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“I didn’t choose this, you ass,” Scarlett hissed under her breath.

Sorin halted, pushing her against the wall. She strained to hear what he was hearing. Muffled voices a floor or two up. They started to move again, and the beading clanked once more. She saw Sorin stiffen slightly. Scarlett gave an exasperated sigh, ripping her hand from his. She gathered the bottom of the dress and, with a few clean swipes of his dagger, cut the bottom from it. It now fell just above her knees.

“Better?” she snapped in a whisper.

“Much,” he replied, a wry smile on his lips as he looked her up and down.

“Cad,” she answered, rolling her eyes. She kicked the cut fabric to a dark corner of the stairs. Sorin took her hand and continued to lead her down.

If she’d counted the flights of stairs they’d descended correctly, they were on the main floor now, and they stepped carefully from the landing. They seemed to be at the back of the house near the kitchens and were stopped, trying to decide which way to go when they heard the yelling.

“I think he has discovered you are gone,” Sorin said darkly.

“You’re always so perceptive,” Scarlett drawled. She was trying to lighten the situation,but anxiety filled her voice, and she couldn’t stop the trembling that overtook her. She was suddenly freezing.

“Hold it together, Scarlett. Just a little longer,” Sorin said gently, warmth flooding through her. Scarlett nodded mutely in reply.

Sorin tugged her towards a hall. As they crept along, the sound of clanking pots and pans grew louder. Surely all the exits were being watched by now. When they heard heavy footsteps coming down the hall, Sorin opened the nearest door and shoved her in. She had expected a closet of some sort, but instead, they found themselves at the top of another set of stairs.

Sorin illuminated a small flame in his hand and held it up. “It is a cellar,” he said. “Maybe there is a way out at the bottom. If not, a place to hide for a bit.”

“They’re going to search everywhere, Sorin. We can’t hide. We need to get out,” Scarlett said. She heard the footsteps at the same time Sorin did, ending any debate they were about to have, and they both scrambled down the stairs.

He shoved her under the stairwell behind several boxes of canned vegetables and potatoes. “Fuck,” he hissed. “We are so close. There is a horse positioned for us outside to take us to where everyone else is waiting.”

She could hear the stomping steps of men upstairs and muffled voices, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying. The cool stones of the house cellar dug into her back, yet what she found herself focusing on more was Sorin’s body against hers. A wall of hard muscle pressed against her, shielding her from whatever brought the fear and panic he was trying to hide in his eyes. She could feel his hair against her cheek. Could feel each breath as he struggled to keep his breathing even.

They heard the cellar door creak open. Sorin tensed even more against her. She heard a gruff voice snarl and could hear the smile in his voice as he said calmly to his companions, “Here. They are down here. There is nowhere for them to go.”

She recognized that voice. It wasn’t Mikale, but… No. That wasn’t a possibility. She was imagining it. Had to be imagining it.

“Sorin, that’s—”

“I know,” he ground out darkly. “I know who that is.”

There was no movement above, and Scarlett realized he was going to wait for Mikale. She looked at Sorin again and saw the dread in his eyes, confirming her realization. A moment later, the man began a lazy stroll down the cellar steps as more guards reached the doorway. Sorin swore again under his breath.

“You have my ring,” Scarlett hissed at him. “Do something!”

“I already have a shield around us, but there is…something here. There is something stifling my magic. I cannot access my full well of power.” He was tense against her, but when his eyes met hers, he whispered, “It is going to be okay.”

“Sorin, I can get you out. I can keep you safe. I am what Mikale wants.” Her heart was hammering in her chest. It wasn’t even a hard decision. She would give herself back to Mikale in exchange for his safe release.

“No, Love. We leave here together.” His golden eyes flared brightly with resolve.

“You are going nowhere with her, General,” the gruff voice drawled.

How could he hear them?

Sorin’s eyes widened as if he’d just realized something. He gripped Scarlett’s shoulders. “You can get us out, Scarlett. Your magic can get us out.”

Scarlett stared at him in disbelief. She had never accessed her magic intentionally. She didn’t even know if shecouldaccess it on demand. She felt something cool and metallic against her finger. He had slipped her mother’s ring onto her finger. “I can’t Sorin. You know I can’t. I don’t know how.”

“It is no use. We have kept her magic locked up tight. She cannot access it,” the man said again.

Then from the top of the steps came Mikale’s snarling voice. “She is mine.”

At the sound of his voice, Scarlett began trembling anew. She couldn’t help it. The shadows coiled tightly, pressing into her. Sorin pressed a hand to her cheek,his eyes holding hers. “Stay with me, Love,” he whispered.