Page 93 of Thorns of Blood

Until they broke me. Until Amara came along.

“We can use her organs,” Perez spat, his eyes locked on Amara’s frail body. “She’s not good for anything else.”

Letting the adrenaline into my system, I let out a battle cry and threw myself at Perez with fisted hands, ignoring my aching joints that yanked against chains. I was powerless, chained like an animal, but it didn’t stop me from trying to kill him.

“You evil son of a bitch,” I screamed, slamming my fists into his face over and over again. His guards’ attention now focused on me, Amara was left alone.

Blood pooled from my nose. Tears blurred my vision.

But I refused to stop.

I wouldn’t stop until I took my final breath, which might be sooner rather than later at this point.

“Hold this wildcat still,” Perez said acidly, a sinister grin on his face. “Apparently she hasn’t learned her lesson yet.”

One of the guards pulled me back, slamming me against the stone wall of the cell, when he suddenly fell to the ground. Dead.

“What—”

Another body fell. And another. Perez was the last one to drop, unconscious.

My knees buckled and hit the filthy floor, shudders tearing through my body like a hurricane. I blinked over and over again, my blurry vision refusing to clear up.

“Amara,” I rasped, but there was no answer.

“She’s out cold.” I stiffened at hearing an unfamiliar voice. Was it another guard? What did he want from us? As if he could read my thoughts, he added, “I won’t hurt you. I’m getting you out.”

His words trailed off as he brushed my hair off my forehead.

I reeled from his touch, blinking profusely as he slowly came into focus. An older man with eyes that were almost… kind. Too kind? I’d learned to be skeptical, and he was no exception, no matter what he claimed.

“Don’t touch me,” I rasped. “If you’re going to help us, do so. But don’t ever fucking touch me.”

He blew out a breath.

“At least your spirit is still intact,” he said, releasing me from my chains. “Can you walk?”

I grunted, shifting and then straightening up in answer. Every inch of me hurt, but I ignored the pain. I would crawl if it meant getting us out of here.

On unsteady feet, I made my way to Amara, her complexion deathly pale. My heart trembled in fear as I reached out to touch her pulse. I held my breath for one, two, three seconds… There it was. Faint, but steady.

I bent over to lift her into my arms when the stranger stopped me midway.

“We’ll be faster if I carry her and you follow behind.” Mistrust shot through me as I hesitated. He must have seen it on my face because he sighed. “There will be more guards coming, Liana. We don’t have time to move at a snail’s pace.”

Shock vibrated through me. “I’m Louisa,” I spat.

“We both know you’re not.” He leveled me with a look. “Although honestly, it doesn’t matter which Volkov twin you are.”

My head spun, dizziness overwhelming me from the fatigue of the struggle and days of no food. But I wasn’t ready to put Amara’s safety into another man’s hands. Not without knowing something about him.

“Who are you?”

“Kian Cortes,” he answered swiftly, which made me pause.Is he telling the truth?It all felt too good to be true.

“Why are you saving me?”

“Because it’s The Syndicator’s will.”