Page 19 of Back In the Shadows

ELLA

I didn’t have enough time to rub my stinging cheek before Xavier shoved me back into the glass box.

“This was a test, Ella McCloud Fletcher. You failed.” His features twisted in anger as he slipped the key into the lock. The sound of the click clawed at my chest.

“I’m sorry. I’ll be good. I promise, just let me out.” Tears spilled down my cheeks, each droplet carrying the weight of my actions. My heart plummeted to the pit of my stomach as Sebastian’s voice answered instead of Death’s. The realization that my kidnapping had hastened his transformation, and he’d returned to Sebastian knocked the wind out of me. While I knew Sebastian would search for me with fervent desperation, it was Death who struck fear in the hearts of humans, mercilessly destroying them. And in this crucial moment, I needed the viciousness and power of my husband’s darker half to find me.

Xavier stomped off, his black combat boots smacking against the concrete floor.

“Where are you going? You can’t leave me here. Xavier, please. I won’t do it again. I swear.” I smacked my palms against the cage, my hope withering as he walked away. Silencedescended on the room, and I wondered how long it would take the spiders to reappear.

My pulse raced as I watched Xavier return, his expression dark. With a cruel smile, he began pushing pegs into the air holes, sealing my only source of oxygen.

“Xavier, please,” I begged, my voice trembling with fear. “I’ll suffocate. I’ll die.”

“You should have thought about that before you betrayed me,” he spat, his eyes filled with a chilling fury.

With each peg he pushed in, his rage twisted and contorted his features into something unrecognizable.

As I gasped for breath, he revealed his true plan. “Soon you’ll be at our table as a permanent guest,” he sneered. “As my wife forever.”

A wave of revulsion washed over me as his words sunk in. Maybe this had been his warped revenge all along. I frantically searched for a way out, but it seemed there was no escape from this living hell. Was this really how I would meet my end, trapped in this claustrophobic tomb at the hands of a madman?

But maybe it was my chance to redeem myself before I ran out of air and fucking died.

“Xavier,” I whispered. “If you’d only asked …” I gulped, coming to terms with the lies that were about to spew out of my mouth. “I’m leaving Sebastian. I was making plans to take the kids away from him. I can’t live that life anymore. If you want me to be your wife … all you have to do is ask.”

His hand hovered over the last hole, the white peg catching the lone light from the kitchen.

“I didn’t realize that you wanted me like that.” Nausea churned in my stomach, and I prayed I wouldn’t puke. I was desperate for him to believe me. It was life … and death.

He frowned, his face shifting from fury to eagerness, then his arm dropped to his side. “You’re a lying little bitch.” His voice was low, sharp, and accusatory.

I held my breath, then reminded myself not to do that. Seconds ticked by as I waited to see if he would block the hole or if I had broken through to him.

The corners of his mouth kicked up in a sickening grin. “You’ve been lying to your husband?” He threw the peg over his shoulder, then jumped up and down, clapping his hands with glee. “I win! Ella McCloud is mine, mine, mine!” He danced around the room, and I watched and waited for his next move. Suddenly he stopped, his expression turning sinister again as he searched the small space. I knew exactly what he was looking for, and I hoped like hell he didn’t find the little stopper. My heart pounded in my ears as I tried to anticipate his intentions.

“There!” He hurried across the room and snatched up the white stopper. Xavier rushed over, then shoved it in the last hole.

“Consequences, you lying, little bitch.”

A gut-wrenching scream escaped me as I beat against the walls, begging him not to do this. But my wails fell on deaf ears as he walked off and disappeared past the kitchen.

I gasped for air, the cruel truth slamming into me like a sledgehammer. As I wiped away my tears, I fought to keep my breaths shallow, knowing I needed to conserve every last bit of oxygen in case Xavier returned. But deep down, I knew it was futile. Time dragged on as spiders scuttled up the side of my cage and over the glass top, their tiny legs tapping softly against the surface. The thought of slowly suffocating to death now seemed like a merciful escape compared to what Xavier might have had in store for me.

Visions of my babies flooded my mind, their cherubic smiles and little teeth peeking through. The tenderness of their soft skin against mine, and the warm weight of their bodies as Irocked them to sleep. The thought of losing them sent a wave of primal fear coursing through me, twisting my gut into knots.

“Verity, Alaric, I’m so sorry. I love you both so much.” Tears streamed down my face as I realized I would never hold them or hear their infectious laughter again. My mind flashed back to all the precious memories we shared, and in that moment, I held onto them with all my strength. Never again would I kiss Sebastian and Death. Memories of our times together broke through my horror, and I embraced them. I hoped my husband knew I was willing to die to safeguard his secret. I’d told Death that before, but now … now it was happening. But there was no secret, Xavier had learned the truth already. Why did he want Death?

Brain fog clouded my thoughts as I coughed, my body fighting for air.

I curled into the corner as the minutes passed and desperation settled in. It was now clear that Xavier had left me to die, and no matter how close Sebastian might be, I was out of time.

10

SEBASTIAN

I led the men into my office on the main floor of the house while Cami remained in the living room. Before I closed and secured the door, she flashed me a worried look, then started to collect the toys and items still scattered everywhere.

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