Page 25 of Shackled to the World
“I’ve told you that a million times.” Annora heaved a frustrated sigh but was more relieved than annoyed that he finally believed her. “Now tell me everything you know about this place so we can come and rescue you.”
Camden’s touch, or maybe just knowing he was no longer alone, seemed to finally reach Logan. He relaxed against Camden, allowing the other guy to lay him flat. As he described the fortress where her uncle planned to store her once he recaptured her, Annora rested her hand on the ragged edges of the massive wounds gouged into his torso.
She shut out their voices until they were just a murmur, focusing on doing what Camden suggested…healing Logan. Dark particles gathered under her skin and swirled into existence at her call. Without a clue what she was doing, she demanded that they stitch Logan together.
The darkness rose at her plea, swarming around her in a violent, churning mass, then slammed out of her so hard and fast that it stole her breath and left her a hollow husk. When she opened her eyes, it was to find Logan encased in a black swarm.
Camden rested back on his haunches but quickly caught her hand when she went to reach out and touch the mass. “Wait. Watch. Give his kitsune time to accept the intrusion.”
Black dust floated through the air and settled over Logan’s flesh. The darkness sparked bright for a few seconds, then rolled off his skin like dandelion fluff. The entire process took no more than a few minutes. When done, she was more than a little disappointed to notice that he seemed unchanged.
Until he sighed in relief and blinked open his electric blue eyes.
They were clear of pain for the first time in days.
The faint scent of fresh snow and heat rippled in the room, and her breath caught, the pain lodging so tight she couldn’t make her lungs work.
Logan gathered her close, his arms feeling so real a sob escaped her.
“I’m fine.” His arms tightened around her, belying his words, and she’d swear she could hear the silent swoosh of falling snow. At her watery laugh, he amended his statement. “While I might look like shit, whatever you did healed the worst of the injuries. I’ll stay strong for you. I’ll wait for you to find me. I’ll stay alive.”
She tipped her head back, clinging to him. “We’re close. You have to fight.”
He smiled at her ridiculous command, a hint of his old carefree charm restored enough to make her heart ache. He tipped his head toward her, as if he had any say in the matter. “I’ll do my best.”
But the humor never reached his eyes.
As soon as they woke up, his hellish existence would return.
“You need to go. Be careful. Trust no one but the guys. They have spies watching you. Stay safe. For me. It would break me if anything happened to you.” He pressed his lips against her forehead, and it felt like her heart was being ripped out of her chest. Then he pushed her away, his face hardening, taking with it any signs of the Logan she knew. “They’re coming. I can hear their footsteps.”
Even as he spoke, the room around them became hazy, the touch of his arms less firm.
Reminding her that this was just a dream.
And breaking her heart all over again.
Annora resisted the pull, demanding the darkness inside her to take him with them, but it was no use. Like every other time she tried, everything around her slowly devolved into a smoky haze. Camden carefully gathered her to him, and she struggled against him. “No, please, just a few more minutes.”
But it was too late.
Though she couldn’t see the prison room any longer, she heard the creak of the jail door opening, heard the murmuring glee in her uncle’s voice and the snap of a whip. Her back arched, as if it landed against her flesh instead of Logan’s.
When Logan gave her one last mental shove, the dream dissolved, no matter how hard she tried to grab on to it. She bolted upright and gasped for air.
As she scrambled to get out of bed, Camden gathered her in his arms so tightly her ribs creaked in protest. It was the only thing that kept her from spinning out and losing her freaking mind. She used the pain to ground her, allowed it to push away the need to lie back down and drag Logan back with her one way or another.
But she knew from experience that no matter how hard she tried, Logan wouldn’t allow it.
He wanted to spare her the pain, and she almost choked on her bitterness.
It was only then that she became aware of Camden whispering to her, repeating the same phrase over and over.
“We’ll find him in time. I promise. We’ll find him.”
Chapter Eight
Logan didn’t feel the lash of the whip as it flayed open his back, barely flinched from the pain, so focused on Annora that it was manageable for now. But he knew he would pay for it later. Her uncle would keep going until his arm was too sore to lift the whip or he got his screams.
