Grace’s heart racing. Her attention went from the darkness to Zeke and back to the dark. She prepared herself to defend them both against whatever was coming, because she wasn’t going to let Zeke die.
Coiled tightly, she crouched over the ground in a defensive pose. She saw a flash of color in the darkness—red?—and was surprised when the red became distinguishable as a flurry of flaming red hair she quickly recognized. You’ve got to be kidding me, was all she could think. A moment later, Lux grabbed hold of the chains against the wall and yanked. They snapped away as easily as thread. Grace gawked at the chains lying in a heap on the ground, and dragged a disbelieving gaze to her improbable rescuer. “What are you?”
Lux came to a halt, thrusting her hip out and resting her hand on it. “Really? I’m here to get you outta here. Does it really matter?”
Put like that, Grace couldn’t agree more. “No, I guess not.” Grace watched as Lux carefully picked Zeke up as if he weighed no more than a child. Holding him against her body, she turned to Grace. “You moving in or coming with me?”
Still shocked Lux was her unlikely savior, she stuttered, “N-no. I don’t know the way.” Even though she was weighed down with Zeke, Lux easily ran past Grace.
“Come on.” She definitely sounded like Lux. Grace wouldn’t hold it against her today.
Lux stayed close to the darkest part of the shadows, and Grace mimicked her moves as she followed close behind her. Fighting still ensued in the cave, the whoosh of movement stirred strands of Grace’s hair. Lux quit moving, and Grace could see a red glow in her profile. She couldn’t tell if it was coming from Lux’s eyes, or from a Fallen in front of her. Slowly, she knelt and carefully laid Zeke on the ground. From over her shoulder, she whispered, “If I don’t come back, you have to find a way out.”
Grace’s lips didn’t move. She was screaming in her head for them both to run, but she couldn’t make her lips work as Lux whispered at her harshly, “Grace! You’re Chosen, for Christ’s sake, grow a pair.” Lux was right. Grace nodded.
Kneeling in front of Zeke, she put a hand on his chest. A heartbeat. She let out a quiet breath. Grace knew she was faster than regular humans, but wasn’t sure if she were stronger. Carefully, she placed her hands under Zeke, and attempted to lift him. Suddenly, she felt a strong yank and was flying backward, landing hard on her back, the sting of rock scraping against her skin made her wince. It felt like her arms were almost pulled from their sockets, and her wrists were on fire.
Someone pulled on the chains again, yanking her further back. Flipping around on her knees, all she could see was the glowing red eyes of the Fallen. But it was enough. Grace ran as fast as she could, climbing up his chest and swinging her legs around the back of his neck, then sat on his shoulders. Before she could think about what she was doing, she whipped the chains of her shackles around his neck like she was roping a calf.
He slammed them backward against the rocks, trying to knock her off. Sharp points cut into her back, warm trickles of blood ran down her shoulder blades. She twisted the chains harder. Muscle popped and bones cracked until he buckled beneath her, and they crashed to the floor. Quickly, she scrambled along the ground, trying to distance herself from her attacker, and hoped she was moving in the right direction to Zeke.
“Grace!” Quentin’s voice yelling her name spiked her emotions. A flurry of slumbering butterflies came to life in her chest.
His voice brought tears to her eyes. He found me, she rejoiced silently, as she tentatively called out, “Here!” She didn’t want to attract anyone else by yelling more.
A moment later, someone brushed the side of her body when they crouched next to her. He grabbed her hand in his and cupped the side of her face. It was Quentin, his touch telling her that he was just as relieved to see her as she was him. Earlier, she wasn’t sure if she was ever going to see him, or anyone else again. She let out a bark that sounded like a mixture of crying and laughter. He kissed the top of her head.
“We have to get Zeke,” she whispered.
“I