Page 58 of Captive Hybrid

Chapter Twenty

Zenna

To get to the closest exit, I have to brave the Tomb alone. I take a slow, deep breath, keeping my heart rate low, hoping that everyone in the Den is too preoccupied to notice one little witch. I keep my back to the wall, my shoulder blades kissing the cold stone through my t-shirt, to minimize the possibility of someone sneaking up on me.

Somehow, my determination to get the fuck out of here, fuelled by adrenaline and Mordecai’s voice in my mind that he’s nearly here, keeps my panic at bay. I do not want to think about the thousand and one ways this escape could go very, very wrong.

The Tomb, as this hellhole is so affectionately named, feels just that. I never imagined I would spend so much time underground, but its stifling. The walls feel as though they’re closing in on me, and if I didn’t know about the heart-racing thing, desperately trying to keep mine in check, I suspect it would be trying to leap out of my chest. This feeling would bring regular claustrophobia to its knees.

I inhale the damp air, keeping my vines loose on my arms. The hallways are usually near-empty, but that doesn’t mean I’m not a second away from a vampire, or a tattling feeder, from discovering me. I wonder where Drusilla is right now, then immediately banish the thought as my heart skips a beat. Nope. Don’t go there.

Mordecai keeps trying to communicate with me, but I cannot afford to be distracted. I throw up another mental barrier between us.

As I skirt around the Den, hearing the soft moans of people being bitten, the sucking sound that follows, I avert my gaze, briefly going over the conversation I’d had with Aidan. Was he right? Was it all about trust?

When I think of Mordecai, even though he said he would reverse his decision to reject me, there’s minimal trust there. Reversal or not, he did reject me, and that will never not have happened. That pain he caused might always simmer within me.

Fear and concern pulse down the bond. He’s close, and worried, frustrated. Something’s setting him on edge. I tilt my head up to the smooth, cavernous walls, trying to imagine where he might be stepping. Just how close is he?

I’m surprised I’ve made it about eight minutes on my own.

I’m not dead yet.

With another deep breath, I round a corner, slowly, praying to the Goddess to help clear my path. I freeze for a split second. Will is standing around the corner, drinking something out of a mug. I slide back around the corner quickly, out of sight. Shit.

He’s right in my way. What do I do?

I weigh my options.

If I wait out here, I could be caught or killed.

I have to move past him. So, I step out and around, vines hovering over my skin. I march right up to him, and watch his eyes flash in surprise as he pauses his drinking. It’s only then that I realise. His lips are tinted red. He’s drinking blood. If I weren’t on a mission, I might pause to hurl, but there’s no time for that.

‘Oh, Zenna, hey. I wanted to apologise for Siobhan, she was just, uh, excited, when she smelled you—what are you doing out here?’ He moves to step in front of me.

‘Move.’ My vines snake into the air. My gut clenches. I don’t want to rip him apart with my thorns, but this could go sideways. ‘Please, move. I’m leaving, Will.’

The witch opens his mouth, then closes it. ‘Zenna, don’t. You won’t get far—’

‘The hell I won’t.’ I try to storm past him.

Will shakes his head. ‘No, you don’t understand—’ His voice echoes off the stone walls.

I push him against the wall, clamping a hand over his mouth. ‘Shh,’ I hiss. ‘You’re going to get me, actually, probably both of us, killed. I am done being a captive. I don’t care if you want to be a feeding bag, but I definitely don’t.’ I stare hard at his eyes for a moment. He isn’t looking at my vines, floating close to his skin, a clear threat. He meets my gaze and nods a little, so I release him.

‘The north exit is booby-trapped,’ he whispers. ‘It’s got traces of iron in the stone. Use your witching magic as you ascend, it will make it easier. It will still suck, but…’ Something like sympathy glistens in his eyes. ‘Good luck, Zenna. I don’t want you to be here against your will.’ He holds out a hand.

I shake it. ‘Please tell Aidan… that I’m sorry.’

Will just shakes his head. ‘Don’t worry about him. And remember, though you might not be thrilled with our relationship choices, Zenna, you do have allies here. Okay? Drusilla is planning something big, and I’m sure there will be a lot of bloodshed. Just know that we don’t want that.’

I’ve wasted too much time out in the open. I nod, giving his hand a final squeeze, then dart off toward the exit hidden within the wall. With all my strength, and a little magic, I heave my weight into it until I hear the click. Designed to be hard to open for weak feeders, Aidan had told me, somewhat meekly. Can’t have your food source escaping.

As I close the door on silent hinges behind me, I turn to face the stairs and yelp.

Callen is there, leaning against the wall. He turns with a smirk. ‘I bet Godric you’d escape. We’ve had a running tab,’ he says, voice low and smooth like the stone around us. ‘You’ve been here, underground for twelve days now. Did you know that?’

I back up until the sliding door presses into my back. ‘Callen, please—’

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