Page 78 of Caged

“I don’t know either,” I admit. “But I’m not going to abandon you. I have to stop your father and the man he’s working with. I’ll end it before it gets worse, then I’ll get you out. Okay?”

She nods, but her eyes shine with tears. “This isn’t normal.”

I force myself to stand. “No, it’s not. But it’s going to be okay. We’ll figure it out together, alright?”

Taking another look around her empty room, I feel my anger rising all over again.

“Are you safe here, Idril?”

Her head snaps up, startled by the shift in my tone. When she realizes what I’m referring to, her cheeks heat. She offers me a sad smile that tears my heart in two and whispers, “Safe as life.”

Erasing the few feet between us, I bend down and gather her in my arms.

At first, she freezes, her body going stiff like she’s unused to touch. Then she relaxes, melting into my arms. Her lack of scent doesn’t stop me from nuzzling my cheek against hers. Scent-marking her, even though I have descenter on, too.

I cradle her head in my hands. Her hair falls through my fingers, and I use it to gently tug her head back so I can look in her eyes.

“I will come back for you. Give me just a few days,” I swear with a ferocity I pray she believes. “As soon as I can, I’ll come back. ”

It isn’t a promise. It’s a vow. One I’ll die before breaking. It settles in my soul, filling me with purpose.

Protect her at all costs.

Even from my brothers, if necessary.

Because, fuck, I have no idea how I’m going to explain any of this, even after we eliminate the threat of her father.

The stolen vial of blood in my pocket weighs a thousand pounds.

Idril gives me a shaky smile and sets a hand on my chest that burns through the cotton.

“Go,” she says, and I can tell she’s trying to be brave. “Before someone catches you here.”

The cat—Shade—uncurls and rises to his feet. He glares at me and hisses, facing the door with stiff movements.

A moment later, I hear the sound of a car pulling into the circle drive out front.

“Shit.”

I take one last long look at my Omega, committing every detail to memory until I can see her again, and escape through the open balcony doors. I climb onto the railing and jump, hanging suspended in the air for a breath before my boots land soundlessly on the ground below.

I waste no time sprinting for the treeline, but once I’m hidden by the shadows of the forest, I turn back around.

Idril stands on the balcony, her long white hair blowing softly in the wind behind her. I can still feel her inside of me—that churning silver pool writhing and begging me to go back.

I know she can’t see me, but I smile when she lifts a hesitant hand in farewell, like she knows I’m watching. Like she has enough faith in me already to know I had to look back just one more time.

I press my fist to my chest, right over my heart.

I’ll come back. I promise.

With one last lingering look, I turn and sprint back to the Denali.

I wish I could say I’m strong enough not to look back again, but that would be a lie.

Chapter 11

Idril