Page 163 of Love & Heart Braking

“Cerys! Wake up.”

Someone was here? I fought through the fogginess in my mind, rolling over with difficulty to peer out. “Austin,” I croaked.

He held a finger to his lips, then blinked. “How are you talking? They said Bortyss got to you.”

Ah, good point. I’d need to remember that with Acribus. Though how I’d keep silent with her fire torture, I wasn’t sure.

I hobbled to the bars, shivering. “You’re okay?”

“I came as soon as I could. They’ve been watching me closely since you came in.”

“What time is it?”

“Nearly dawn.”

I’d managed to sleep most of the night. I didn’t feel refreshed one bit. “They got me.”

He grimaced. “I heard. Smolder was gloating up a storm at dinner. No doubt to get a reaction from me.” He slid food between the bars. Avocado and chocolate and a cheese scroll.

I was almost eating better here than at home. “Thanks.”

“And water.”

Drinking that first, I handed him the cup back. “You know what happened to me. What happened to you? I was checking the piece of your blue flame every day to make sure you were still alive.”

Pain seized his glacial gaze. “They have my family inside a tower on the estate. They made modifications to the chamber. The temperature is freezing in there. A phoenix’s flames can only last so long in such temperatures. They’re weakening, my grandfather especially, but all of them are struggling now.”

“That’s how they’re making you marry Smolder.” I squeezed his hand through the bars.

He nodded. “My family was keeping safe so I could hold out, but they captured Grandmother on a flight, and that was it.”

“Shit, Austin. I’m sorry. Can anything be done?”

“Not unless you want to somehow fix everything before my wedding day?”

“I’m a bit busy.” I glanced around. “I won’t be able to make it.”

“That’s what I came to tell you. They’re planning to parade you around at the wedding. To get at Soleil, and in the hopes of dragging Devereaux and the others into their territory to extinguish the lot of us.

“If Devereaux finds out, he’ll come,” I said quietly. “Austin, you can’t let them walk into a trap.”

He grimaced. “They sent him a letter with some of your hair.”

Wait. “What?” I reached behind, and my mouth dropped open at the missing chunk.

“Smolder’s doing.”

Bitch cow! I clenched my jaw, pulling myself together. It was just hair. “Devereaux will be at the wedding then. He’ll have a plan.” I rubbed my temples. “He’ll try to get us all out.”

“I can’t leave,” Austin said sadly.

“Soleil won’t leave either.”

“But you and Lerome have a chance,” he said.

“Lerome?”

“He’s in another dungeon wing.”

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