Page 14 of Hysteria Rises (Dark Falls Hollow #1)

Sounds like one of Finneas’s teachings. Speaking of, I can’t help wondering where he is. His absence is unsettling and not at all normal, but there’s no time to dwell on it right now.

Cross flips the lock to the cellar stairwell and pulls open the door. “Lemme go first, just in case.”

I nod, shifting the dozing sprite in my arms to ensure I’ve got her. There’s silence from below, the lack of sound almost echoing off the damp stone walls as we descend. I keep an ear open but hear nothing of consequence. So far, so good.

Turning my attention to the girl in my arms, I skim my gaze over her.

What’s your name, siren? I bury my nose in the hair at the side of her head and breathe deeply.

As her scent infiltrates my senses, it’s as if it takes over every cell in my body.

My chest expands on the groan of contentment that rumbles within my chest. A lick of need shoots down my spine while the knowledge that disaster is sure to follow eats at my mind.

Hayze waves us forward as we hit the cellar floor. “Had everyone relocate into the children’s rooms. Move fast.”

Passing through the women’s quarters, Cross and I pick up our pace, skirting around the long table and chairs and benches that run down the center of the room.

The ceiling here is low, which is why I almost always avoid it if I can.

It inspires the strangest feeling that everything is closing in on me.

I’ve always fucking hated it down here. But maybe it’s because the place holds memories of things I’d rather forget.

I’m almost to the back hallway where Malakai has the door held open when a tiny voice stops us in our tracks. “Arrow!”

I look carefully over my shoulder, seeking out the blond three-year-old I know will be standing there. His eyes lock on me with giddy excitement. He holds a piece of paper between two grubby hands for me to see. “Yook! I been drawling the trees outside the window!”

I exhale steadily, turning my head to find Cross’s gaze already questioning what I want to do. A brief glance toward our destination reveals Malakai waiting with a sour look on his face. I assume Hayze is making sure the holding cell is in order.

The truth is, we can’t afford to stand here much longer, especially since the medication hasn’t fully knocked the girl out. It’ll only cause problems. And I know my brother—things will go easier for us if I don’t argue with the little guy.

“Go on,” I whisper to Cross, then motion with a jut of my chin toward the dark hallway that he should take off without me. “I’ll be right there. Lemme deal with him.”

“Yook, Arrow!” Summit whines as he waves me closer. “Pwease!” I know my brother. Decision made, I cover the distance between us in a few strides, then duck down, examining the artwork.

“That’s really great. Good job. Where’s Bodhi?”

I glance down just as Twenty-three moans aloud and find her eyes flickering open. Shit. One word claws itself from her throat. “Nooo.”

“Who’s dat?” His brow furrows, eyes trained on the unwieldy load in my arms.

“Just a girl. Go on, now. Back to your room.”

“She’s sweeping?”

My lips press together. Summit is too young to remember the arrival of any of the other women.

Now is not the time to explain it to him.

“Oh, she’s not feeling so good. We’re gonna take care of her.

” I give him a brief smile. “I’ve gotta go”—I hesitate only a second before I rush on—“but will you draw another picture for me?”

Summit flashes a toothy grin. “Yeah!” And, almost as if he’s forgotten the oddity of me walking around with a woman in my arms, he toddles on quick legs back to the children’s room.

Twenty-three—because I guess we’re going to end up calling her by her number eventually—strains in my arms, arching her back and twisting around.

With a disgruntled huff, she cranes her neck to watch my youngest brother’s departure.

Once he’s disappeared and the door snaps shut behind him, her voice croaks out “Was that … a child?” The question is confusion laden, the answer a minefield.

I shift her in my arms, but she squirms again, groaning. Crazy that she’s not unconscious, because even semi-aware is not the state we wanted her to be in. She jolts, and I have to scramble to keep hold of her.

“Arrow! You coming?” Hayze calls to me from the hallway that leads to the individual cells.

“Yeah. One sec. Tell Cross she isn’t out.

Like at all.” Wasting no more time, I hoist her over my shoulder, letting her dangle.

I band one arm around her thighs, and then, because no one is watching—and mostly because I want to—I squeeze a handful of her ripe ass cheek to hold her steady.

I groan as I turn my face toward her rounded hip.

My breath stutters. Fuck.

Hayze, Malakai, and Cross wait impatiently for me at the end of the long, dark hall. When I reach them, I make a hard right directly into the cell, and deposit her on the blanket that’s spread out on the floor. She stretches, mumbling something incoherent.

I glance over my shoulder. “Cross, I think she needs more of that sedative. She’s still talking and shit.”

He shrugs. “It happens. Some people react differently to this stuff. My father says it has to do with genetics.”

“Gen-what?” I frown.

Cross gives me a half smile. “Every person is a little different when it comes to how they’re made. Just like you have blue eyes, but”—he jerks his thumb toward Malakai—“his are shit brown.”

“Fuck off.”

Cross continues as if Malakai hasn’t said a word.

“Occasionally, there are people who have a higher tolerance to sedatives and you have to give them a little more. But that’s why I came prepared, remember?

” Cross holds up another syringe, twiddling it between his finger and thumb.

“It’s just a partial dosage. Should be plenty to completely knock out this little dilemma for hours. ”

I hope we aren’t needed for anything else beyond our usual chores today, because I only have one thing on my mind: finding a way to see my siren again—unconscious or not.