Page 81 of Kept

“He’s busy, Zella,” Maverick says gently. “He won’t be around much for the next day or so.”

The high of anticipation fades beneath disappointment, but I swallow it back down. “Okay.”

I slide off Maverick’s lap. His arms tighten before he lets go, almost as if he’s reluctant. “Where are you going?”

I shrug. “I think I’ll get an early night. See you tomorrow?”

He nods, his blue eyes examining my face a little more closely than I’d like, so I offer him a quick smile and sidle out of the room.

The hallway has darkened in the time we’ve spent at dinner, and I jump as I catch a pale glimpse of my own reflection in the ornate mirror. Hurrying past it, I’m lost in my own thoughts when something jars me.

Frowning, I look around at the strange noise. A moment later, it comes again.

A low, groaning sound echoes, and I stop where I am, swiveling on my heel and looking up and down the hallway.

It doesn’t sound right. The hairs stand up on the back of my neck, and I debate going back to the dining room. But then I hear it again, and my eyes are drawn to the dungeon door.

It’s ajar, the edge balancing against the frame, and I take a step as the sound comes once more, this time deeper and more agitated.

“Enzo?” I whisper, but I don’t hear anything else.

What if he’s hurt himself?

My head turns back to the dining room. I should go and tell Maverick.

But then you won’t know what’s going on.

Maverick’s caginess, Enzo’s absence. Something is going on.

Curiosity overtakes me, and I reach for the handle.

Just a little peek, I reason. Just enough to make sure that he’s alright, and then I’ll leave him alone until he’s ready to talk.

The handle opens smoothly under my touch, and I pull the door open silently, staring down. The stairwell is pitch black, but I can see a small flicker of light just beyond the turn in the stairs. Gingerly, I place my feet down on the cool concrete, pausing when the groan travels up. It sounds worse this time, and my feet move, taking me around the corner. The weight of trepidation settles in my stomach as I descend, and I let out a relieved breath when I hear the low murmur of Enzo’s voice.

He's fine. Nothing to be worried about.

I’ll just take one peek and sneak out. Just enough to reassure myself. He won’t even know.

My nose twitches as my foot reaches the bottom step, my mouth twisting in distaste. It smells funny down here, almost metallic. I don’t know how Enzo can stand it.

Bracing myself, I peek around the corner.

But as my eyes settle on the reason Enzo’s been hiding away, fear hits me like sharp, jagged shards of glass fluttering inside my chest.

He looks up, dark eyes locking on mine.

Not a single star to be seen.

And underneath him, on the table he tied me to, is… something unrecognizable.

29 – Zella

At first glimpse, it looks like an animal.

But then itmoves, and the same groan that drew me down here travels out of its throat, filling the air around us with pain.

My breathing stutters to a stop. I take a step back as Enzo raises his hands in the air, slowly.

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