Page 213 of Blood Day

No, that wasn’t true.

I didn’t want to believe he was here. Because that would lead to hope, and I couldn’t afford to feel that emotion. Not here. Not in this place. Not when I was so close to death.

Such darkness,Cedric whispered to me.I’ll find a way to return you to the light, sweet Lily flower.

I ignored him and kept crawling. Toward what, I didn’t know. This could all just be a nightmare, or a mental escape, or a suicide mission. I was in hell, as evidenced by the mutilated corpses I’d left behind.

The stench… the blood… thesightof my fate… I nearly gagged just thinking about it, the experience one that would haunt me for the rest of my existence, however short that might be.

I could still feel the claws of death dragging along my senses, threatening to suffocate me in a world of?—

Lily.Cedric’s deep voice infiltrated my thoughts, shifting my focus to his existence inside me.That’s not your future. I’m your future.

I don’t believe you.The words were soft, resembling more of a protest than a plausible statement.I don’t want to believe you.

I know. But I need you to try. Your hope is your strength. Don’t lose it now.

Hope is a weakness.

Yes,he agreed.But not for you.

I continued onward, my throat constricting as the air around me grew warmer, reminding me of the desert.So hot and dry.I tried to swallow, but that only worsened the sensation.

Keep going,Cedric urged, his voice a dizzying spell inside my thoughts.Push through it and I’ll give you what you need.

What does that even mean?I wondered, the tunnel darkening around me the farther I crawled.

When I reached the next layer, I understood why—the passage wasnarrowing.

I froze, the world around me seeming to close in and suffocate every aspect of my being.I… I can’t.

You can.

I started shaking my head.It’s… it’s…

Growls erupted behind me.

Now, Lily. You can make it through.

I wasn’t sure how he could know that. The space before me appeared to lessen with every inch forward, at least based on what I could see in the low lighting.I’ll get stuck…

You won’t,Cedric promised.Trust me.

Trust you.He kept saying that. And what good had thatdone? I was stuck in this hot vent, melting to death.Goddess, this might be worse than being ripped apart by a lycan.

It’s not,he immediately replied.Now keep going.

I closed my eyes and stole a deep breath, the stench of death seeming to haunt my nostrils and senses. Either I kept moving forward, or I retreated toward the growls.Are they in the vents?

No,he replied.The water helped distract them from your scent.

Water?I repeated, my eyelashes fluttering as I focused on the darkness once more.Where?

You’ll see soon enough, Lily. Keep going.

Of course he wouldn’t clarify what he meant. This was Cedric. He just expected me to obey at every turn.

Sprinklers, Lily. I had Damien turn on the sprinklers. Now stop thinking andmove.The command underlying that final word sent a shudder through my spirit, my body immediately reacting as though he’d compelled me forward.