32. Chapter 32

32

Chapter 32

Mia

I wake up, startled. I don't know how I managed to get to sleep. But I did. Probably because I'd just experienced more pleasure than I had any right to – especially considering these circumstances. My skin feels like it's still tingling slightly.

Soren is standing beside the bed, dressed in black: snug jeans and a turtleneck. It's not unusual; his clothing is generally dark.

"We need to get ready." His words are measured, but I sense the urgency behind them.

I nod without question, pushing myself up and swinging my legs out of the bed.

He's set out a change of clothing for me. "There's no time to shower."

I nod again. I'll be breaking out of this place with his scent on my skin. That feels good, somehow. As if I have another layer of protection.

I dress quickly, listening intently as he goes over the plan one last time.

"There's a fifteen-minute window when the cameras aren't monitored," Soren explains. "We'll use that time to make our way through the facility to the basement."

I nod, committing every detail to memory. "And then?"

"There's a vehicle waiting for us there. I've fueled it up. Once we get to it, we need to get out fast." He pauses, his eyes meeting mine. "I have a way to get through the guard booth."

I want to ask how, but I trust him. I have to. "And after that?"

"You'll be on the road to freedom," he says, a hint of hope in his voice. "As long as we can evade capture."

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what's to come. "Okay," I whisper.

"Timing is everything," Soren continues. "We can't afford a single misstep. Are you ready?"

I stand up straighter, pushing aside my fears. "I'm ready."

Soren nods. "Let's go over the route one more time."

As he traces our path on a rough sketch of the facility, I commit every turn and corridor to memory. This is it. Our one chance at freedom. For me, for Rowan, for all the witches trapped here. Because there's no doubt in my mind that as soon as I can get help, I'm coming back here to save the others.

I glance at the clock. Our window is approaching. It's now or never.

I look up at Soren, my heart pounding. These could be our last moments alone together.

"Soren, I…" I whisper, reaching for his hand. He takes it, his cool fingers entwining with mine. The sensation is strange…like static electricity.

"I know. You don't have to say anything," he says softly, his blue eyes meeting mine. There's so much left unsaid between us.

I step closer, closing the distance. "No, I need to. I… I don't know how to thank you. For everything."

He shakes his head. "You don't need to thank me. I'm doing what's right. Finally."

I swallow hard, fighting back tears. "Still, I want you to know…whatever happens out there, I'm grateful. For you."

Soren's hand comes up to cup my cheek. His touch is gentle, almost reverent. "Mia, I—"

He pauses, seeming to struggle with his words. I wait, holding my breath.

"I never expected this," he finally says. "You've changed everything for me."

I lean into his touch, savoring the moment. "You've changed everything for me too."

We stand there for a heartbeat, just looking at each other. Then, slowly, Soren leans in. His lips meet mine in a soft, tender kiss. It's not passionate or urgent like last night. This is a goodbye kiss, filled with all the things we can't say out loud.

When we part, I see a fierce determination in his eyes. "Let's get you out of here," he says.

I nod, squaring my shoulders. "Let's do this."

With one last lingering look, I take a deep breath as Soren opens the door to his quarters. This is it. The moment we've been planning for, dreaming of.

We step into the corridor, and I'm immediately struck by how different everything looks. The stark white walls and fluorescent lights that have become so familiar over the months now seem alien and menacing. Every shadow could be hiding a guard, every corner a potential ambush.

Soren leads the way, his movements fluid and silent. I try to mimic his stealth, but my witch-born clumsiness betrays me. My footsteps echo softly in the empty hallway.

"Easy," Soren whispers. "Remember to breathe."

I nod, forcing myself to take slow, measured breaths. We pass by doors I've seen a hundred times, but now they loom ominously. Behind any one of them could be someone who might raise the alarm.

As we round a corner, I catch sight of a security camera. My breath hitches, but Soren squeezes my hand reassuringly. Right. The fifteen-minute window. We're invisible, for now.

The air feels charged with possibility. Freedom is so close I can almost taste it. But with that hope comes fear. What if we fail? What if this is all for nothing?

I push the doubts aside, focusing on Soren's back as he guides us through the labyrinth of corridors. I've never seen this part of the facility before. It's colder here, the air heavy with the scent of damp concrete.

We're getting closer to the basement. Closer to escape. With each step, the reality of what we're doing sinks in deeper. There's no turning back now.

I hold my breath as Soren suddenly tenses, his hand tightening around mine. Again, I feel that strange electric tingle. Nerves? Adrenaline? Probably both. He pulls me to a stop, his eyes darting to the corridor ahead. Before I can ask what's wrong, I hear it too – the echo of footsteps approaching.

"Patrol," Soren mouths silently. My heart leaps into my throat. In one fluid motion, Soren pulls me into a shadowy alcove I hadn't even noticed. It's barely big enough for one person, let alone two. We press ourselves against the wall, my back to Soren's chest. I can feel the solid planes of his body, the rise and fall of his breathing.

The footsteps grow louder. I squeeze my eyes shut, willing us to become invisible. Soren's arms tighten around me protectively, and I lean into him, seeking comfort in his strength.

The patrol passes by agonizingly slowly. I swear I can hear the swish of their uniforms, the crackle of their radios. Any moment now, they'll spot us. Any moment, our escape will be over before it's truly begun.

But they don't stop. The footsteps continue on, growing fainter until they disappear entirely.

I let out a shaky sigh. Soren's cool breath tickles my ear as he whispers, "It's clear."

Neither of us moves immediately. The danger has passed, but the adrenaline still courses through my veins. I'm acutely aware of every point where Soren's body touches mine. The solid wall of his chest against my back, his arms around my waist, his thighs pressed against the back of mine.

I turn my head slightly, meeting his intense gaze. In the dim light, his eyes are dark, unreadable. There's a tension in the air that has nothing to do with our near-discovery.

For a moment, just a moment, the world outside this alcove ceases to exist. It's just us, pressed together in the shadows, breathing in tandem. Suddenly, he straightens, breaking the spell. He leads me back into the hallway, moving forward with a confidence that's reassuring.

"How do you know where we're going?" I whisper, marveling at Soren's smooth navigation.

He glances back at me. "I've had months to memorize every inch of this place. It's part of my job."

I nod, impressed despite myself. It's easy to forget sometimes just how capable Soren is.

How dangerous he could be if he weren't on my side.

We turn down another corridor, this one narrower than the others. The fluorescent lights flicker ominously overhead, casting strange shadows on the walls.

"We're halfway there," Soren murmurs. "The vehicle is in the underground basement just ahead."

My heart leaps at his words. We're so close to freedom that I can almost taste it. But then Soren stops abruptly, holding out an arm to halt my progress.

"What is it?" I ask, fear creeping into my voice.

Soren's expression is grim. "This part gets tricky," he says. I almost laugh. As if every step of this journey hasn't been tricky. "Lucien set up a vampire stronghold in a hidden room just ahead. It wasn't there before I spotted them yesterday. I have no idea how many of them are based there."

I feel the blood drain from my face. "What do we do?"

"We'll have to find a way past them," Soren says, his eyes scanning the corridor ahead. "It won't be easy, but we don't have a choice. The vehicle is our only way out."

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever comes next. We've come too far to turn back now.

I keep holding my breath as Soren and I press ourselves against the cold basement wall. The sound of approaching footsteps echoes through the corridor, growing louder with each passing second.

"Lucien's patrol," Soren whispers, his lips barely moving. "And…witches."

I feel a surge of anger. Witches working with Lucien. The betrayal still stings, even though I shouldn't be surprised after what Heath did. He's obviously brought more collaborators on board.

As the patrol rounds the corner, I catch sight of them. Three vampires and two witches trailing behind them.

They're getting closer. There's nowhere to hide, nowhere to run. Panic rises in my throat, threatening to choke me. But then, an idea strikes.

My fingers are tingling. It's a sensation I've felt since I woke up earlier. And suddenly, I realize why it feels so familiar to me.

Magic.

My magic is lurking. I close my eyes, reaching deep within myself for that spark that I know is just beneath the surface. To my surprise and relief, I feel it respond, weak but present.

"Trust me," I breathe to Soren, squeezing his hand. The tingle grows stronger.

As the patrol approaches, I focus all my energy on creating an illusion. It's not much – just a shimmer in the air, a distortion of light that makes the space where Soren and I stand look empty.

The vampires pass by first, their sharp eyes scanning the corridor. I hold my breath, praying my hastily conjured illusion will hold. Then come the witches. One of them pauses, eyes lingering on our spot for a moment, and I see a flicker of confusion. But then he moves on, following the others down the hallway.

We stand frozen until the sound of their footsteps fades away. Only then do I release the illusion, sagging against Soren in exhaustion.

"Quick thinking," he murmurs, genuine admiration in his voice. "I didn't know you could do that."

"Neither did I," I admit, still trembling from the close call. "I wasn't sure it would work."

I stumble into the underground parking area, my legs shaking from the adrenaline and exertion. Soren's hand on my back steadies me as we approach an old van tucked away in a dark corner.

"This is it," he says, his voice low and urgent. "Our ticket out of here."

I eye the vehicle skeptically. It's seen better days, with rust creeping up the sides and a cracked windshield. But right now, it looks like the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

"It's not much," Soren admits, reading my expression. "But it's not fitted with a GPS tracker. That'll give us an advantage."

He quickly unlocks the rear passenger door and helps me inside before sliding behind the wheel. As he turns the key in the ignition, I allow myself a moment to catch my breath.

"We made it this far," I whisper, half to myself and half to Soren. "I can't believe it."

Soren pauses, his hand on the ignition. He turns to me, his eyes intense. "We're not out yet. But we're close. How are you holding up?"

I take a deep breath, assessing myself. "I'm okay. Scared, but okay. That magic back there… I don't know where it came from, but I'm glad it worked."

He nods, a hint of a smile on his lips. "You continue to surprise me, Mia Blackwood."

For a moment, we sit in silence. Freedom is so close I can almost taste it, but the most dangerous part of our escape still lies ahead.

"Soren," I start, "if this doesn't work—"

"It will," he interrupts firmly.

I nod, drawing strength from his confidence. "Okay. I trust you."

A strange expression flits across his features, but it's gone in an instant.

"I need you to get under those. Stay out of sight," he says, gesturing to a pile of tarpaulins. I nod without question, breathless, as I cram myself into the footwell and pull the oil-scented tarps over me.

The engine roars to life, and the van lurches forward.

I hold my breath as Soren guides the vehicle through the underground parking area. The rumble of the engine seems impossibly loud in the enclosed space. Every second feels like an eternity as we approach what I know must be the exit.

The van slows to a stop, and I hear Soren's window rolling down. My heart pounds so hard I'm sure the guards will hear it.

"Evening," Soren says, his voice casual and relaxed. "Just taking some medical equipment out for repair. Dr. Chen requested it. She's expecting this equipment back tomorrow, in time for the new assignment."

There's a pause, and I strain to hear the guards' response. They seem skeptical, asking for more details. Probably surprised that Soren would be running an errand like this. I tense, waiting for the moment it all falls apart.

But Soren remains calm. "Are you doubting me?" he snaps.

"Of course not, Lord Daire! But Lord Marlowe gave strict instructions…"

"Fine. Call Dr. Chen," Soren huffs. "She'll confirm it."

I hear the faint sound of a phone being dialed, then muffled conversation. The wait is agonizing. I squeeze my eyes shut, silently pleading for Dr. Chen to back up Soren's story.

Finally, I hear one of the guards speak. "Alright, Dr. Chen confirmed. You're good to go."

The truck starts moving again, and I feel the incline as we drive up and out of the basement. The change in air pressure makes my ears pop.

Suddenly, the quality of sound changes. We're outside. The truck picks up speed, and I realize with a jolt of excitement that we've made it past the guard booth. We're on the open road.

I want to sit up, to see where we are, but I force myself to stay hidden. It's not safe yet. But for the first time in months, I allow myself to feel a glimmer of hope. More than a glimmer…it's that tingle again.

We're out. We're free.

"You can come out now," Soren says after what feels like forever. I shove the tarpaulins aside, gasping for cool air as I emerge. His eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror. There are lines of tension around them that I hadn't noticed before. His jaw is clenched.

"Are you okay?" I ask as I clamber through the gap between the front seats to sit next to him.

"Fine." He keeps his eyes on the road. "We're about to cross the boundary to vampire territory," he says.

"What?" I say a second before something hits me. An invisible wave so powerful it knocks the wind from me. "Soren!" I choke out. I can barely breathe. The entire cab is lit up like a spotlight is shining into it. Except that it's not coming from outside; it's coming from me.

"My magic!" I stare down at my hands, which are emitting a bright, glowing light. It surrounds me. "My magic is back!" I can't keep the excitement from my voice until I turn to look at Soren.

My heart stops.

"You're bleeding!" I reach out to touch him and almost jerk my fingers away. His body feels like it's on fire. Blood is streaming from his nose and his eyes.

"It's okay," he grits out.

"It's not okay!" My voice is edged with fear. I turn to face him.

"It's the bond." The words seem torn from him. "I expected this."

"You expected this?" I can't believe what I'm hearing. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Not…important." He seems to be finding it harder to speak. There's blood on his bottom lip. He coughs, and it sprays his hands on the steering wheel.

Oh, my God! It's the bond. The one that bound him.

"Stop!" I tell him. "Stop the car right now!"

"No." His grip on the wheel is white-knuckled. He's shaking. No…he's vibrating, as if his body is being jarred from within.

"I'm serious, Soren. We're going back."

"We're not going back." His jaw is tight. "You are never going back there." He coughs again, and the truck veers across the white line before he rights it. There's blood on the windshield.

I can't watch this. I can't!

Do something, Mia. Fucking do something!

I look at my hands…they're glowing. And an idea comes to me. I set one on his shoulder and another on his chest.

"What are you doing?" He's frowning.

"Fixing this." I don't explain further. My lips are moving in a silent chant as I delve deep into the recesses of my mind for a spell to contain this. A strengthening spell. A healing spell. A spell that takes every ounce of newly rediscovered magic I can find inside me.

He starts to glow. The same blinding light that surrounds me is now shining around him.

"It…it's working," he says. "Whatever you're doing is working." Relief colors his voice. It doesn't last long because a wave of pain hits me so hard it knocks me across the cab.

I scream. Whatever is inside him just latched itself onto me, and I've never felt such excruciating pain in my life. I clamber back across the cab, reaching for his shoulder again, but he brushes me off.

"Don't touch me," he barks. "You can't handle this. It'll kill you."

"Don't you tell me what to do, Soren Daire!" I reach for him again, but he swerves the vehicle and I'm flying across the cab again.

"I'm sorry," he mutters, "but I can't let you do this."

"Soren, please." There's a sob in my voice now, but he's not looking at me. There's a blinding glare of headlights bearing down on us. Whatever is driving in our direction is taking up the entire road.

At the sight of it, Soren releases a rattling sigh, his body sagging. Blood is streaming from his eyes, his ears, his nose. It's dripping off his chin.

I can't watch this!

"They came." His voice is a tortured whisper. He guides the vehicle onto the shoulder of the road and stops.

"What are you talking about? Who?" I stare wide-eyed at the lights, which are almost close enough to blind me now.

"Your family."

"What?" I can't understand this. "How?"

"Dr. Chen. She called them to meet us here."

"You did that? You told her to call them?"

He nods, then buckles over the steering wheel, his body spasming.

"Soren!" I scream, reaching for him.

"No magic," he tells me. "It will turn on you." He's talking about the bond as if it's a living thing. "Now, go to them." As he speaks, the lights in front of us seem to take shape. Headlights of half a dozen vehicles that stop in a row just in front of us. Doors are swinging open, people clambering out.

My people. I can feel it. And in spite of the horror of this moment, I'm suddenly flooded with overwhelming joy.

"Come with me!" I tell him. "We can fix you. They'll save you!"

A shaking hand lifts to cup my cheek, and I'm looking into blood-red eyes. "Oh, beautiful girl…they're not going to save me." His bloody lips curl into a humorless smile. "Now go. Your sister needs you."

"But, Soren—"

"Go!" he snarls at me, fangs flashing in warning.

Without another word, I reach for the door handle and shove the door open.

What am I doing? I can't leave him.

But the figures running toward me are starting to grow familiar. I feel a broken sob tear from me.

"Mia!" a male voice calls out. A familiar voice that makes my heart swell. "Oh God, Mia!"

"Dad?" I stagger forward, unsteady as a flood of emotions leaves me weak. "Dad!" With one last look over my shoulder, I start running. I run and I run and I don't stop running until I reach him. And then I fall into the warm, enveloping safety of my father's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Oh, my girl. My sweet baby girl," he croons into my hair. "I've got you. It's over. It's all over."

I press my face into his chest, holding onto his shirt like my life depends on it.

Stop crying. You have to stop crying.

But I can't. A year's worth of fear and uncertainty and anguish are pouring out of me in waves of hot tears that just won't let up.

Dad keeps holding me, murmuring soft words into my hair until I finally find my voice.

"Daddy!" I gasp. I almost can't believe he's real.

"It's okay, Mimi. It's all going to be okay." His arms tighten around me. "It won't happen again. I'll never let it happen again."

I let myself melt into the safety of him. I don't know how long I stay like that, but it feels like forever. Except something is nagging at me.

"Wait…just…wait…" My brain feels like it's misfiring, but there's one thought that seems lodged in the forefront of my mind. "Soren," I choke out. "Where is Soren?"

Dad pulls away a little – not much because I won't let go of him – he cups my face in both his hands and gazes into my eyes.

"Soren? You mean the vampire who had you?" He presses a kiss to my forehead. "We got him, baby. There's nothing to worry about anymore. That monster will never hurt you again. I swear it."

"What?" I'm trying to make sense of this.

"I swear on my life, my precious angel. You're safe. He's gone, baby…" He pauses for a moment, looking into my eyes with a steely certainty. "He's gone ."

Don't miss " Blood Freed ," the next thrilling installment in the Vampire-Cursed series, to find out what happens next. Coming to Amazon on November 15, 2024.