Page 22 of Adored By Them
Tears leak from the corners of my eyes.I didn’t know Kellen, not really.And yet…he was my friend.
With his last act, he tried to save me.
Now I need to figure out how to save myself the rest of the way.
The utility knife is safe beneath my foot.I can lean forward just enough to see everything is hidden by my wedding gown.When Uriel comes back, he won’t be able to see it.
The thing is, I want my wrists untied.The utility knife could probably cut through the plastic rope, but I have no way of getting it back there to my hands.I’m no gymnast, and even if I was, it would be physically impossible to maneuver the knife back to my hands.
“Kellen?”I whisper.“Hey, you’re alive.I know you’re alive.You have to be, please.”
His chest isn’t moving, his skin is too pale for a living person.Uriel wouldn’t have put him in the chair untied if there was any chance he’s alive and could get free.
I just wish, so badly, that Uriel is mistaken.
Kellen doesn’t move.The blood around his mouth is dark and dry.His split lip is no longer pink—it’s almost gray.He’s gone.And if he isn’t gone, he at least isn’t waking up to help me with anything.The sooner I accept this, the faster I can move on with my escape.
The only way I’m getting to this utility knife is if my hands are already untied.
“Excuse me?”I call.“I have to pee.”
It worked for Kellen—at least as far as getting him out of the chair.He came back to it dead.Will Uriel kill me, too?
No, that Allen guy told Uriel to keep me alive.Uriel wasn’t happy about it, but he’ll listen to his brother.At least, I hope he will.
Where are Troy and Edmund?My family?They must know I’m gone, that I need help.I have to believe they’re trying, but what if they can’t figure out where the Vorsongs are keeping me?
“I really gotta pee.”I inject anxiety into my voice, which isn’t hard to do.
Another long moment goes by.Then, without a word, without a sound, the door swings open and Uriel stands there.He cocks his head this way and that, evaluating the scene before him.
“You should be dead to match the king.A dead queen and a dead king, for symmetry.”He sighs.“But it isn’t time yet.”
I shiver at his cold, flat tone.He sounds matter-of-fact about my death.Also, he’s disappointed even if he doesn’t know how to express it like a normal person.He truly does wish I was dead so I could match Kellen.
“I have to use the restroom,” I say.
“Very well.”He comes around me and tugs at the ropes at my wrists.His touch is clammy and cool.My skin stings from where I struggled against the bindings.He prods me forward out of the chair.“Upsy-daisy.”
I don’t have to fake being unsteady.After I’ve been sitting so long, my legs don’t want to work, and my arms tingle from the blood moving freely through them again.
It would be so easy to go along with what he wants, to quietly take the relief of a quick bathroom break and use the opportunity to stretch my muscles.Giving up is easier than fighting.But this is my only chance.
“I’m going to be sick.”I lean forward like I’m about to hurl.
“Not in here!”Uriel nudges me toward the door.
Still hunched over, I grab the utility knife.Keeping the knife in the folds of my wedding dress, I feel along the side for the button to extend the blade.I stumble toward the door and fake a gag.
Uriel puts a hand at my back to propel me forward.It helps me gauge where he is.Good.
My heart’s in my throat.I feel sick—maybe I really will throw up.
Malcolm tried to kill me twice, and he couldn’t.I won’t let Uriel have that honor, either.
“What are you doing?”Uriel shoves me again.“Get into the bathroom.”
“I forgot something.”I spin, knife held firmly in my hand.
