The Summer King Bundle 3 Stories - Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 0,124

him in the darkness and he… He couldn’t be real. He couldn’t really be here.

“There you are.” He smiled, but it seemed off. Like I knew what his real smiles were like even if they were rare. This one looked sad. “Keep your eyes open for me, okay? I’m going to get you out of here, but I need you to keep your eyes open so I know you’re still here, and so you know that this is me.”

My lips parted to speak again, but my tongue was heavy and useless. Some innate part of me told me that I needed to tell him about Aric, that he needed to know.

“I…I did it,” I said, wincing as the words scratched at my throat.

“Did what?” His thumb moved along my temple.

“I killed him… I killed Aric.”

Caden’s eyes widened slightly, and then he looked to his left, over his shoulder, to the stain on the floor. He refocused on me, and a long moment passed as what looked like awed pride filled his gaze. It quickly gave way to despair. “Good.”

Uncertainty filled me. I swallowed again.

“You don’t need to speak right now.” His eyes searched mine. “I’m going to break this chain, and then we’ll get you out of here and go home.”

Home?

“Caden?” A familiar male voice filled the chamber, hesitant.

“She’s here,” he spoke, and his gaze remained fastened to mine.

“Is she…?” The new voice was soft. Female. Red hair came to mind.

Caden’s jaw hardened. “She’s here,” he repeated. “She’s chained.” There was a curse from somewhere in the chamber, and I shivered. “Keep it cool,” he said over his shoulder. “Keep it quiet—don’t. Stay back. Just for right now.”

“But—” the female protested.

“Ren, go find a blanket or a jacket. Something warm and soft,” he cut the woman off. “We need to get her warmed up. She’s too cold. And call Tanner. Tell them they’re going to need to get the infirmary ready.”

This Ren must’ve listened because Caden refocused on me. “I’m going to break the cuff around your neck, okay? I’m not going to hurt you, but this may startle you, and I’m going to need help, so please be still. No one is going to hurt you.”

I took another breath, but it felt like it went nowhere.

His chest rose. “Ivy, I need you to come over here and hold her head, but walk over slowly.”

Ivy. Ivy. Ivvvvvy. The name. I knew it, but I couldn’t remember her. I knew I should. My heart rate kicked up as uncertainty sprang to life. Why couldn’t I remember?

“It’s all right,” Caden soothed. “I promise you. You’re safe now.”

Light footsteps approached, and then I heard a sharp inhale. “God.”

Caden’s head snapped in the redhead’s direction, and whatever she saw quieted her. She moved out of my line of sight, and I tensed.

“She’s just going to hold your head. That’s all,” Caden assured me. “And then I’ll get this cuff off you, and we’ll be out of here.”

“I’m going to touch you,” Ivy said from somewhere behind me. Seconds later, I felt her hands on either side of my head. “I’ve got her.”

“Thank you,” Caden replied, and I had the distinct impression that wasn’t something he said often. “Just a couple of more seconds, sunshine, and that’s all.”

He folded his hands around the metal band, and there was a strange flaring of heat as his chin dipped. The muscles under his shirt along his shoulders and arms flexed. Slight pressure encircled my throat, setting off warning bells. I tried to pull away, but Ivy held me in place. My stomach twisted with panic—

Metal groaned and gave way, and when I swallowed, there was no longer anything pressing against my throat.

“There,” Caden murmured, placing the snapped cuff aside. He tipped forward. “I got her.”

“Do you?”

His gaze lifted from mine to the woman behind me. “I do.”

“You better,” she said.

I had no idea what their exchange meant, but she said nothing when he slipped an arm under my shoulders and then under my legs. Only then did she let go. He pulled me against him, and the contact jarred me. I gasped as a wave of sensation rippled through me.

“Sorry,” he said gruffly, rising fluidly. He turned, and my gaze swiveled around, landing on the patch of floor that was dark and stained.

Caden was speaking, but I wasn’t tracking what he said. I wasn’t even sure if he was talking to me or not. I shifted my gaze to him as he started toward the door. I’d