Page 98 of Visions & Shadows

It stills for a breathless moment, and then I hear the wood rattle as someone tries to open it.

Oh my God.

“Hello?” I croak, the word barely audible.

Suddenly, the door shudders open with a bang, leaving it hanging on one hinge, and a man I’ve never seen before stands tall in the doorway.

“Help,” I whimper, not sure whether I should get my hopes up or not.

“Son, she’s here,” he says.

The second Raighne appears behind the man, I can’t hold the sobs back, and they rack through my chest.“You found me.”

“Fuck,” he whispers, shock tightening his features when he sees the horrible state I’m in.

He darts forward and falls beside me on his knees. His hand trembles as he reaches for my face, and when his palm brushes over my hair, I try to move so I can get closer to him.

“I’m so fucking sorry,”he groans in my mind.

“Get me out of here before they come back,”I beg.“Please!”

Raighne carefully pushes his arms beneath me, and picking me up bridal style, he cradles me to his solid chest.

When his warmth starts to seep into my body, I feel feverish, and my head slumps against his shoulder.

He walks out the door with me in his arms, and every step he takes makes excruciating pain shudder through me.

“I’m sorry. It’s going to hurt,”his voice fills my mind.

I try to nod.“Just get me away from here.”

As soon as we’re outside, Raighne starts to run unbelievably fast, the other man following close behind us.

The movements jar my body, and I clench my jaw and ball my fists against my chest, trying to be strong. Tears slip from my eyes and spill silently over my cheeks.

Raighne runs at an incredible pace and doesn’t stop until it’s well into the night.

I’ll take the pain if it means he’s getting me away from Adeth and Ares. The more distance between me and that hellhole, the better.

When he slows down to a stop, I can’t keep a groan from rippling over my dry lips. I shiver in his hold as he kneels on the ground, gently pulling his arm from beneath my knees.

A moment later, he holds a flask to my lips, and I drink greedy gulps before he helps himself to some water.

When my eyes drift to the other man, he says, “I’m Griffith, Raighne’s father. We’ll be home shortly.”

Raighne’s eyes flick over my face and body, then he asks, “Ready?”

I have zero strength and can only whisper mentally to him.“Yes.”

He climbs to his feet again, and the movement sends shockwaves of pain through me, causing a whimper to slip through my lips. I regret it immediately.

I have to be strong. Weakness has no place in this world.

I soon lose track of time and how long he’s been running, but I’m relieved when we finally reach a camp.

A voice that sounds vaguely familiar cries, “Alchera! What have they done to her?”

Gentle arms take me from Raighne’s, pulling me close against a comforting chest.

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