Page 35 of Owning His Mate

“Hey…” I speak softly, careful not to spook her, but she doesn’t look up or even acknowledge my presence.

Is she drugged or under the influence of magic that is keeping her subdued?

I glance back at the door, feeling as if there is a giant clock ticking over my head. I have to find Kye, and I have to get us all out of this place.

I move closer to the girl, wiping my sweaty palms on my pants. “My name is Apryle. I’m like you—a hybrid. Tau. We don’t have much time, but we need to get out of here before anyone realizes we’re gone.”

Nothing.

My heart racing, I step closer and gently reach out to her. My hand is barely an inch from hers when her fingers lash out and wrap around my wrist like a vise. I let out a squeal, surprise rather than pain stunning me.

Piercing ice blue eyes lock to mine as her mouth pulls into a snarl.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” I immediately tell her, hoping she is able to hear and understand I’m not her enemy. “I’m here to free you.”

Her head tilts to the side, her lank, greasy hair parting enough that I see her dirty face. She’s young, maybe eight or nine—it’s impossible to tell—and she’s not scared. What I see in her eyes is anger.

“They caught me too, and my… my mate.” I stumble over the word, even though saying it feels right.

Her sharp eyes narrow on me. I show her my wrists that are still encased in the metal bracelets. “I can’t use my magic. Can you?”

Her gaze lingers on them before she lifts her lashes to peer at me. She isn’t wearing shackles like I am. “I knew you’d come.” Her voice is raw, as if she’s screamed over and over.

“You… did?”

“I saw it. Saw you.”

Premonition isn’t that unusual among our kind. Both Hester and Tessa have the sight. “I hope you also saw us getting out of this place, kid.”

Her eyes lift toward the corner of the room, and I realize she’s looking at where the camera is positioned.

I grit my teeth, trying to keep my expression neutral so I don’t scare her. “They can’t hurt you anymore. I’ll never let them touch you again. What your name?”

“I’m not supposed to use it,” she says in a voice that is barely more than a whisper.

My throat is tight. They’ve tried to strip back everything she is. “You can use it with me. And you’ll be able to use it anytime you want from now on,” I promise, despite the fact that we’re not free yet.

Getting me and Kye out of here is going to be tough enough. Adding another person increases that risk, but what other choice is there? I can’t leave her behind. This little girl could have parents out there looking for her, a family missing her. I can’t leave her to be tortured more.

There is mistrust in her eyes as she looks up at me. “My mama called me Savannah.”

Relief makes my shoulders sag. It’s a small step, but it’s a good one. “Do you think you can walk, Savannah?”

“I can try.”

The determination in her voice has my eyes stinging. So wounded and hurt, and yet she’s still showing strength.

I reach out, helping her stand and supporting her when her legs shake. I can feel how thin this child is, and it makes me want to unleash hell on the fuckers who did this to her.

We need to move fast and she’s not going to be able to do that, so I gesture at her to sit in the wheelchair.

Pushing Savannah, I use my mating bond like a beacon to lead me to him as if we are tethered by a string as we walk past more rooms, my brain memorizing each of their numbers.

The more time passes without encountering anyone, the more my tension grows. Shouldn’t there be other people here? Guards? Anyone? Why has no one tried to stop us?

We have to take the elevator to the floor above, and my heart is in my throat until the doors slide open and we’re looking down an empty hallway.

As we get closer to where I think Kye is, my skin crawls. Something isn’t right, but I press onward.

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