Page 16 of Wolf Bitten

I tensed and tilted my head. “You want to alertRaffe? I thought you’d be behind the wolf shifters losing control.”

“Yeah, I am. But taking me gives Glinda control, and don’t you think kidnapping people goes a touch too far? We need to stop whatever she’s doing before it goes further.”

On that, we were in agreement. “I’m not sure what we can do. I’ve tried getting out of here with no luck. The vent is too small, and those blinds just cover a painting of the outdoors.” That latter part killed me.

“Seriously?” His brows furrowed. “So we’re in some sort of underground bunker.”

“Once you heal, maybe we can find a way out.” I hated to think how long that would take and what they’d make me look at and learn about until then, but I couldn’t escape and leave Slade behind.

“We can’t wait.” He shook his head. “They’ll keep drugging us, and right now, I can use my magic. I’m also at my weakest physically, so our captors won’t expect us to try.”

His determination to leave had me more eager than before. “But your ribs …”

“I’ll be fine. It’s important that we get out of here tonight.” He went to the door and placed his ear to the wood. After several seconds, he pulled away. “The hall is empty, so we need to run. I can heal once we get out of here.”

He turned the doorknob and raised his brows when it opened.

“Yeah, they don’t lock it because of the perimeter spell,” I murmured, heading toward him. He wasn’t listening to me.

Turning to me, he grinned. “Watch this.” He raised a hand, and I braced myself for the impact.

But something else happened.

CHAPTER SIX

His hand passed through the threshold into the hallway.

My breath caught. “How did you do that? I’m pretty sure that was Glinda outside the door a few minutes ago. The area should be spelled.”

Slade winked. “There’s a little secret that even most priestesses don’t know. The supreme priestess isn’t affected by her fellow coven members’ magic. Since my magic is inherited from hers, I have the same immunity.”

That damn hope expanded uncomfortably in my chest. “You need to go while you can and let the others know where I am.” Even though I couldn’t get out, Slade could, and then help would arrive. He could walk through whatever magic was hiding the entryway from them as long as his ribs didn’t hinder his escape.

Some of that hope dissipated, but this was the best plan we had, even if Glinda and Warin took out their frustrations on me. “Hurry before they realize you’re missing and move me.”

“I’m not leaving you.” He held out his free hand to me. “Take my hand, and we can get out together.”

I could leave too?

My chest ached from the pressure, and without another thought, I stepped forward and took his hand.

“Don’t let go of my hand until we’re in the hallway.” He moved without warning.

Thankfully, he was holding me tightly because he tugged me and I stumbled right after him. As I crossed the threshold, the magic surrounding it chaffed against my skin.

Weird. Why would it be that much more intense? I’d have to ask later when we didn’t need to be quiet.

I scanned the corridor. My room was at one end. The two of us tiptoed down the hallway, and even at the slow pace, I wanted to smack Slade over the head. His shoes left a slight scuff mark with each step that would give us away. But I had to remember he had at least one broken rib. There was no way I could get angry at him, so I bit my tongue.

Noises came from behind the doors on both sides of the hall. I wasn’t sure what those rooms were, but people were in them.

I grimaced and tried to remain calm. Even though I’d heard multiple vampires out here, desperate to drink my blood when it was humming, for the past few days, it had felt like Glinda, Warin, and I were alone. The others must be in charge of guarding the area, meaning we could run into someone at any time.

One thing at a time. My blood jolted, beginning to wake up as the drug wore off. I bit my bottom lip to expel some of my nervous energy. If I didn’t control my blood, the vampires would smell me and attack before we made it out.

“I’m shocked to say this, but I have to agree.” Warin snickered, the sound coming from an opening down the hallway to the left. “Skylar found the photographs of Raffe and his minions atrocious. I thought their bond would prevent her from seeing things clearly, but the others may very well be right. He might not have completely brainwashed her …yet. When she sees the other pictures, she won’t be able to look at him the same way again. Not even a fated-mate bond could fix that.”

Acid burned my throat. I’d hoped they were full of it, but they were having this conversation when they didn’t know I could overhear them, validating their claims. What had Raffe’s father put him up to? Though, I couldn’t blame his father entirely because, at the end of the day, Raffe was accountable for his own actions.

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