Page 115 (1/2)

They formulated a basic plan, but more information needed to be collected before they could i, then he returned to his roo night

Under cover of darkness, Valek scouted the area near Mara’s apart No watchers lurked in the shadows Just to be safe, Valek looped around to the back, clih the hallway’sLeif had learned how easy it was to open aand ensured the ones in his apart his lock picks on the lock But it was late, and he didn’t wish to scare Mara Just to be sure, Valek slid his mirror under the door to check for intruders or ambushers A slow on the furniture in the htened and knocked lightly After a few seconds, a shadow appeared under the door and an eye squinted through the peephole He rested his hands near his daggers just in case

The door swung open Mara flew into his ar him "Valek! Thank fate!" She stepped back and blushed "Sorry Everyone’s gone and I’ve been in a panic ever since I figured all rin "I’ht?"

"Fine Do you have any news?"

Hating to disappoint her, he sed the sour taste in hissounded behind hiers in hand The door across the hall gaped open, and armed men spilled from the opposite apartment Almost twenty soldiers fanned out--ten on each side

His co easy to catch had returned to haunt hiainst one, they would have it easy Valek, on the other hand--not so er ru its sharp teeth into his gut, insisting, Feed nore the scent of warm sweet cakes a few feet away It masked the acrid stench of slop pots and body odor For now

Torture

This was torture

Worse than pain

With nothing to distract hi he’d last before giving in, and wished for his favorite beef stew, and cherry pie, and Mara’s pumpkin cake, and

It’d been four days since Yelena was taken Four days of sipping water and nibbling on a few bites of food to stay alive Four days of silent discussions with the others about escaping Nothing They failed to find a weakness A way out Their one effort to grab the guards when they delivered the food had been a complete and utter flop

By the fifth day, bouts of dizziness spun his cell, and his legs shook when he stood He’d have to decide if refusing to beco for The scrape of the door roused him Too soon for supper He lifted his head

Mara entered the jail with two guards on her heels

His ooes disappeared in an instant as a cold knife of horror sliced right through hirabbed the bars to keep frouish

Alarathered her couard on her left "You call this well? He looks half-dead"