Page 58 of The Caress

Except it isn’t morning. Well, technically it is, since it’s one o’clock in the morning. But it’s definitely too early for me to be awake.

"Ella!" Saffron calls again, appearing in the bedroom doorway with her hair looking a mess and struggling with a jacket that’s hanging half off her body. "I’m sorry to wake you, but I have to go. I just got a call from Keir’s property manager. The castle is on fire. You might have to call a cab to get to the airport in the morning if I’m not back by then. I’m really sorry."

She disappears again before her words fully sink in. I’m still half-asleep and way too tired to fully comprehend what’s going on, but I’m able to latch on to two important words she said.

Castle.

Fire.

Shit.

"Saffron!" I call after her, jumping out of bed and ignoring the way the room seems to tilt as my body rebels against the sudden movements I’m making. "Wait just one second, please. I’ll come with you. I just need to throw on some clothes."

When I find her, she's in the kitchen, wearing a pair of rubber boots. "You don’t have to do this," she says, throwing me a sympathetic look. "I’m not trying to put you and my brother in an awkward situation."

I make a dismissive gesture as I quickly button my pants and smooth a hand down over my wrinkled shirt. "I’m more worried about making sure Keir and Isla are okay. Plus, they’ll need all the extra hands they can get to help save paintings and furniture and whatever else might be in harm’s way."

"All right," she says, nodding. "You’re right. Let’s go."

Thank God, she isn’t arguing with me. I might not be thrilled about the prospect of seeing Keir again, but I won’t be able to rest until I know he and Isla are safe. I don’t care how awkward it gets after that.

Just please, God, don’t let anything happen to them.

The sky is orange, and I can see the flames before we make it down the long driveway to the castle. The closer we get, the worse it looks.

"My God," I murmur, my eyes going wide as the burning castle comes into view. "This is like a horror movie."

"Like a hellscape. Do you see my brother anywhere?"

I shake my head; I'm too overwhelmed to speak. There are at least a dozen people here already, but no sign of Keir.

"You go that way," she says as soon as we get out of the car, pointing to the east wing. "I’ll go this way. Yell for me when you see him."

I stumble along the pebbled driveway, scanning every face I see. "Keir?" I call out, trying to tamp down the panic that’s rising up inside me. "Keir? Isla?"

Where are they? Why aren’t they answering?

I’m nearly in tears when I hear his voice. I can’t tell what he’s saying, but I’d know that deep voice anywhere.

Shit.

He’s inside.

I don’t stop to think. I don’t call out for Saffron even though there’s a little voice in my head telling me I should. I just have to get to Keir.

"Keir?" I call out again when I make it into the great hall. The cavernous space is filled with smoke. The heat is already unbearable, even though the flames don’t seem to have reached this part of the building yet. "Keir, are you in here?"

"Ella?" He appears out of the smoke, covering his mouth and nose with his sleeve. "Is Isla with you?"

"No," I say as I look around, panic taking over. "Is she—you don’t know where she is?" I don’t wait for him to answer, I just start running toward the stairs. "Isla! Isla, honey! Can you hear me?"

I can’t hear anything except sirens and yelling and my own heart beating out of my chest. I’m halfway up the stairs before Keir catches up to me, pulling me close as I start to cough.

"She isn’t in her room," he yells over the chaos all around us. "I’ve looked everywhere. I’ve asked everyone, but nobody has seen her."

"You’ve looked everywhere?" I pull away from him, looking around wildly. "Everywhere? You’re sure?"

If he answers, I can’t hear him. I’m moving on instinct alone, frantic to find her as I rush down the long corridor. I don’t know what makes me think to check in my old bedroom, but it’s the first place I think of.

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