CHAPTER ELEVEN: Bound by fire

You're trembling."

Though Lucian's speech was subdued, his stare at me lacked any softness. Locked onto mine with an intensity that chilled my spine, his silver eyes burned like molten steel.

I tightened my hands. "I have no fear."

A smile devoid of humor ghosted his lips. Lying to yourself does not strengthen you.

Turning away, I tried to force back the anxiety building in my chest. My heart hammered. Rowan had sided with someone else. Isolde possessed an army. And just now we had nothing.

Lucian walked in front of her. I sensed his heat, the tempest of power coiled under his skin ready to be released.

"I need you to believe me, Calla."

I tried to swallow firmly. "I do," says

"then show it."

Lucian raised a hand and brushed his knuckles along my jaw, my breath stopped. His touch was soft, nearly reluctant. But his eyes spoke a different tale. They brimmed with something primal, something fierce.

"Lucian—"

"I must know you are with me. Not questions. No doubt. His voice went harder and lower. "because if I lose you now... I don't think I'll survive it."

Something inside me broke.

I stretched up, fingers shaking, then pressed my palm on his chest. His heart was pounding, exactly as quickly as mine.

"I'm not heading off to leave you."

Lucian breathed sharply, then he drew me against him and crushed his mouth to mine before I could respond.

I gasped, but he didn't let me time to process. His lips were sharp, demanding, and I felt my world tilt as I descended into him.

It more than just a kiss.

Desperate was it. a promise. A call to arms for war.

I also kissed him back exactly as fiercely as right now I had no interest in the approaching struggle. Rowan, or Isolde, or the knowledge that we were most likely entering a death trap didn't really concern me.

This was all that really mattered.

Him, too.

Lucian murmured against my lips, his hold tightening—"Ahem."

As Eli cleared his throat, arms crossed, laughter danced in his green eyes and we jerked apart.

"I hate to interrupt, but we need a plan even if you two intend to take out Isolde with pure sexual tension."

Lucian let out a deep growl. "remind me why I haven't killed you yet."

Eli turned to smile. "Because I're charming."

Steering away from Lucian, my skin still tingling where he had touched me, I forced myself to breathe.

"What did you find?" I probed.

Eli's smile dropped off. We know where she keeps Rowan.

Lucian stiffened, softness gone from all around. "Where??"

"The Hollow."

Silence collapsed.

hollow. the subterranean grotto where Lucian's forebears had formerly dominated. A place of power, of secrets. a site long deserted for generations.

Lucian replied, "That's impossible." "Since the curse," none have been able to enter The Hollow. Eli agreed. Yes, concerning that. Turns out Isolde discovered a route in."

I pouted. "How?!"

Eli nodded slowly. "With Rowan."

The room stopped motionless.

The whole body of Lucian tightened. "explain."

Eli worked on the rear of his neck. "Look, I solde is using his blood, not sure how else. She arrived inside in that manner.

My stomach twisted.

"So you're saying Rowan isn't simply working with her—he's the key to her plan?"

Eli nodded sharply. "Exactly," says

Lucian uttered a vow under his breath. "We should then start to migrate. right now.

I drew in a long breath.

"And just what happens when we locate him?" I Inquired.

Lucian stiffened his jaw. "We grab him back."

And if he doesn't want to return?

Lucian had an incomprehensible facial expression.

Then I will kill him personally.

The tunnels below ground were frigid. Not noisy. The sort of silence preceding something fatal.

Lucian ahead of me, his gait deliberate and under control. My heart thumping in my chest, I followed closely.

"Stay behind me," he said quietly.

I moved ahead and ignored him. I'm not hiding.

Lucian sighed frustratedly but he did not protest.

The energy got stronger as we descended. It enveloped me heavy and stifling.

And subsequently—a whisper.

"You ought not to have come."

froze.

Rowan here.

I turned the bend, and he was there.

In the middle of the chamber waiting for us.

But he was not by alone.

Standing next him, Isolde had steely blue eyes shining with success.

She said, "Took you long enough," purring.

Lucian stepped in front of me snarling. "Let him depart."

Sold grinned. "Oh, but he doesn's want to go, do you, Rowan?"

As Rowan at last locked eyes with me, my chest contracted.

And what I came upon broke me.

Once glowing, his amber eyes were empty.

"Rowan," I mumbled. "Please."

He raised his head. "You ought not to have come, Calla."

The roar of Lucian got deeper. "We are going to leave. Each of us."

"No," Rowan responded gently. "Just one of us is walking out of here alive."

Rowan shot before I could respond.

Straight ahead.