Page 26 of Where Darkness Falls

Unleash me, and together we will make him suffer a fate worse than one thousand deaths,the voice growls.

I shake my head, trying to clear the voice from it.

No one is there, Maeva. It is just your imagination mixed with too much ale,I tell myself.

The mysterious, otherworldly voice is right, though, I need to get us out of here. Despite his claims that he won’t harm Cara, I’m certain that it’s a lie. We’ve heard stories of soldiers forcing themselves on innocent women at night, only for them to be found dead in the square the next morning.

No, this won’t be our fate.

My mind tries once more to think through every scenario in which Cara and I escape without being burned alive.

There is only one option.

I am not enthralled by the idea, but if it works, we can flee. So, to my own detriment, I lean my body into the wicked man’s embrace, appearing to relax against his touch. I count my breaths to steady my heart rate.

One… two… three.

Just as I suspected, he relaxes his hold as he trails kisses down my neck before returning to my mouth. His kiss tastes like sour wine and tobacco in the most sickening of ways. He breaks away to reveal a vile smirk. I smile back at him, even though I’d rather vomit. Slowly, I bring my hands up to his face—caressing it in a way I imagine a willing lover would.

“See,” he croons. “I knew you would underst?—”

I slam my head forward with as much force as I can muster. His nose breaks with a satisfying crunch. He releases me as blood gushes from the wound. Vile curses escape his lips as he roars in pain. Though my head is throbbing, I run. I need to get to Cara, to get us both home. I don’t know how I plan to disarm her captor, but I know I won’t leave her here.

I’m almost to her when I’m knocked to the ground. The wind is forced from my lungs by the impact, and the larger body that dwarfs mine. “That… was the wrong… thing to do,” the soldier growls before lifting me from the ground by my hair.

I flail like a wild animal, clawing at anything within my grasp, but all I hit is hard steel over and over again. He spins me around to face him. With a sickened grin, he grabs my neck. He slowly applies pressure, and my vision blurs.

“I told you that if you tried this, you’d have to watch what I do to your friend,” he sneers.

My eyes cut to Cara as she is held back.

So close.

I was so close, and Ifailed.

The pressure around my neck increases again, and I see starsthis time.

This is it.

I’m sure he’s going to kill me until he utters words that cause my blood to run cold.

“It’s a pity how little you care about her,” he taunts. “I hope you enjoy the show.”

Suddenly, I’m falling to my knees, air rushing back into my lungs.

Release me,the voice says, louder this time.

The companion holding Cara moves toward me in quick, long strides. He pins my arms back when I hear Cara scream for help. I look up to see the other soldier as his hands roam over her. Pure terror laces Cara’s eyes as she thrashes against his hold.

“STOP,” I scream, a guttural sound tearing from my throat.

He doesn’t relent.

I jerk and flail, but nothing works. I look at the dark gray sky that’s shrouded in mist as my resolve crumbles. “Siorai, help us,” I plead.

I look for any sign that he heard me.

Siorai doesn’t appear.