Page 19 of The Bound Mage
Before Araya could respond, something dragged its claws across the door with a terrible snarl, the dark space around them lighting up with a sudden, crackling flare of magic.
“We shouldn’t stay here,” Loren said. “They’ll be able to smell us.”
He finally released her hand, dim aetherlamps flickering to life to reveal a narrow set of stone stairs. He didn’t wait to see if she followed, starting down the steps without so much as a glance back.
Araya forced her tired legs to move. Every step deeper into the earth pressed down on her like a lead weight, the walls closing in around her at every turn.
It reminded her too much of the walk to Loren’s cell—the same stale air clogging her lungs. The same sinking conviction that every step she took carried her closer to something she would never escape. She could still see him hanging limply in his chains. Still taste the iron tang of his blood?—
Loren slammed to a stop, turning back to glare at her. “What’s the matter with you?”
Araya flinched, ducking her head so she wouldn’t have to meet his eyes. “It just…reminds me of your cell,” she muttered. “The walk down there was a lot like this.”
Loren scoffed, turning back to the stairs. “Keep walking.”
Araya was breathing hard by the time the stairwell finally opened into a wide, echoing hall. Cold air bit through her sweat-soaked tunic, chilling her to the bone. But the shudder that wracked her body as the aetherlamps flicked to life had nothing to do with the chill.
“This is a crypt,” she whispered.
“It is.” Loren stopped, staring up at the nearest statue. “Welcome to the resting place of a hundred generations of fae monarchs.”
Araya swallowed hard, the memory of a hundred smashed open graves flashing through her mind. What would the Arcanum give to get their hands on the bones of fae royalty?
“How long do we have to stay here?”
“Until dawn, if you want to make it back to the castle alive. Why?” Loren raised his eyebrows, glancing back at her. “Did you have somewhere to be?”
Araya flushed, heat rushing across her cheeks all the way to the tips of her ears. “I just?—”
“Don’t try to talk your way around it.” Loren dragged a hand through his hair, shaking his head. “You almost got us both killed tonight. At least admit you were running straight back to the man who drained you and left you for dead.”
“And you drugged and kidnapped me!” Araya snapped, something in her chest twisting at the bitter accusation in his voice. “I don’t even understandwhy. You’ve spent every second since we got here avoiding me. Why bother dragging me here against my will when you obviously can’t stand the sight of me?”
Loren stared at her, the shadows around his feet shivering like agitated serpents. For a moment, she thought he might snap back at her, but instead, he just closed his eyes, exhaling slowly.
“You didn’t even make it to the docks,ael,sura,” he said. “You ran straight into thezal’vorr. If I hadn’t found you, they would be breaking your bones open and feasting on the marrow right now. And you were going to fight them off with—what is that, a dinner knife? You do remember you have magic, right?”
Heat flooded Araya’s face, shame and anger warring in her chest. “I have to go back, Loren.”
“You really don’t.” Loren scowled. “What kind of hold does he have on you that you would risk your life to get back to him when you could be free?”
“You don’t understand.” Araya took a deep breath, steeling herself. This was her chance—maybe her only chance—to make him understand. “I know was you saw was…brutal. But trust me, what he did…it’s a fraction of what most females go through.”
Loren’s eyes flashed, the shadows thickening at his feet. But Araya pressed on, the words tumbling from her lips in a flood she couldn’t stop.
“I’m not stupid. I know what he is—what he’s capable of. But if I don’t go back…” her voice broke, her chest tightening painfully. “He’ll think I ran. That I betrayed him.” A bitter laugh slipped past her lips. “And you know what they do to traitors.”
Loren said nothing.
“If I go back, I have a chance. I can prove I’m still valuable, that I’m still worth protecting. I can survive.” Araya sucked in a ragged breath, praying to whatever gods might listen that hewas hearing her right now. “I swear, I won’t tell Jaxon about the rebels. I would never betray Serafina—she’s my best friend. Please, Loren. I don’t belong here. I don’t even speak the language.”
For a long moment Loren didn’t move. The shadows hissed softly, seething around his feet like they wanted to answer for him—but Loren’s jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists at his side.
“You should get some rest,” he said finally, his voice as flat and hollow as his eyes. “It’s going to be a long night.”
He turned away, the shadows trailing in his wake as he walked deeper into the crypt. Leaving her behind.
Chapter
