Page 55 of The Demon Prince's Accidental Mate
Rising now, ignoring the shouts from inmates who had returned to their cells at the explosion, I raced toward solitary, my link to Lily growing stronger with every step.
I poured my desire to save her into our link, trying to let her know that I wanted nothing more than to see her set free. That I was there for her and that it was time to go. I wasn’t sure how much she would understand or how clear it would be, but given the ongoing events and my sudden proximity, she would understand. She had to.
A pair of Gray Knights guarding the entrance to solitary raised their arms as I came around the final corner, one lifting his hand as well, commanding me to stop. I spread my arms wide, picking them both up and taking them with me as I slammed through the doors.
“Sorry,” I said before clunking their heads together and tossing them into the nearest unoccupied solitary cell, slamming the door closed.
I could feel her. She was close. Cells lined the hallway, most of them occupied. It would take forever to visit each door and figure out which was hers, but luckily, I had a better way, a faster way.
Listening to my mind, I ran down the hallway, feeling our bond grow stronger and more recognizable.
I’m here.Get ready.
I shot those emotions into the link in our mind, expecting surprise, shock, excitement, or any mixture of similar sentiments.
What I got was disinterest and disdain. A desire that could only be translated into “Go away.”
No fear was attached to her mental response. Nothing that would indicate the trap was about to spring shut, that they were still waiting for me. Just … anger. Defeat. Even a hint of sadness.
I skidded to a halt, stunned by what I sensed from her. What had happened? What had changed between the courtroom and now? Was she mad that I hadn’t challenged Dannorax? Did she think I had let her go on purpose, that I hadn’twantedto fight the dragon?
The bond grew bright and then began to weaken as I started walking again. I spun and ripped open the nearest door. An angry, hook-nosed troll came at me with a shrieking battle cry. My foot came up and into its chest, blasting it back into the cell.
Whirling, I stomped across the hallway and tore free the other door. Lily sat within, knees drawn to her chest. She didn’t look up at me.
“One moment,” I said, trying to understand what the attitude was all about.
I marched back to the troll’s cell and slammed the door down over its head just as it came charging back out of the cell. The troll dropped like a stone, leaving a huge head-sized dent in the door.
“Come on,” I told Lily, extending a hand to her from her cell door. “We have to go. There’s no time to waste.”
“I’m not going with you,” she said. “I never should have gone with you. Never should have listened to anything you said. I should have kicked you out of my bakery that first day you showed up.”
“I don’t know what you think happened or what you’re talking about, but there’s preciselynotime for this,” I grunted. “We have to go.”
“No. I’m not going anywhere with you, Belial. Liar.”
I sighed. “We can have whatever this argument is if you really want. You can scream at me, yell at me, whatever it is. But we are leavingnow. One way or another.”
Entering the cell, I picked her up and tossed her over my shoulder.
“I amnotleaving you to rot in here. You deserve better than that,” I growled, making my way back up the hallway toward my makeshift entrance and our way out.
Lily struggled in my grip. “Put me down, you lying asshole!”
I kept walking. Up ahead, a tall, lean figure all but slid into view, so gracefully did they move. The sword in his right hand rested point down on the stone.
“You really should listen to the lady,” Victor said.
Behind me, a dozen Gray Knights came rushing up the hallway to block that way out, leaving us well and truly trapped.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Belial
“Put her down, Belial,” the vampire said icily when I didn’t immediately surrender. “Now.”
“Yes, please,” Lily echoed.
