Page 186 of Eternal Surrender

“Who’s they?” I asked.

“Lucas and his friend. A priest? They’re getting the scrolls then they’re coming back for us.”

“Did the priest have a name?” I asked.

“Jacob, I think.” Sebastian frowned, studying the ash. “What is that?”

“When did you last see Lucas?” I asked.

Sebastian threw a wary look over at Raven.

Both Raven and Angus were sidling toward the doorway and bolted through it.

“Seb?” I tugged his shirt.

“Five minutes ago,” he said.

I threw my head back in relief. “Aiden told me these were Lucas’s ashes.”

A profound relief washed over me. That awful boy had wanted me to believe my closest friend was dead.

“He’s a right little shit, that one,” Sebastian said. “You okay?” he asked Ingrid.

“I’m fine,” she replied, though clearly she wasn’t.

“We have to find Paradom,” I said.

Sebastian grimaced. “What exactly is that thing?”

“I’ll explain later,” I insisted and struggled to my feet.

“Whatever it is, they’ve inserted a device next his heart,” Sebastian said, assisting Ingrid up. “If Paradom so much as makes eye contact, they shock him.”

I shook my head, disgusted with their cruelty. “Get Ingrid to safety.” I grabbed Raven’s coat and pulled it on. “That includes you, Seb.”

“I’m not leaving without you,” Ingrid said.

“You can’t stay here a moment longer,” I said.

Sebastian pointed toward the door. “There’s a fully working laboratory down here.”

“They’re other prisoners here too,” Ingrid said. “We can’t leave them.”

“First, I have to get inside that lab,” I said.

“Perhaps that’s where they’re testing the mercury?” Sebastian asked.

We headed out into the corridor.

“How did you even know we were here?” I asked Sebastian.

“Didn’t. That notebook you gave Alex,” Sebastian explained. “Anaïs was able to bring out the writing with lemon juice. Bodiam Castle was mentioned in it.” He shook his head. “I came here to check out the place. Got caught by the man dressed as the Grim Reaper. Luckily, I managed to talk my way out of trespassing because he recognized me. He knew I had been screened, so he let me stay. This was the place where I was initiated.” Sebastian guided us on. “The lab’s this way.”

“Sovereign still dress as monks,” Ingrid said, “and yet behave like barbarians.”

Sebastian peeked round the corner. “White coat heading our way.”

The middle-aged laboratory technician whisked around the corner and virtually bumped into us.