So I know I promised this sooner. Sorry! Shortly after posting the last two chapters, one of my close family members fell ill and passed away. It took me a while before I felt like writing again. So I apologise.
But here are two shiny new chapters. I hope you are all still invested in the story! Enjoy!
I own nothing. These characters belong to Kresley Cole. Duh.
For the first time in- How long had it been? Days? Weeks?- Garreth could smell fresh, clean air somewhere nearby. It was a sharp contrast to the stagnant air that had filled their cells, which had been located far below ground level. Garreth's rampage towards Lucia as he followed her scent had been a blur of long corridors, winding stairs, and blood. He vaguely had an impression of upward movement. Yes, he must be above ground level now.
Garreth could hear a commotion somewhere below him, shouts and barked orders. The dead that he had left in his wake must have been discovered. He had to get Lucia out before they traced his progress to Sebastian's quarters!
He scanned the room for an alternative exit than the one which led back into the corridor. Turning towards the part of the room where the air smelled freshest, Garreth spied a wooden door directly across from the one he had smashed through to get to Lucia. Cradling her in his arms, he burst through it as well, not noticing the sting as splinters embedded themselves in his naked flesh.
The door had led to a small bathroom, and –yes!- there was a window. Outside the glass was dark as pitch, and Garreth sent up a silent prayer of thanks for the cover of darkness. He wore only the filthy, tattered remains of his jeans, and Lucia was still completely naked. The thought flooded his mind with rage, but he had no time to find something with which to cover her. He could hear the shouts of alarm and sound of pounding feet growing louder.
Shielding Lucia as best he could, he shoved his shoulder through the window, shattering the glass. Shards of it left crimson gouges in his skin as he lept through the gaping hole into the night.
He was assaulted with the scents of the city: tarmac, gasoline, concrete, the stench of humans. Here could never have guessed those scents would smell so sweet, so different were they from the close dankness of his cell, the metal of the bars of his cage, the coppery scent of freshly spilled blood.
My Lousha's blood.
That particular scent still invaded his nostrils. Deep red rivulets were winding their way down her arm where Sebastian had forced her to cut herself with the dagger. Garreth realized with alarm that the wound was not healing as it should.
Have tae fix her. Have tae find help.
But who? Who could fix her?
Bowen. Bowen's witch!
Garreth now hated magic with every fiber of his being, but if there was anyone who could save Lucia, it was Mariketa the Awaited.
Garreth had been blindly running down a darkened alleyway, toward streetlights ahead. When he reached the edge of the shadows, he paused, not wanting to be seen.
Just across the street, a green sedan was parallel parked. Checking to make sure the road was clear, he dashed across the street. He broke the driver's side window and unlocked the car from the inside. He wrenched the door open and gently laid Lucia across the front seat, resting her head on his lap once he was in the driver's seat.
Thank the gods he knew how to hotwire a car. The engine roared to life, and, with a screech of tires he sped off into the night.
So that was a shorter one, but there is another new one straightaway! PLEASE R&R!
Also, Bowen and Mariketa POVs next chapter for those of you who are tired of Garreth and Lucia angst!