Page 26

"Let that be a lesson to you on what happens when you don't listen,"she'd said.

Even Holden had seemed shaken at how sudden and severe it all was.

"So, go ahead," I forced the words out. "Beat us. But you know gods-damned well that I'll enjoy watching Lady Frexin teach you a similarlessonto that woman back then."

Holden stepped closer to me, his body rigid, nostrils flared. He looked about to tear my head off, and I braced myself for a beating.

"Tye won't always be there to save you, bitch!" he snarled. Then he sharply motioned towards our cells. "Get moving!"

Holy hells … had that actually worked?

Liam glared at Holden for a moment longer, but finally relented and moved down the corridor.

I jogged after him, heart racing as we approached and entered our cells. That had been close.

Too fucking close.

Holden slammed my cell door closed, locked it, then stomped away, heavy footsteps echoing down the narrow walkway.

I looked for Liam, but he'd moved too far back in his cell to see.

The heavy watertight door let out the familiar squeal signaling we were finally alone.

I sat back against my cell wall and let out a shaky sigh. We'd made it …

"You're back, Liam!" Mr. Harlsted exclaimed, voice full of surprise.

"You're alive?!" called another.

"How?" asked another.

I closed my eyes and crossed my fingers. Liam had never agreed to help me, but perhaps he had some good will towards me after our fiasco with the monster and the subsequent altercation with Holden … maybe.

Preparations for the escape would go quicker if he did.

"By some miracle, we arebothfine," Liam admitted, voice stiff. "The process was — interrupted."

"What process?" Darlene asked. "Do you know what happened to the others?"

"Ask Kaiya," he snapped. "She can tell you all about it."

Gods be damned! I looked up at the roof and counted to ten.Of course, he would throw me to the wyvrens instead of being helpful.

An eruption of voices demanded answers, some frantic, some angry.

I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose, gathering my thoughts.

For a moment, I debated brushing off their questions and jumping to the news that we would arrive tomorrow.

No one knew I'd regained my memory of the past sessions …

I scooted to the front of my cell and looked through the bars at all the anxious faces.

"QUIET!" Mr. Harlsted snapped. "If everyone would stop yelling, Kaiya might actually get a chance to speak."

Gradually, everyone quieted, their gazes trained expectantly on me.

My neck crawled with the sensation of being watched by so many.