Chapter l229

Chapter 0229

Really, right now, the urgency was only for my sister. She was the one causing me the most danger. She was also the one I wanted to know the most about.

Was she there by her own free will? Or because she was coerced? Tonight, I wouldn’t rest until I learned

the truth, and then either saved her or stopped her.

“Promise me,” Julian said. “Only snooping.”

I sighed. “I promise.”

“Good.”

As Julian stepped back, Nicholas came forward.

“Show me how to break a hold once more,” Nicholas said.

“Okay.” I was nervous too. A little bit extra practice wouldn’t hurt.

Nicholas locked me in a hold.

Julian rolled his eyes. “You just want another reason to put your arms around her.”

I blushed a little, but Nicholas didn’t let me go. “Show me, Piper,” he whispered into my ear.

So I did.

Ten minutes later, we were sneaking through the tunnel, following the long trek to Terry’s mansion.

Julian had brought his flashlight again, but this time he kept it low to the ground, illuminating only the

ground we were walking on and nothing else.

About halfway through the tunnel, I felt something tug at the emptiness inside of me. The thing that used

to be there – my wolf was calling to me. It was dim, buried beneath some kind of fading magic, but it

was there.

“My wolf,” I gasped, to give the princes warning, before I started to sidestep Julian to be in the lead.

Julian made a grab for me, but/l sl*pped under his reach before he could connect.

I moved quickly, recklessly. I didn’t care about anything but my wolf.

A pair of arms wrapped around my waist. Nicholas’s breath was warm on my ear.

“Slow down, Piper. You aren’t thinking clearly.”

He wasn’t holding me tightly enough to hurt me. He wasn’t even properly restraining me, since my arms and legs were free. He had taught me many tricks to get out of just this situation with a stranger,

But Nicholas was no stranger, and he didn’t mean me any harm.

I tried to control my fast breathing. My heart was beating like a sledgehammer against my ribs.

“Just breathe a moment,” he said. He exaggerated his own breath. I felt the steady rise and fall of his

chest against my back. “Come back to yourself.”

I tried to focus on his words, his commands, but my wolf was right there. It was calling for me.

My thoughts were scattered.

“I’m okay,” I said, but my voice wavered.

“You sure?” he asked.

“She’s lying,” Julian said.

“I won’t run off,” I said as a concession. I had been lying. I wasn’t okay. But even as desperate as I was, I knew running off now would only make things worse. For Elva’s sake, my wolf’s sake, Jane’s sake, and my

own, I had move slowly and concisely. No matter how difficult that might be.

Nicholas waited a moment more. When neither Julian nor I added anything, he slowly removed his arms

from around my waist.

I immediately missed his warmth and the strength of embrace. When he held me, I felt like a different. person almost – someone who could be vulnerable, knowing they would be protected. Without it, I was just me again, struggling to get by in a cruel, heartless world.

We continued walking. I stayed in the lead but I didn’t run ahead. I kept pace with the others, even

though my heart begged me to move faster.

When we neared the end of the tunnel, Julian clicked off the flashlight.

The room of cages didn’t look much different from the last time I’d seen it. Still dismal and depressing, with a lone dim lightbulb hanging overhead. But this time, strange noises were coming from beside one of

the cells.

“Mm,” Terry hummed. “You taste delicious.”

A woman faintly moaned.

”

I leaned out from the end of the tunnel to peer around the corner.

Terry had his arms around my sister.

They were k*ssing.

Was he attacking her?

My vision burned red.