Page 49 of My Demon Desire

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"Go," he shouts, his voice barely audible over the crackling of energy in the air.

I lift my father to his feet with Kaden's help, but when my dad stumbles, Kaden throws him over his shoulder.

The next thing I know, we're running through a dark tunnel, Kaden leading the way.

"Where are we going?"

"To the dungeon," Kaden shouts.

"Are you crazy? We need to get out of here."

"You want to leave Reis and Thorne?"

"No. No, but how are we going to rescue them when the whole castle has to be after us by now?"

"I've got one magical orb left." Kaden chuckles. "And when we get Reis, we won't need any more."

For the first time since the doppelgänger arrived at the house, a blossom of hope springs in my chest.

As though the queen is expecting us to flee, we zip through the corridors and down narrow stairs to the dungeons. Kaden lays my father down on the floor.

"Be careful, Annalise," my dad says.

I squeeze his hand and kiss his cheek. "We'll be right back."

Taking out the iron dagger, I hand it to him. "Use this if any fae get too close."

He nods. "Go and rescue your friends."

Friends. I smile and follow Kaden down the last set of stairs.

Dozens of prisoners groan and weep.

"Why are they in here?"

Kaden takes my hand, the orb in the other. "Different reasons. Mostly because they don't approve of Morrigan and the way she rules the kingdom."

I swallow. Regardless of what she said about my dad not being royalty, I can't let her harm innocent fae.

Letting go of Kaden's hand, I rush to the stone wall with a circle of old keys hanging up.

"What are you doing?" Kaden asks, but shakes his head as I start unlocking the cells.

"Hurry up, find Reis and Thorne."

One by one, I free the prisoners. Some cheer while others hug me.

"Go, be free," I tell them.

They cry with joy and some hobble up the stairs.

Then huge hands grab me hauling me backward into a chest.

"What are you doing, Annalise," Thorne's strong, deep voice vibrates through me.

"Rescuing you."

He lets me down onto my feet and I spin around and kiss him.

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