Page 62 of Reckless
I struggle against the strong arms strangling me before my body goes limp.
Then I’m dreaming again. And it might just be of her.
My hands are still tied behind my back.
Only now, they are also tied to hers.
Her head is slumped against the back of mine, hands twitching beside my own. She shifts slightly, the only warning that she’s stirring awake. And then the back of her skull connects with my own, sending stars swimming in my vision.
“Ow,” I groan, leaning forward as much as the ropes will allow.
“Oh, it’s you,” she says groggily. “I didn’t know who I was tied to. I should have hit you harder.”
“Funny,” I say through gritted teeth. “Move closer to me. You’re pulling my hands.”
I can practically feel her eyes roll. “Yes, Your Highness. Is there anything else I can do to make you more comfortable?”
“You are just such a pleasure to be held captive with.”
I feel her head turning to take in the cell we’ve been dumped into. There’s nothing but cracked stone and grimy floors. The bars are made of simple metal, not Mute like I’m used to. Though, without an Elite to draw from, I’m just as powerless as the Ordinaries.
“Where the hell are we?” she finally asks, voicing the question I’ve been waiting for her to ask.
“Some sort of prison,” I say. “Definitely underground.” The stone floors covered in filth are freezing, and the only light in sight is halfway down the hallway outside our cell.
“How… how did we get here?” she asks, panic lacing each word. “I don’t remember anything from last night.”
“They must have drugged us.” I lean my head back against hers. “So much for your friend standing guard.”
She tugs at her hands, yanking on mine in turn. “No, no, no. This can’t be happening—”
“Easy, Gray,” I say lightly. “You’re going to rip my arm out of its socket.”
“Why did they…?” She gulps down a breath. “Why did they put us in such a small cell?”
“Well,” I say calmly, “it’s not as though we can move around….”
“Thanks for the reminder, Azer,” she all but yells. “I can’t do this. Do you smell blood? I smell blood. I can’t. I… I need to get out of here.”
I feel her hands grow sweaty around mine, feel her back expand with each shaky breath. The smell of blood is faint, but I’m so used to the scent that I’d hardly noticed. Why would that bother her so much?
When her breath hitches on what sounds to be the beginning of a sob, I know something is very wrong.
“Paedyn,” I say softly. The taste of her name is intoxicating on my tongue. “Paedyn, are you listening to me?”
“When am I ever,” she pants, “listening to you?”
I smile to myself. “Are your knees against your chest?”
“What?” she huffs. “Yes. Yes, my knees are against my chest.”
“All right,” I say slowly. “I want you to listen to me for once in your life and put your legs on the floor. Spread them out as much as you can.”
“Why would I—”
“Listening, remember?”
Her breath is shaky, hands sweaty as she slides her legs across the stone. “Now,” I say slowly, “I want you to see how much room you have. This cell is much larger than you think. My legs are on the ground too.”
