Page 104 of Cruel Vows

It feels like I’m moving through a vat of molasses the size of a football field as my fist swings forward.

Noah moves out of the way with ease. “Your medication should wear off soon. Just in time for Ellie to decide who is going to die. She’s been rather stubborn about the entire thing, but don’t worry, Jace is teaching her an important lesson.”

Everything around me is red as I shoot forward, slamming my shoulder into his chest and driving him hard back against the wall.

His hands push against my shoulders, and I stumble backward, tripping over my feet and colliding with the ground.

Noah cracks his knuckles and shakes out his hands. “That was a mistake.”

“Fuck you. You bring her back here right now.” I get back on my feet, some of the room slowing to a stop instead of spinning out of control.

“You’re not in a position to make demands.” Noah grabs me by the collar, spinning and slamming me into the wall. “If I were you, I would remember who is in control here.”

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a frosted syringe, the clear liquid inside sloshing around as he flicks off the plastic needle cap.

The world goes black as he sinks the needle into the side of my neck, pushing the plunger down.

The world isn’t spinningwhen I wake up, but my arm is aching, and my mouth is drier than it’s ever been.

We’re back in one of the other cells, metals bars in front of me and a stone wall to the side.

Aiden is crumpled in the corner, a sheen of sweat covering his skin and glistening beneath the yellow-tinged lighting. He mumbles something but I can’t make out the words that he’s saying.

Where’s Ellie?

My heart rate speeds up, pulse pounding as I get up and walk over to the bars.

Pressing close to them, I look up and down the hall, trying to find her. She’s got to be here somewhere, but I don’t know where. She’s not in the cell across from me, and if she’s in the one beside me, she’s not making any noise.

She could be dead.

It would be my fault if she is. I haven’t been able to protect her, even though I promised myself and her that I would.

He said that she still had to make her decision, though.

There’s a chance she’s alive, and that chance is going to have to be good enough for now.

Aiden grunts and struggles to sit up, leaning back against the wall. “Sean.”

I walk over to him and crouch down, trying to ignore the way my body protests every single movement.

When we finally get out of here, I’m going to spend the next week sleeping.

“I’m sorry.” Aiden glances up at me but the look there is distant, like his eyes can’t quite focus on anything.

I snort, pretending like this is just another argument between the two of us. “We’ve fought before, Aiden. It’s fine.”

“No.” He coughs and hauls up the hem of his shirt to wipe some of the sweat from his forehead. “I’m sorry. I forced you to marry Ellie. Acted like an ass when you stepped up and acted like a husband. I’m sorry.”

“We’re good.” I clap him on the shoulder, but I can’t ignore the heat radiating through his shirt. It scorches my fingertips.

He’s running a fever and if it keeps burning through his body, I’m going to have a dead body for a best friend.

Aiden’s eyelashes flutter. “You’re good for her.”

“She’s good for me.” I smile, spine stiffening as a cough comes from the cell next to us. “Ellie?”

“Yeah?” she says, her voice soft and low. “Sean?”

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