Page 111 of Owned

I skidded to a stop, my shoes slid in the needles that carpeted the forest floor.

I spun around in a circle, looking for the bird’s bright feathers, and strained my ears to hear any hint of its song.

But there was nothing.

Only the creak of the trees.

Fuck.

Furious, and hopelessly lost, my hands clenched into fists at my sides as I tried to catch my breath.

As I looked around the clearing, I noticed a dark shape against one of the trees.

Had I been followed?

The shape didn’t move, and I took a hesitant step forward.

No, it wasn’t a person.

It was a motorcycle, propped against the gnarled trunk of an ancient tree—its sleek black frame was half-hidden by shadows and elation surged through me. I was about to rush toward it, but before I could move, the roar of an engine shattered the stillness and vibrated through the ground beneath my feet.

I spun around, heart racing, searching for the source of that sound.

But there was nothing—and the echo of the bike’s rumble lingered in my ears.

Panic clawed at my throat.

What was happening?

A heavy hand closed over the back of my neck, and a low voice growled in my ear: “Leaving so soon—”

I opened my mouth to scream, but darkness swallowed me whole as I jolted awake, gasping for breath.

I sat up in bed and clutched at my throat.

The sheets bunched around my waist and the chill air of the room caressed my skin with icy fingers.

I reached out for Valen—but he was gone and the bed was cold where he had lain.

When had he left?

My heart raced, and I struggled to draw a full breath as the remnants of the dream clung to me—each detail was sharp and vibrant, and it was etched in my mind like a map leading to freedom.

I could still hear the faint melody of the birdsong that had led me onward.

There was no question in my mind; Valen had sent me that dream.

He was out there, waiting for me in the forest.

“So certain…”

I gritted my teeth as the grimoire’s whispers rose again.

I was certain.

He was keeping his promise to help me escape.

My body burned with urgency as I sprang out of bed and cold air bit at my bare skin. Every instinct screamed for action as I fumbled through the darkness, and my heart pounded with a frantic rhythm that echoed in my ears.

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