Page 95 of Blood Caged

Neither of us moves immediately. The danger has passed, but the adrenaline still courses through my veins. I’m acutely aware of every point where Soren’s body touches mine. The solid wall of his chest against my back, his arms around my waist, his thighs pressed against the back of mine.

I turn my head slightly, meeting his intense gaze. In the dim light, his eyes are dark, unreadable. There’s a tension in the air that has nothing to do with our near-discovery.

For a moment, just a moment, the world outside this alcove ceases to exist. It’s just us, pressed together in the shadows, breathing in tandem. Suddenly, he straightens, breaking the spell. He leads me back into the hallway, moving forward with a confidence that’s reassuring.

“How do you know where we’re going?” I whisper, marveling at Soren’s smooth navigation.

He glances back at me. “I’ve had months to memorize every inch of this place. It’s part of my job.”

I nod, impressed despite myself. It’s easy to forget sometimes just how capable Soren is.

How dangerous he could be if he weren’t on my side.

We turn down another corridor, this one narrower than the others. The fluorescent lights flicker ominously overhead, casting strange shadows on the walls.

“We’re halfway there,” Soren murmurs. “The vehicle is in the underground basement just ahead.”

My heart leaps at his words. We’re so close to freedom that I can almost taste it. But then Soren stops abruptly, holding out an arm to halt my progress.

“What is it?” I ask, fear creeping into my voice.

Soren’s expression is grim. “This part gets tricky,” he says. I almost laugh. As if every step of this journey hasn’t been tricky. “Lucien set up a vampire stronghold in a hidden room just ahead. It wasn’t there before I spotted them yesterday. I have no idea how many of them are based there.”

I feel the blood drain from my face. “What do we do?”

“We’ll have to find a way past them,” Soren says, his eyes scanning the corridor ahead. “It won’t be easy, but we don’t have a choice. The vehicle is our only way out.”

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever comes next. We’ve come too far to turn back now.

I keep holding my breath as Soren and I press ourselves against the cold basement wall. The sound of approaching footsteps echoes through the corridor, growing louder with each passing second.

“Lucien’s patrol,” Soren whispers, his lips barely moving. “And…witches.”

I feel a surge of anger. Witches working with Lucien. The betrayal still stings, even though I shouldn’t be surprised after what Heath did. He’s obviously brought more collaborators on board.

As the patrol rounds the corner, I catch sight of them. Three vampires and two witches trailing behind them.

They’re getting closer. There’s nowhere to hide, nowhere to run. Panic rises in my throat, threatening to choke me. But then, an idea strikes.

My fingers are tingling. It’s a sensation I’ve felt since I woke up earlier. And suddenly, I realize why it feels so familiar to me.

Magic.

My magic is lurking. I close my eyes, reaching deep within myself for that spark that I know is just beneath the surface. To my surprise and relief, I feel it respond, weak but present.

“Trust me,” I breathe to Soren, squeezing his hand. The tingle grows stronger.

As the patrol approaches, I focus all my energy on creating an illusion. It’s not much – just a shimmer in the air, a distortion of light that makes the space where Soren and I stand look empty.

The vampires pass by first, their sharp eyes scanning the corridor. I hold my breath, praying my hastily conjured illusion will hold. Then come the witches. One of them pauses, eyes lingering on our spot for a moment, and I see a flicker of confusion. But then he moves on, following the others down the hallway.

We stand frozen until the sound of their footsteps fades away. Only then do I release the illusion, sagging against Soren in exhaustion.

“Quick thinking,” he murmurs, genuine admiration in his voice. “I didn’t know you could do that.”

“Neither did I,” I admit, still trembling from the close call. “I wasn’t sure it would work.”

I stumble into the underground parking area, my legs shaking from the adrenaline and exertion. Soren’s hand on my back steadies me as we approach an old van tucked away in a dark corner.

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