I squeeze my eyes shut, staving off the images.
The creaking of the door alerts us to an unwelcome visitor, and I’m really beginning to hate that sound. Zorc is bathed in shadows as he steps into the room, but I would know his form anywhere. I glare at him, silently promising I will end him. Painfully and slowly. Ensuring he feels every ounce of torture I inflict.
He hurries to Cooper’s side, unlocking the chains from his wrists and ankles, without saying a word.
“What are you doing?” I hiss through gritted teeth.
“Helping you escape,” he whispers.
“Why the fuck would you do that?” Maddox demands to know as Zorc crouches over him.
“Everything has turned to shit, and I no longer trust Alandra or Arantu. You need to get out of here before Alinthia arrives.”
Cooper stands on unsteady feet. “Why the hell would we trust you? You don’t care about her or us.”
Zorc straightens, thrusting a bundle of clothes at Coop. “Jentarr needs Alinthia to defeat Arantu, and he’s sufficiently worried about her safety to risk this. Besides, you—” His words are cut off as he’s lifted up into the air. Strangled sounds erupt from his throat as Maddox wraps both hands around his neck, squeezing.
“You’re a fucking liar and a perv. And I will kill you for what you did to our brother.”
My face pales, and my stomach drops to my toes. How the hell … Oh shit. I must have projected to Beck without even being aware. My head drops, and an array of emotions threatens to engulf me at the thought of what my brothers may have witnessed.
Hastily pushing those emotions aside, I focus on practicalities. Without my unique gift of sight and insight, I have to use normal deductive skills to try to figure out what Zorc’s angle is here. I’ve no doubt he’s lying. If he wants us to escape, or to try to escape, it serves a set purpose. I rack my brains to think what it could be, but I come up empty-handed. My brain doesn’t work well when deprived of basic needs like food and water.
“Stop.” I project that to all my brothers, not just Mad Dog. “We need to play smart here.”
“It’s a fucking trap, Dane,” Maddox snaps back.
“I know that! But, maybe, we can still use it to our advantage.”
Beck and I share knowing looks. These past couple of days we’ve been going over the things I learned while I was out in the castle, trying to pinpoint an escape route, but coming up short every time. Maybe, just maybe, if we can get out into the main castle now, we might be able to make this work. A surge of confidence trickles through my brain. “Put him down Maddox. Now, before he stops breathing.”
It kills me to issue that command.
But, when Zorc’s time comes, and it will, I want to be the one to squeeze the life out of him.
Maddox bows to my authority without further protest, dropping Zorc to the ground. Zorc grasps at his neck, drawing exaggerated gulps of oxygen deep into his lungs.
“I’ve no doubt this is a trap, which is why we’ll do the opposite he suggests we do. But we can’t afford to waste this opportunity. It could be the only one we get. We’ll make him believe we are cooperating, and then we’ll figure out our own escape plan.”
“This is fucking risky as shit, man,” Coop says, starting to pace.
“We don’t have any other choice.”
We lock eyes, mutually agreeing to the plan, even if it is a batshit crazy idea. But it’s the only one we’ve got.
Zorc scrambles to his feet, drilling Maddox with a look that is pure venom. “I should terminate you for that, but I’ll give you one free pass.” He puts his face in his, but Maddox doesn’t so much as blink. “But if you ever try anything like that again, I’ll kill you like that.” He snaps his fingers. “Don’t forget about the chip I implanted. It doesn’t just dull your unique abilities. I can kill you at the flick of a switch.” A muscle flexes in Maddox’s jaw.
“Alandra said nothing about that,” I supply.
“He’s spoofing,” Cooper claims.
“Maybe he isn’t. One of them lied. And I wouldn’t put it past Zorc to do something like this,” Beck says.
“Well, that makes me feel all warm and cozy,” Maddox spews.
“Focus!” I snap. “We’ll worry about that another time.”
I haul myself to my feet, which isn’t all that easy to do with chains still wrapped around my ankles and wrists, but I’m fucked if I’m talking to the asshole while sprawled on the ground. “How do you expect us to escape if our powers are still bound?” I ask, working hard to keep my tone neutral.
“I have it all worked out.” He hands a comm key to Beck as he removes his restraints. “This shows you the best escape route, gives you all the codes you need for the security doors and the code to access one of the transporters resting on the western dock. I’ve also given you the password you need to be granted permission to leave from air traffic control.”
“You’ve just thought of everything, haven’t you?” Maddox snarls, unable to help goading the beast.
“We need our powers,” I insist, holding myself stiffly as he unchains me.
“That is out of my control. Messing with the tech leaves a trail. This can’t lead back to me.”
I flinch when his fingers brush against my wrist, and I squeeze my eyes shut at the images his touch resurrects in my mind. Maddox growls and I sense he’s two seconds away from lunging for Zorc again, so I force my eyes open and glare at him. Once my wrists and ankles are free, I shove him back. “Get the fuck out of my personal space.” My fists scrunch into balls at my sides, and the craving to pummel him until he’s raw and bleeding is almost overpowering.
He steps back, holding up his palms while smirking at the same time. His eyes drop to my crotch, and I narrow my eyes, stepping toward him as unrestrained hatred charges through me.
Fuck this shit.
I need to end him.
I take another step toward him, and then Coop is in front of me, pushing me back. “I know you want to. We all want to. But think of Alinthia. You’re right. This is our best shot. We can’t fuck it up.”
His words seep into my brain, and a shuddering breath leaks out of my mouth. I step down, taking the clothes from my brother and turning my back as I get dressed, my jaw rigid with stress.
“So how do you plan to explain this?” I ask Zorc once I’m back in control of myself. We’re all dressed now in black pants, shirts, and sturdy boots, more than ready to leave this shithole behind.
“That’s easy. I came to try and talk sense into you, and you overpowered me. You stole this implement from Alandra’s chambers,” he says, holding up a long, thin silver stick, “and removed your restraints. Then you waited for an opportunity to strike.”
Coop snorts. “That’s lame as. She’ll never buy that.”
“She will when I’m discovered unconscious.”
My ears perk up at that.
Now it’s Zorc’s turn to smirk. “Yeah. Thought that might interest you.”
“Let me at him,” Maddox hisses, cracking his knuckles.
“No,” Beck quickly intervenes, lifting his head up from studying the map Zorc gave him. “He’s Danes.”
“Damn fucking straight.” I raise my chin and step in front of Zorc. “You got everything you need from him, Beck?”
“Yep. You’re good to go.”
I dart forward and swing my arm around, pushing all my frustration and hatred into the motion, punching him in the face with so much aggression his head jerks back painfully, making contact with the stone wall of the dungeon, and he instantly slumps to the floor unconscious. I shake out my fist, welcoming the stinging pain shooting across my hand.
“Hot damn.” Coop grins.
“Respect, my man.” Maddox punches me in the arm, and Beck merely nods his approval.
I prod Zorc’s side with my foot to make sure he’s unconscious, and then I throw myself down on him, hammering his face with my fists until he’s a bloody, beaten mess.
&nbs
p; “As much as I wish you could kill him,” Maddox says, placing a restraining hand on my shoulder. “This isn’t the time.”
Wiping my aching, bloody, cut hand across my mouth, I nod, scrambling to my feet, kicking him in the ribs for good measure. Maddox leans over and spits on him. Coop kicks him in the balls, and Beck steals his keys.
“C’mon. Let’s get out of here.”
Coop meets my eyes. “Let’s go home to our girl.”
CHAPTER 24
Tori/Alinthia
I kick the covers to the end of the bed, flipping over onto my side as I drift back to sleep. Almost instantly, the vision assaults me again, only this time it’s much more in focus.
Coop, Beck, Maddox, and Dane are dressed all in black as they jog through a dark, narrow passageway. The ceilings are low, the walls dirt-covered, with gravel crunching underfoot, leading me to believe they are in some kind of underground passageway. “Which way, Beck?” Dane inquires when they come to the end of the corridor, looking left and right. One of his eyes is half shut, thanks to the obvious black eye he’s sustained. A vivid purple bruise sprouts on his right cheek.
Even in sleep, I’m distressed and anxious at the evidence of his injuries, tossing and turning as fear takes hold of me.
Beck holds a holo map in his hand, tracing his finger over a bright red line. “This is the way Zorc said to go, but if we go right it leads to the other side of the hangar.” Beck taps the screen and a vibrant green line illuminates his suggested route.
“Okay,” Coop says, moving toward the right- hand tunnel. “Let’s go that way.”
“Wait.” Dane scrubs a hand over the thick layer of stubble on his chin. “Maybe that’s what he expects.”
“Shit.” Maddox kicks at some dirt under his foot. “You could be right, so what do we do?”
“I don’t fucking know.” Dane leans his forehead on the wall and breathes deeply. “I’m fucking lost without my insight.”
“We know Zorc is a lying, traitorous asshole,” Beck pipes up. “And he doesn’t trust anyone, so I think Dane is right. He will expect us to ignore his command and do the opposite.”
“So we should follow his plan because he won’t expect that,” Coop follows his line of thought, switching direction and heading toward the left tunnel.
“Are we all agreed?” Dane asks, looking to his brothers.
Collectively, they nod, and immediately pick up the pace.
They don’t speak as they run, unless they are communicating telepathically. I’m vaguely aware of my heart thumping behind my ribcage, trapped in a funny place between consciousness and unconsciousness. Landing eyes on my guys after our lengthy separation is like discovering an oasis in the desert after days of traipsing through dense sand under the glare of a scorching-hot sun with an ache in my throat. Even if it’s only a vision, it’s a very welcome one.
“Stop!” Dane snaps, lifting his head to the ceiling and squinting. “Do you hear that?” he whispers.
“What?” Coop whispers back, frowning.
All the guys look up, straining to listen.
“I don’t hear anything,” Maddox says.
Dane purses his lips and rubs the back of his neck. “Fuck! I have a bad feeling about this.”
“We can go back,” Beck supplies. “We can take the other route.”
Dane shakes his head. “It’s too late to go back. Zorc has probably been discovered by now and they are looking for us.”
“Letting the other prisoners out of their cells was genius,” Maddox adds. “And I’m betting it’s created the perfect distraction, as you predicted. I don’t think they’re looking for us yet. There’s time to go back if you think we chose the wrong path.”
Dane sighs, looking a little lost. “I … I don’t know what the best thing to do is.”
Silence greets his statement. And I get it. Dane always knows what to do. Dane’s always in charge. Seeing him so indecisive has thrown the others.
“I know you don’t have your power of sight, Dane, but what is your gut telling you to do?” Beck says, planting a hand on his own stomach. “What do you feel in here?”
Dane closes his eyes briefly, and the others exchange alarmed expressions. “I think we should go back and go the other way,” he says, opening his eyes.
“Then let’s do it.” Maddox is decisive and, as one, they turn around and run back the way they came.
I’m on edge, tossing and turning in bed as they race for their lives. Adrenaline is flooding my system, as if I’m there with them in that tunnel. The thought springs forth in my mind and I act on it without hesitation, searching through my mind for Coop’s thread.
But it’s not his I find first.
“Dane?”
I feel him. I sense him. And I’m giddy with excitement that I’ve managed to connect to his mind.
In my head, I watch Dane slamming to a halt in the tunnel and dropping to his knees. Beck doesn’t have enough time to stop running, and he tumbles over him, cursing as he lands awkwardly on the ground.
“Dane?” Coop crouches down in front of him. “What’s wrong?”
“Dane? Can you hear me?” I try again, sure we’re telepathically connected.
I watch Dane shake all over. “It’s … it’s Alinthia. I can hear her.”
I jerk upright in the bed, my eyes flying open momentarily before I shut them again, anxious to keep the image in my head.
But I’m not having a vision.
Not when Dane can hear me calling out to him in this very moment.
I’m not sure what the hell it is, or how it’s happening, but I’ve got a live feed to the guys, which means they are trying to escape. After I fucking asked them not to!
“What the fucking hell do you think you’re doing?!” I hope I’m shouting in his head.
“Hey, beautiful.” Coop is the one to reply. Dane looks like he’s lost the ability to speak as he climbs to his feet, but I can still feel him in my head, and the connection is thrumming in my mind. I’m now in a three-way conversation with both guys. If I wasn’t so alarmed at their situation, I might try and pull Beck and Maddox into the discussion, but I’m too freaked out.
I swing my legs out the side of the bed, leaning my chin in my hands as I prop my elbows on my knees.
“I know you can both hear me, so I’ll ask again. What the hell are you doing trying to escape? You promised me, Coop! I told you it was too dangerous. To wait for me to come get you. You lied to me!”
Coop stills, shooting panicked eyes to Dane, while Beck and Maddox look on in complete confusion. “How do you know we are trying to escape?” Coop asks.
“Because I can frigging see you in my head! All four of you in the tunnel. Going back the way you came because you think you made the wrong choice.”
Coop’s eyes startle wide, and Dane grips his chin with his thumb and forefinger.
“Shit, baby. How the hell are you doing that? Astral projection on this level is a skill that takes years to accomplish.”
“I don’t know. It’s never happened before. I was asleep, and I thought I was having another vision.”
“I wish you could figure out how to reverse the view. What I wouldn’t give to look at your beautiful face right now.”
“Don’t try to charm your way out of this.” I bury my head in my hands. “I feel ill,” I whisper. “I’m scared for you. Can’t you just go back?”
“Not happening, baby,” Coop says. Dane still hasn’t uttered a word. “We can’t go back. We’ve got to see this through.”
“I am going to kick all your asses for this. Especially if you get hurt.” I gulp over the painful lump in my throat. “More than you already are,” I quietly add.
Dane averts his eyes, his chest heaving up and down.
“Dane?” I whisper. “Are you okay?”
His entire body stiffens. “I’m fine,” he snaps. “And you’re distracting us. We need to leave.”
Being on the receiving end of his assholery is
a massive relief. I’d worry if he was anything but his usual douchey self. “So, go. And stay safe. I’ll be watching.”
The guys start running again, and I suspect Dane or Coop is filling Beck and Maddox in as they both looked shocked as they race through the dark tunnels. When they reach a gate with a small touchpad, Beck steps forward, punching in a ten-digit code.
“Maybe you should tune out now,” Coop suggests in my mind.
“Not a fucking hope in hell,” I retort.
He chuckles, blowing a kiss into thin air. “That’s for you, beautiful. Until I can kiss you properly.”
Oh God. I get up and start pacing the room. Terrified for them. Wishing I could teleport my ass there and rescue them.
“Wait!” I shriek. “Can’t you teleport?”
“Not here,” Coop confirms. “Remember, I told you there’s a teleport blocking shield over the city? We can’t teleport, and we still don’t have access to our unique gifts.”
“Crap.”
“Don’t panic, baby. We’re going to make this work.”
I wish I shared his confidence. “Be careful.”
“Always am.”
“Coop!” Dane hisses. “Get your head in the game! We’re at the hangar. It’s now or never.”
I wait with bated breath as Dane closes his hand around the door handle, tugging it open. A narrow ladder lies in wait. Without any evidence of fear, Dane climbs the ladder, two steps at a time. The others follow on his heels. Carefully, he opens the hatch door at the top, squinting as he’s accosted by the glare of bright lights.
My heart is racing around my chest, about to take flight, and I’m chewing on my nails without even realizing it.
The hangar is vast and eerily empty which instantly has me on guard.
“Something isn’t right,” Dane admits when they are all standing on solid ground, articulating my fears.
“We’re here now. Let’s make a dash for it,” Maddox says.
“It’s that transporter three rows from the end,” Beck confirms, glancing quickly at the holo map.
The Warrior Princess: A Reverse Harem Paranormal Romance (Alinthia Book 3) Page 18