Page 93 of Monsters Carve Thrones

The same guard who always fed us strolled in, holding a tray with stale bread and watery soup. He was one of the men who routinely leered at Laura and definitely would have assaulted her if Waleria allowed it. He didn’t even glance at the gun holstered on his hip. Idiot. Arrogance and routine had made him soft.

That would be his mistake.

Laura sat straighter. Her chin tilted up as he neared. “Really?” she said, her voice coated in venom. “You gonna serve us that same shit again? What, did they run out of dog food this morning?”

The guard didn’t even blink at first. He just dropped the tray near the edge of the room and turned, amused. “I think you should be a little more grateful, sweetheart.”

“Grateful?” She laughed coldly. “For rotting in a piss-stained cell while you strut around like some knock-off warlord? Fuck off.”

He stepped closer. His smile dropped. Rage began to simmer beneath his skin. I watched him closely. “That mouth’s gonna get you hurt,” he growled, eyes narrowing.

She didn’t back down. She curled her lip. “Good. Because I’m bored, and your face looks like alovelypunching bag.”

And that was it. The switch flipped. He sneered, lunging for her like a bull seeing red. His hand shot out, grabbing her by the collar of her shirt, jerking her forward with enough force to make the chains groan.

I strained against my cuffs, my wrists burning. “Laura!”

But she remembered. She didn’t scream. She didn’t make a sound. She played the part just as we were.Good fucking girl.

Even as he shoved her against the wall and fumbled at her waistband like the sick piece of shit he was, she stayed focused. I saw it in her eyes–pure calculation. She twisted, her body a blur, and brought her knee up with brutal accuracy.

His nose cracked with a sickening sound, and blood sprayed down his face. He stumbled back, howling. But not for long. He surged again, angrier now. His fingers curled in her shirt, dragging her forward again, and my stomach dropped.

Don’t hurt her.

Don’t fucking hurt her.

His head turned toward me, sneering. “Gonna make her scream for me, boss. You can listen.”

Nico spat at him. “Hurt her, and I’ll cut your fucking eyes out when I’m free.”

“Whatever,” the guard spat, climbing on top of her. “I’ll just deal with whatever punishment Waleria wants to give me. I’m not passing this up anymore.” His hands yanked at her pants, but she fought like hell. She wasn’t making it easy for him.

I was boiling, chains rattling, breath ragged. “Tell me something,” I said, voice cold, calculated. “You ever wonder what it feels like to be outsmarted by a girl?”

He blinked, confused. And in that moment, Laura struck. She slammed her forehead into his nose, then followed with a precise kick to his kneecap. He dropped slightly, cursing, and she moved like lightning. She yanked the blade from his waistband and jammed it into his throat while covering his mouth.

A wet, gurgling gasp spilled from his lips onto her hand as he dropped to his back, clawing at the blade embedded in his neck. Blood pooled fast. He twitched and shook, then left us in silence.

The chains bit into my wrists as I strained forward, my heart pounding out of rhythm.

She did it.

Laura fucking did it.

She looked back at me, pale, shaking, her chest heaving. Her lip was split. There were bruises forming on her jaw. But her eyes–those eyes were blazing.

“Get the key, Laura, now,” I urged. It was only a matter of time before backup arrived.

She didn’t hesitate. The guard’s twitching body still oozed blood as she crouched beside him, hands slick as she fumbledthrough his pockets. Her breath came in harsh, panicked bursts, but she was fast. She snatched a ring of keys from his belt, her fingers trembling as she jammed one into her cuff lock.

Click.

She was free.

“Here,” I growled. “Hurry.”

She scrambled to me, her hands fumbling with the lock. I could see her face up close now. It was bruised, wild-eyed, and smeared with the asshole’s blood. Her hands were shaking so hard she nearly dropped the key.