Page 44 of A Debt of Darkness

Ryan’s still running his hands over Matt while Matt feigns annoyance. They both freeze for a moment and then exchange worried looks. Matt stares at me with enough determination to burn through hell while Ryan fusses over him, deliberately putting himself between the two of us.

“Be reasonable with her. Be firm but kind. Explain things, slowly, carefully, patiently. She’ll give if you do.”

I glare at the screen as it flickers. Ivy’s moving and it doesn’t look easy. She’s stiff and her position isn’t comfortable. She’s holding herself awkwardly and when she shifts again,she whimpers.

I stiffen.

I fucking freeze.

She cries and my heart aches, screaming I need to rush to her.

She sobs a stuttered breath and her legs curl up underneath her. She flinches and she cries again.

“This is cruel…”

I cut Matt off with a flick of my wrist and stare, transfixed, at the video. Ivy’s arms move to her stomach and she’s fighting with herself. She’s on the brink of surrender, and this could be the moment I’ve been so fucking desperate for. Her resolve is weakening and it might be about to break.

“Henry.”

It’s a small whisper and a cacophony of change.

It’s too fucking seismic to believe and my eyes widen, frantically hoping I haven’t imagined it.

“You didn’t,” Ryan says, interrupting my thoughts as he inches closer, angling his head to see Ivy. I watch her move again and listen to her cry, pleading for it not to be a hallucination. Praying that the simple, complicated, perplexing girl who I’ve put through hell has somehow found the strength to save us both.

“Henry…”

The last syllable hangs in the air and she hasn’t finished calling my name by the time I’m out of the room.

“Be kind,” Matt yells.

I’m too far gone to listen to anything he has to say. Ivy’s called for me. She’s asked for me. For the first time since this awful ordeal began. Since Ryan brought her here. She’s accepted she needs me and I can’t afford to waste any time. Ipromised her I’d come. I promised her all she had to do was ask.

Fuck, I’m fast.

Fuck, I’m not fast enough.

I’m charging into the dungeons faster than I ever have before and my nerves are frayed by the time I’ve grabbed the keys. I fumble for the right one, cursing that I should have separated it in case of a moment like this.

Ivy could have asked for me again. She might have given up hope and decided I wasn’t coming. She’s been waiting long enough and I’m frantic, desperate to ease her pain and make this right. To cement our dynamic and get her out of her.

I can’t let her see me like this.

I’ve got to be calm. Composed. I’ve got to be measured. She won’t take this step unless I’m there to catch her and I’ve got to pull myself together. For us. For her. Almost entirely for her.

She’s still lying on the ground by the time I enter the cell and I hate myself. I’ve reduced her to something small. Something beneath her. She’s exquisite and she’s mine, and this is the only way I know how to keep her safe. I should be stronger; I should be better. I should have kept my fucking temper, but I didn’t, and here we are.

I’m too damn frightened to speak. It’s been centuries since I’ve known fear, let alone terror like this. One wrong word could ruin everything. Could break us apart. Could undo our progress.

“Henry?”

She lifts her head a little. Her perfect lips are cracked, her eyes are dull, and her skin is filthy. Her hair’s matted and she’s lost too much weight. She’s lost her curves. She’s beautiful. She’s perfect. She’s mine and I’ve done this to her.

“I’m here.”

Fuck.

I’m a cold, spineless bastard. I can’t bring myself to say her name and I refuse to call her pet.

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