Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 639(@200wpm)___ 511(@250wpm)___ 426(@300wpm)
“Well, we can’t stand here all night,” I said. “We’re running out of time.”
“Should we climb the walls?” Effie said.
“It’s a nasty drop on the other side,” Ryker said. “And we don’t have rope.”
“You don’t think there’s another way out?” I asked. “Like a hidden door?”
Ryker shook his head. “Not down here. Back in the city perhaps, but…” He remained crouched down, scanning the area as he tried to think of what to do.
Effie did the same. “I see a rope. It’s behind that guard.”
Ryker didn’t pull his gaze away. “I noticed the same thing, sweetheart.”
She turned at the sound of the nickname.
Ryker clearly didn’t realize he’d said anything he shouldn’t have because his eyes were still focused on the rope. “I have an idea.”
“Taking them down with my bow?” I asked. “I thought the same thing.”
“No.” He shook his head. “I’m just going to walk over there and grab it.”
“What?” I asked in disbelief.
Effie had an identical reaction. “What?”
“I’m dressed in black, they don’t know anyone is missing, and if I walk over there like I know what I’m doing, they’ll assume I do know what I’m doing.” He turned to me. “Dad always told us that if you don’t want predators to think you’re prey, don’t act like prey. Don’t run. Don’t cower.”
“He was talking about bears, Ryker,” I said. “Not Teeth.”
“If I get caught, it’ll give you a distraction to open the gate.” He nodded toward the two levers on either side of the wall. “Pull them at the exact same time. I can tell they’re synchronized.”
“We all get out of here, or none of us gets out here,” Effie said. “We aren’t doing that.”
He turned to her, and a long stare ensued. One of those stares Huntley and I used to share. Heated. Primal. Aggressive. Looking on felt intrusive, so I turned away and glanced at the guard near the rope.
Then Ryker just stood up—and went for it.
I released a loud sigh because I couldn’t shout or beg him to come back.
Effie suppressed her rage too, but beneath her breath, she muttered, “Motherfucker…”
Tall and strong, he walked with a normal pace to the rope, and miraculously, the guards didn’t suspect him. He kneeled down, grabbed the rope, threw it over his shoulder and walked off…just like that.
“I can’t believe that worked,” Effie whispered.
“He’s never going to let us forget it either,” I said.
He returned—a big-ass grin on his face. “What’d I tell you?”
“You got lucky,” I said. “That’s all.”
“Uh-huh,” he said. “Whatever you say.” With the rope over his shoulder, he peered out and looked for the best place to make our escape. “We should stay away from the main gate.” He pointed to the left, where the wall slightly curved into the mountain. “Over there. But I bet there’s a guard or two.”
“We can handle one or two.” I could fire an arrow into one, and Ryker could take care of the other.
“That should be easy.”
“Alright, on my mark.” Ryker watched the guards near the gate, watched them change position and move to their previous spots. “And…now.” He went first, walking normally with the rope over his shoulder. It was dark with the exception of the fires, so they probably wouldn’t even know we were there if they didn’t know prisoners were on the loose.
The wall started to slant inward, and we followed it until we found three guards at their posts.
Ryker stopped. “We’ve got to keep this quiet, alright?” He turned to me. “You fire off that arrow and take him out silently. Headshot, alright? I’ll move in for the other two.”
“I can take one,” Effie said.
“I’m sure you can,” Ryker said. “But not when we’ve got to stay quiet.” He set down the rope and unsheathed the broadsword he’d taken off one of the previous guards. “You got this, Ivory?”
The last time I’d shot an arrow was to save Huntley against the Teeth. My aim remained true despite the terror in my heart. I could do the same now. Just place the arrow on the string and hold my breath. “Yes.”
“And don’t shoot me by mistake.”
“Fuck off.” I nudged him hard in the side.
He gave a slight groan mixed with a chuckle and moved in.
I got my bow ready and aimed for the guard who had his back turned to us. I held my bow, brought tension to the string, and then released.
Ryker got to his man first and snapped his neck just as my arrow pierced through my guard’s neck. Unlike with Huntley, the guy actually went down.
The remaining guard turned at the sound, his short sword immediately out of his scabbard.
But Ryker took care of it before he could scream—by slitting his throat.
The guard collapsed, a pool of blood gleaming in the torchlight.
Ryker gestured for us to come over. “Help me with this…”