Page 13 of Ronan

Heart lodged in my throat, I make a quick dash over and press myself against it, hissing as the metallic surface scorches my skin. Eight-foot planks of sunbaked, sturdy wood surround the camp, and I curse whatever overzealous craftsman built the mammoth fence as I scout for an exit. It’s too tall to climb, and even if I had the athleticism to scale it, I couldn’t get Boomerang over the top. The idea of hiding in the dumpster crosses my mind, but I quickly shove it aside. Not only would it be a steam cooker inside, but if anyone searches thoroughly enough, we’d be trapped.

Think, Cameron.

Fifty yards down the fence, I spot a gate. Chances are high that it’s locked, but it should be weaker than the rest of the solid wood. The voices sound like they’re further away, and I peek out and see no movement.

“C’mon, girl,” I whisper to Boomerang, giving my leg a light tap before I sprint over to the gate, ducking behind every tree and obstacle along the way. Lady luck must be on my side today, because an opened padlock hangs from the latch. Relief hits me in a potent rush as I slide it from the hole and tuck it into my pocket.

The lock slides open with a quiet metallic click, and I peer through, finding that we’re facing the same group of trees where I first met August. Only a hundred yards separate me from the tree line, and the height of the fence should keep anyone inside from spotting me as I run.

There’s no movement outside the compound as I poke my head through the gate. Whatever is going on in this camp, they won’t care about a random patch of forest. If we can just make it to the trees, there are plenty of places to hide. Decision made, I take a deep breath, willing my exhausted body to give me one last boost of energy. I tap my leg, but instead of a nudge of fur, there’s only a quiet whimper.

Something is pulled over my head as I spin around, leaving me thrashing in total darkness as a chuckle rumbles in my ear. Fabric gags me, sucking into my mouth as I try to gasp in a panicked breath. Speckles of light filter through the makeshift hood, and I throw elbows, hitting flesh that grunts in response.

The world tilts as a sickening thud knocks against the back of my skull, pain exploding through my head. Black creeps in to cloud my vision, moving in a slow-motion crawl as the rest of the world zooms in a dizzying blur. It’s a futile fight, but still, I will myself tomoveas I collapse to my knees.

Darkness erases the final tunnel of my vision as my ears sing, the voices around me muffled as if I’m underwater. Damp earth fills my lungs as I crumble to the ground face-first, and for the second time in as many days, unconsciousness consumes me as hands grip my ankles and drag.

Chapter 5

Ronan

“This is a terrible idea.” Gravel crunches beneath my feet, a counterpoint to the rhythmic thud of Elas’s boots as he walks ahead of me. An infuriatingly smug grin is plastered across his face, with ivory tusks peeking out from his bottom jaw. They’re capable of crushing more than I want to even consider, but his gigantic smile is somehow still friendly. The cheerfulness contrasts with his uniform, but that’s never stopped him from cheesing in the past.

Hell, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen him charge into battle while showing off those pearly whites.

When he doesn’t respond, I smack him in the side with the back of my hand. “Your stupid fucking face is going to get us in trouble.”

A sigh pushes the smile from his lips, a palpable shift in his demeanor as he stops and turns to glare at me. “First of all, we won’t get in trouble because we aren’t doing anything wrong. Second of all, mystupid fucking faceis perfectly fine.”

My fingers tighten on his shoulder as I pull him close, my eyes darting around before I hiss into his ear. “Weare sneaking into the prison to search for my supposed mate.”

He rolls his eyes, as calm as always. “Dear gods, could you be more suspicious? You are the biggest drama queen I’ve ever met. We are both high-ranking officers with full access to the prisoner compound, and we’ve done inmate checks a hundred times in the past. Stop with the theatrics. You’ll give yourself an ulcer.”

With the way my stomach churns, I’m not convinced he’s wrong.

We’re allowed in the prison—encouraged, even, to show the captives who’s in control—but it feels strange to enter under false pretenses. Since I was barely an adult, every day of my life has been governed by the military. Strict rules and regulations. Iron-clad schedules.

They’re all I’ve ever known.

Soldiers obey, and that’s what I am—a soldier. Even when I struggle over the morality of my orders, I comply. Regardless of my hesitation or uncertainty, I push through.

In the end, I always obey.

No matter how many times it’s kept me up at night afterwards, I grit my teeth andfollow.

Stay in line.

I don’t stray, don’t veer, and I certainly don’t actively defy.

The perfect soldier.

Until now.

Nerves have my pulse playing an anxious rhythm behind my ribs. It’s an uneasy cadence that Elas’s superior hearing must detect, since his gaze lingers on my neck. His eyes soften as they move back up to mine. “If this is too stressful for you to handle, let me scout for you. It shouldn’tbe too hard with the mark, and if I find them, we can figure out a plan.”

“To hell with you,” I snarl, pushing him with enough force to make him step backward, but the contact only amuses him. “I’ll show you exactly what I can handle,” I mutter, and Elas tosses his head back with a booming laugh.

“Thanks, but no thanks.”

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