Page 18 of Blood Freed

Soren’s mouth twitches into a smile. “It was worth it,” he tells me, meeting my eyes.

I strain against the guards’ grip, my heart racing. Even with the barrier back between us, I can feel Soren’s presence like a touch against my skin.

“Remove her,” Morgan says to a guard, who starts to draw me away. I struggle at once.

“Leave her,” Lysandra snaps. The guard looks from one to the other. Lysandra narrows her eyes on Morgan. Something crackles in the air around her, and he shifts uncomfortably. “I’ve bested you before, Shadowmaster. Don’t make me embarrass you.”

“Fine.” He turns and scowls at me. “But don’t try that again.”

I focus back to Soren, who is standing now. That warmth floods me again. It’s like being held.

“Are you really alright?” Soren asks, his eyes intense.

I nod. “I’m fine. Just tired. How are they treating you?”

“As you’d expect.” His gaze holds mine. “I’m glad you’re alright. I’ve been worried.”

“You’vebeen worried?” I give a bitter laugh. “They have you locked up and bound, and you’re worried about me?”

“What you’ve been through…” He shakes his head. “Mia, nobody should have to endure that.”

“You’re right,” Morgan interrupts. “And it was all your fault, you bastard.”

I spin my head to face him. “I already told you that—”

“Mia, it’s okay,” Soren stops me. “It’s natural for them to suspect me. And he’s right. I was there. I should have done something sooner. Should never have let it happen in the first place. You and dozens of others suffered for months because I did nothing.”

I stare at him for a moment. “You had no choice.”

“There’s always a choice. I’m just glad that, finally, I made the right one. And I hope that one day you’ll be able to forgive me.” His smile is sad.

“Forgive you?” My eyes are wide. It hadn’t even occurred to me that we’d have this conversation. “Why? You helped me.”

“Mia. For twelve months, I was your captor.” He pulls in a breath. “I watched you live through unspeakable treatment. Even if you can forgive me, I can’t. I deserve whatever comes my way. I’m just relieved you’re okay.”

The sensation of warmth I’d felt is now tinged with sadness. The feeling makes my throat clog. His sorrow feels like my own.

“I don’t want you to talk that way!” I shake my head. “You don’t deserve anything of the sort. And I promise you that I’m going to fix this!”

His smile is gentle. Just the way I remember his touch was the night before we left.

“I want you to go home and be with your family. Go back to your life.”

“I’ll go back to my life when this is done, dammit!” I half growl the words.

Soren…

I say the word in my mind and his expression flickers.

Soren, I’m going to get you out of here.

I know he can hear me because his throat works, and the sensation in my head shifts and grows stronger.

He frowns. “Mia, you don’t need to—”

“That’s enough small talk,” Morgan steps between us, blocking my view of Soren. “This visit is over.”

I feel Soren’s frustration pulse through our bond, matching my own.

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