes shut, so I can’t watch the blackness creep in. The scent of rose wraps around me and the couch dips slightly. Small hands grasp mine, and I open my eyes to see Allie giving me an encouraging smile.

“It’s all going to work out, El.”

My lips tremble as I whisper, “What if it doesn’t?”

“It will.” She places a hand on her chest. “I have a feeling.”

A feeling. Allie’s sixth sense has never led her wrong yet. But there’s so much that can go wrong here. There’s so much at stake. Still, her words bring me some peace. I lay my head on her shoulder, and let her scent of roses calm me further.

28. Sterling

What the fuck?

Her sister is dead. I was there that night. This has to be some kind of trick. A way to get me to talk. But, I never saw her body. I was in the kitchen, protecting Ellis.

It can’t be true. Can it?

I fight back the darkness that is threatening to pull me under. Too much blood. I’ve lost too much blood. I can still hear it splattering on the floor. My healing hasn’t kicked in. Or my body is so overwhelmed, there’s too much to heal, it’s just given up.

My eyes focus when the door opens, and the guards drag a girl in. She’s in a ratty hospital gown, riddled with holes. It’s so covered in blood, I can’t tell the original color of the fabric. Her arms and legs are bone thin, like she’s being starved, and her skin is a sickly shade of yellow. But, it’s the hair that makes my heart stop in my chest. The wild brown curls are matted and crusted with blood, but it only takes one glance to tell this girl is clearly related to my mate.

Grace.

Her gaze meets mine, her eyes a light brown, not amber, but her facial features are the same. Oh, shit. Ellis’s sister is alive. This entire time, she has been alive. Tortured and abused, but alive. The need to escape, to get this information to Ellis, burns to life inside me.

“Grace,” Sam coos, brushing a matted curl from her forehead. “I’d like to introduce you to Sterling. You’re sister’s mate.”

Grace’s eyes widen. It makes my stomach roil. She looks so much like a skeleton. Her cheeks and eyes are so sunken in, that it’s like she’s looking out at me from blackened pits. She mouths her sister’s name, no sound emitting from her throat, tears building along her lashes.

Sam turns to me, grinning widely. “If I can’t get you to talk using your own pain, maybe your mate’s sister’s pain will do the trick.”

His magic wraps around her wrist, ankles, and throat, and she winces. A tear slips down her sunken cheek. She meets my gaze, and even with fear in her eyes, she shakes her head and mouths three words.

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