“The law states—”
“The law—your law doesn’t make concessions for my kind. No matter what I do or do not do, you will always see me as a monster.”
His eyes met mine. My cheeks reddened. I did see him as a monster. What other way was there to see it?
“You’re holding an innocent girl hostage. Tell me who’s the monster.” Grayson’s voice was hard.
I flushed. Girl? He made it sound like I was some damsel in distress, which technically was true, but the thought made me burn with humiliation. It was my tío’s stupid cursed bracelet that put me in the position in the first place.
He withdrew his arm from my neck, making me gasp. I leapt away from the cell, bumping into Grayson. The vampire stared at me from behind the bars.
Whatever hold he’d had on me was gone, and I could move freely now.
Grayson threw a protective arm in front of me. “Let’s go.”
I rubbed my neck, trying to bring back the warmth. My heart pounded in my ears as I backed up. I couldn’t see the vampire’s face as the clouds blocked out the moonlight, but I sensed his eyes still on me. The creepy psycho.
Grayson led me away back the way we came. I glanced over my shoulder, but the darkness obscured everything.
“What was he talking about?” I turned to Grayson.
He turned his flashlight on and lit up the stone floor ahead of us. “You mean the mutilations?”
“Uh. Yeah. Did you know about that?”
I couldn’t make out his face in the dark, but his silence made me nervous.
“No. But I wouldn’t believe him. The law is meant to protect the innocent, even the extraordinaire.”
An argument was on the tip of my tongue, but I held it in. How could they be so blind? In what universe did an organization with that much power and control not become dangerous. It was clear in every book or movie I’d seen that was how it worked.
“Brady was with me. He left me. I don’t know where he went.”
“He left you? With the vampire?” Grayson’s voice grew hard.
“I think he tried to do something to help, but whatever it was, it didn’t work. Thank you, by the way.”
He fell silent again. I squinted, trying to read his face in the dark, but it was hopeless.
“It’s what any decent human would do,” he finally responded, an edge to his tone that hinted at his disgust for Brady.
A light shone on our faces, making me wince.
“Rose! Grayson. There you are.” Brady sounded relieved.
Grayson strode forward. “What the hell, Brady? Did you leave her with the vampire?”
“What? No… I—”
“Yes, you did!”
Grayson shone the flashlight on him, revealing his scrunched-up face.
“I was looking for Grayson to come and help! I swear.”
“I don’t believe you,” Grayson ground out.
Brady scoffed. “Shocker. You never want to believe I’d do something good. That I can be just as ‘heroic’ as you.”
“Which this clearly proves, you aren’t.”
I stepped between them. “Shut up. Both of you. Javi is still missing. So, save the drama. Let’s find him and get out of here.”
“Why did you wander off then? You’re the one wasting time,” Brady scoffed.
Heat spread across my face. “I thought I heard Javi.”
They frowned at me. I glanced away, not wanting to explain myself to them.
“Did you pick up the trail?” I turned to Grayson.
He didn’t answer.
“Well, did you?” I demanded.
“No. I can’t feel the connection.”
“Great. We have nothing. How long before we’re caught by the guards?”
Grayson shifted beside me. “The guards aren’t here.”
I swiveled toward him. “What did you say?”
“They checked out.”
“What the… checked out? It’s a prison. Not some hotel,” I scoffed.
“For the Morti Par. The prison is given over to the prisoners. At midnight.” Grayson answered.
Chills crawled over me. “What time is it now?”
“Fifteen past,” Brady answered, glancing at his phone.
I swore. “Ugh, Javi. You idiot. Where are you?”
“I say we leave. Your cousin’s probably sleeping it off in one of the cells. He’ll be fine.”
“Shut up, Brady,” Grayson growled.
“If the prisoners get a key… and get out… you know what happens.”
I didn’t. I didn’t want to know.
“Let’s move. Now,” Grayson added.
We walked together, me in the middle between the flashlights. Grayson paused and held his arm up for us to wait.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Take this.” His flashlight shifted, lighting up the side wall of the prison for a minute.
He thrust something cold and metal in my hands. Brady shone his light on it, revealing a long double-bladed knife.
I gaped at him. “What is this for?”
“Just in case,” he responded cryptically. “Do you know how to use it?”
I scoffed. “Hold it up and stab?” I made a stabbing motion in the air.
Brady snickered.
Grayson sighed. “Here, Brady. Take my flashlight for a minute and give us some light.”
Grumbling, he did what he was asked.
Grayson took the knife and made a swiping motion. The air hissed, making my heart jump.
He handed it back to me. “You try. Hurry.”
I held the cool metal in my hand and tried to mimic his movement. Brady laughed. I shot him a glare. I knew how to hold a sword and different knives, but of course it would be one I wasn’t familiar with that Grayson gave me.
“No. Like this. Here.” Grayson stood behind me and wrapped his hand over my wrist. His nearness made me flush. I forced myself not to react. Especially not when Brady was audience to it all. The lights shone on the knife in my hand, Grayson’s big hand over mine.
He moved, moving my arm along with his. Together, we sliced through the air at different angles. Heat rushed through me.
“Okay. Got it. Thanks.”
Releasing me, he stepped away. Cool air rushed in from his absence. I shivered and gripped my knife tighter.
“Enjoy that did you?” Brady whispered in my ear.
My face flamed. “Grow up. We need to find Javi.”
With that I picked up my pace to meet Grayson’s strides, ignoring Brady’s snickers. The light from the flashlights bounced around, lighting up the hall and
