Page 64 of Blood Freed

I pull in a breath, forcing myself to calm down. This isn’t doing anyone any good.

“Sweetheart, please sit down.” Mom’s voice trembles as she reaches for me. “You’re going to make yourself ill.”

I dodge her touch, continuing my restless circuit of the room. The void in my mind where Soren should be aches like a missing limb. I keep reaching for him through our bond, but there’s nothing – just cold, hard emptiness.

Is he doing it again? Blocking me out? Why?

But no, this feels different.

“The Conclave gave their word they’d help,” Kara says, but her tone lacks conviction.

“Their word?” I spin to face her. “This is bullshit, Kara! He’s going to die! And Lucien—” My voice catches. Another crystal shatters somewhere in the room.

“That’s exactly what concerns me,” Gran says, her eyes sharp. “Lucien’s influence runs deeper than we realized. If he can manipulate both the Blood Assembly and members of our own Conclave…”

“Then we’re all in danger,” Dad finishes grimly. “Not just Soren.”

I press my fingers to my temples, trying to focus through the pounding headache. The empty space in my mind throbs. “I can’t even feel him anymore. Something’s blocking me – and it’s too strong.”

The room falls silent as Mom wrings her hands, a gesture I remember from childhood whenever she was especially worried. “Mia, honey, if…if he dies…”

For fuck’s sake! Why does she keep harping on about that?

“I know what happens, dammit!” My voice is sharp. Too sharp. I feel shitty immediately. “Sorry, Mom.” I exhale slowly. It doesn’t help. This whole mess feels like it’s spiraling out of control. There are too many issues involved. Too much at stake. All I want is for someone to see sense.

The front door bursts open, and everyone spins to face it. Marcus Nightshade strides in, still wearing his formal Assembly attire. My heart plummets at his grim expression.

“They found him guilty.” Marcus’s voice is tight with anger. “It was a farce. Lucien destroyed Maxwell’s letter right there in front of everyone, claimed it was a forgery.” He meets my eye. “I’m so sorry, Mia. I did everything I could. They wouldn’t listen.”

My knees buckle. Mom catches me before I hit the floor, helping me to the nearest chair. “When?” It’s all I can manage to get out.

“The Sun Trail is scheduled for dawn.” Marcus runs a hand through his cropped dark hair, his eyes blazing with frustration.“They’re holding him in the Chamber of Binding. The wards there are specifically designed to contain powerful vampires.”

Shit. That’s why I can’t reach him.

The room spins around me.

Dawn. That’s…that’s…

I glance at the wall clock, realizing we’ve been working on this thing right through the night.

“Dawn,” I whisper. “It’s almost dawn.”

And Soren’s trapped somewhere I can’t even sense him.

“The Chamber of Binding?” Kara steps forward, her face pale. “That’s the most secure facility the vampires have, isn’t it? No one’s ever escaped from there.”

Marcus nods grimly. “The wards are infused with silver and ancient magic.”

I grip the arms of the chair, my fingers leaving scorch marks in the fabric. “How long has he been there?”

“Since the Assembly meeting. Lucien insisted on maximum security until the execution.” Marcus’s jaw clenches. “He’s taking no chances.”

Yet again, the crystals in the room pulse with my rising panic.

Dawn. The Chamber of Binding. No escape.

The words echo in my head like a death knell.

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