Page 80 of The Witch's Heart
I shove at the doctor, urgent now, ending our embrace abruptly. “You have to go. We’re not hidden anymore.”
He hesitates.
“Don’t worry about me. Dean and Declan will keep me safe until we can figure something out.”
He nods and moves for the door but then stops and looks back.
“I’m not giving up, Celeste. I will find a way. I swear it.”
Before I can respond, he slips out of the closet and vanishes.
With deep breaths, I wait and listen to see if the coast is clear enough for me to slip away too. Voices echo through the corridors, most of them far away, but some sound much closer.
Somewhere nearby, Nurse Schmidt yells for more orderlies to aid the search for me.
I close my eyes.
Hope is a dangerous thing when you're a prisoner. Nevertheless, I feel the seed of it planted in my heart by Dr. Livingstone—Logan’s—words, and I cling to it with everything I have left. With his help, we might actually be able to find a way out.
If we don't escape this hell, we will die in it, that I know for sure.
I give Logan a few more minutes lead while I stay crouched in the closet. Schmidt will find me eventually. And hand me off to Cutter who is undoubtedly furious that I failed his little test. But before I'm taken for more experiments, I need to make sure Declan and Dean are okay.
My stomach turns at the thought of them being forced to hurt and torment each other. Especially after all they gave up to protect one another.
When enough time has passed, I ease the door open and peek into the hall.
It's clear.
For now.
Holding my breath, I creep out, and as I make my way silently towards my room, Estelle appears, her shadowy figure flitting in and out.
She doesn't speak, but I hear her voice in my mind.
Hurryhurryhurry.
Time is running out.
He is coming for you.
With silent feet and furtive glances around sharp corners, I dart quickly through the halls. I'm surprised when I make it back to my room without being caught.
The door stands ajar, and I stop short just before I reach it, wariness overtaking my relief.
Something’s not right.
This is too easy.
With careful movements, I close the distance and ease the door open. Inside, Dean and Declan, both wolves, spring up from where they lay on the floor. At the sight of me, their growls turn quickly to relieved whines.
They rush to my side and lick at my hands and arms. I throw my arms around their necks, overcome at the sight of them unharmed. Even Dean’s bitten leg has already healed.
“I’m all right,” I assure them. “I’m just glad to know you’re both safe.”
Dean leaps back and growls suddenly.
I tense as I catch sight of movement out of the corner of my eye. Dean and Declan both react instantly, teeth bared in a snarl at someone just over my shoulder.
