I stumbled over to the cot before easing down, wincing as each movement tore at my injuries. “Is it only your leg?”
She shrugged, and I knew she was downplaying it. “That and some cuts and bruises.”
As I looked over her though, I could see she was just as drained as I was, just as worn. Rhyas took a while to tend to my wounds, ensuring everything was cleaned as best as he could, leaving no room for me to speak as he chastised me.
“We’re going to get out of here,” I muttered, looking at Kish, who sat beside me on the cot as Rhyas headed for the shelves lining the wall nearby.
She blinked for a moment, seeming shocked, but then doubt passed over her face like a looming cloud. “I don’t know how that’s possible.”
“I don’t care what I have to do. Iwillkill Arden,” I said, my hands balling into fists at the memory of how he touched my face, of how he’d shown hisfavorover the years. “Whatever the cost.”
She huffed a laugh, but I grabbed her hand. “Promise me.”
A weak smile curved her lips. “Whatever the cost.”
“Fuck,” Rhyas breathed.
“What is it?” Kish asked.
“The guards are going to start their rounds to distribute food and water for the day,” he said, stashing the salve back in its place. “I’ll return. Just stay put.”
He disappeared out of our cell and hurried down the hall.
“Mealtime!” someone shouted, and the captives and fighters all crowded the entrance of their cell across from us, desperate for the only meal we got each day.
“Get back! You know the rules!” one guard shouted, shoving some of the captives back before dropping a bucket of water and another with whatever food they’d decided to grace us with for the day. The moment the guard moved away from the cell, the cellmates rushed for the food, fishing out bits of bread and scraps before devouring it.
Those who had been here for a long time knew to ration their food, to be careful of making it last, but there were some who hadn’t learned, who had fallen into an endless cycle of feast or famine.
“Enjoy,” a guard said as he dropped a bucket of water and two trays of food. Fighters were afforded more food than others on fighting days. Assoon as the guard stepped away, I rose and slipped my arm under the handle of the water bucket before grabbing the food trays.
“Wow, we have meat today,” I grumbled, staring down at the filet of fish that looked like it was already missing a bite. I set the food down on the bed beside her and hurried to the shelves to grab two wooden cups before returning to Kish’s side to get her a drink. “Here.”
She took the cup and downed the water in swift gulps before gasping for air. “Thanks.”
I drank some water down, relishing in the temporary cool relief it gave me, but still, I remained thirsty.
“You need to feed,” Kish said, holding out her wrist.
My fangs lengthened at the thought of it, but I shook my head and pushed her hand away. “You eat and focus on recovering. I’ll feed once that leg is healed.”
She let out a sigh and sniffed at her food. “Ugh, I think they fished these out of the sewers.”
“Probably,” I grumbled, pinching off a piece and popping it into my mouth. “Yum, not even salted today.”
Kish’s brows drew together as she blinked, swaying.
“Kish?”
“I’m…” she started, but she slumped against me, her body going limp.
“Kish? What’s—” The room began to spin, my body weakening. “Fuck.”
I stood but immediately fell to my knees. Figures appeared in the entrance to our cell. I tried to stand but couldn’t, and I was hoisted up, my strength quickly fading, darkness touching at the edges of my vision.
A familiar figure appeared before me, his emerald hair the only distinguishable feature in the blur.
“Arden,” I growled, my words slurring. “What did you?—”
