Page 124 of Wrath of the Fae

Slowly, I blink open my eyes.

The dim light of the cell greets me.

But no longer am I hanging from chains. The hood of iron is gone. I’m on the floor, my hands free and arms throbbing as blood rushes back to them.

I blink again, hoping to clear my blurred vision. Confused, I feel something warm on my face. Something wet.

Another blink, and I see what looms over me. Licking my face is a great big beast. I lie statue still as it lazily licks my cheek.

‘Please wake up.’Lick. Lick. Lick.‘Wake up. Wake up!’

All six of its eyes focus on me. Then the voice that demanded I awake sighs heavily in my mind.

Pup…

The creature leans in, its terrifying face nuzzling me.

‘Lucca…’ I whisper.

Lick. Lick. Lick.

I wrap my arm around his neck, twisting my fingers in his fur. He eases me up, and I sink into him. So tired. So drained from the iron and lack of food and water.

I slump against him.

‘You came.’

Footsteps come closer.

‘Yes. What a lovely reunion. Get her up. We have to go.’

I tense, knowing that voice. I try to launch myself at the bastard standing beside Lucca’s beast form, but I have no strength. So I glare at him instead.

‘Ezra,’ I snarl, looking at his self-righteous face.

He keeps glancing at the open cell door and grips his sword tightly, ready to use it at a moment's notice. Without looking away from the door, he tosses me a dress and a flask.

‘Why is he here?’ I demand. ‘Lucca, why-’

‘I’m the reason you’re free, and your pet is here, so get dressed and drink that before we all get killed.’

‘I’m not drinking anything from you.’

‘It’s sweet water,’ Lucca tells me. ‘It gives you strength and numbs pain. Drink as much as you can. Ezra is right. We have to move.’

‘Why is he here?’

‘Drink, Pup. Please. You have to hurry.’

As I take the flask, my face remains buried in Lucca’s animal neck, and my eyes never leave Ezra. My arms are weak, and even holding the flask is difficult. Ezra groans in frustration, kneels beside me, and guides the flask to my lips. I feel its effect instantly. The pain from the iron and the beatings ease. My body flushes with warmth like all my blood is being pumped harder around my body. I gulp it all down and drop the empty flask to the floor.

Ezra slides the dress over my head and swiftly returns to the door, glancing around it to check the hall.

‘Kill him, Lucca.’

‘No can do, Raven,’ Ezra calls back, raising his hand. It’s covered in ink. In a vow. ‘Your pet swore not to kill me.’

‘Why would you do that?’ I ask, confused and hurt that he ever would. ‘After what he’s done!’

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