Page 24 of Claimed By Shadow and Blood
“No, and we don't have much time. I told Ember and Ryker you were…safe, more or less. We’re working on a way to get you home. Ember wanted me to let you know that you aren’t alone, and you aren’t forgotten.”
My heart clenched, even as my annoyance with him forced me to swallow that he consideredthissafe. “Are they okay?”
“They’re fine. Worried for you, of course. We will find a way to get you home though. You just have to remain alive.”
I rolled my eyes again since I seemed to have just enough energy for that. “Oh, good to know. I was considering dying just for spite.”
He continued as if I hadn’t said anything. “Whatever you do, you must not wed the Shadow prince.”
I flinched as if he’d struck me. It wasn’t as if Vad wanted to marry me now. As far as he knew, I had murdered his dad. His storm-cold eyes bored into me even in memory, his gaze filled with rage and grief, the sound of his roar echoing in my mind as he demanded they bring me back.
“Not only that, but you must not tellanyoneof your Aureline heritage. Both those things are imperative.”
“You didn’t tell me the Aurelines were so…” What was the right word? “Evil.” Pangs of fear and grief stabbed through me while betrayal curdled my soul. I tensed further, digging my fingernails into my bruised arms.
“Some are, yes, but not all, I assure you.” He sighed.
He seemed to have run out of words. “Why shouldn’t I marry the Shadow prince, and why can’t I tell anyone of my lineage?”
Something cracked on the other side of the portal, and the sound of footsteps scuffing on stone came through. “People are coming. I can’t stay. Remember my words. Do not, underanycircumstances, marry the Shadow prince or tell anyone of your Aureline heritage. I'll return when I can. Be brave, child. You are stronger than you realize, and you will not fall to these monsters. Fate will bring us through."
Before I could respond, the portal snapped shut with a faint pop. The prison plunged back into cold darkness, leaving me alone with my pain and the stink of my own blood amid the filth and damp. I wanted to scream. No matter what, I never got any answers.
When I called on my wolf to strengthen my vision, bile inched up in my throat. Layered with filth, algae, and mold, this disgusting pit was an unholy grave for all those who had been trapped here. Above me, jagged stalactites cut down from the ceiling, droplets of silver water forming and dripping into pools. Several of the stalactites appeared to have broken off, and I dropped my gaze to find that they had fallen onto the ground.
Bones of what I assumed must be captives who had been here before me jutted out from a pile of hay that was not simply moldy but stirring with life. Slick black beetles slid among the discolored flakes, and ridged white worms writhed in the thin layer of muck at the edges.
Shuddering, I drew my focus inward.
Fate sucked.
My skin crawled, and my chest ached so painfully I had to blink back the tears. At least, Ember and Ryker were safe and trying to figure out a way to save me.
My shoulders drooped with shame. They shouldn’t have to get involved with fae matters, and even if they did, they didn’t have the right magic to make rescue a possibility.
Hell, Many-Greats-Grandfather couldn’t even get me out through that portal, and something had stopped him from reaching out to me sooner. It must not be easy for him to communicate like that, and helivedin this realm.
I placed my forehead on my knees, which throbbed from where I’d scraped them during my near-drowning. I grimaced and straightened, replaying all that had happened. Therealversion, not Douchewaffle’s false vision that still wavered at the edges of my mind, trying to catch my attention.
No. I wouldn’t let these bastards win. My wolf snarled threateningly as I pushed the false memories out of my mind, leaving me with the horrific-enough truth.
She pushed forward, wanting to shift into wolf form. At first, I resisted. With how bad my injuries were, it would be risky to shift. After the way my feet and hands were ripped apart, the stretching of my skin and body could tear worse, making them horrible. But at the same time, if they didn’t tear worse, the magic surge would heal me.
And I needed a chance to get out of here.
So I stopped holding her back. My wolf surged forward, desperate to use her senses to find a way out. My skin tingled as the fur tried to sprout, but then everything halted. My wolf pushed harder, but there was, like, a wall.
Something pressed hard against my skin, causing even the tingle to ebb. There had to be some sort of magic in here.
My wolf jerked back like something had harmed her. And the truth crashed hard on me.
I couldn’t shift, so there was no way to heal myself.
My bottom lip quivered, and I tried like hell not to break down, but it was so damn hard.
Drip.
I had losteverything, and I wasn’t even being dramatic.
