I charge on ahead, climbing six flights as if I’m flying. I only pause to assess my direction. Relief fills my chest when I recognize the double oak doors at the next landing. I never thought I’d be glad to see those again.

Michael. Velvet seduction flows into my mind like a warm breeze. The Flame burns through my limbs in response. An image of Alexei’s oil-black eyes swallows my mind.

Oh shit. “Seonu. Cage. Now!”

With an echo of scraping metal, Mason draws his sword. Seonu frees a jangle of keys from her belt and runs to the door.

“Michael, is he calling you?” Laasya asks.

Precious one.

An urge for Alexei crashes through me in a wave of molten need. Oh, God. I grasp at the stone wall. My knees buckle. Flanagan was right; this is stronger. Way stronger.

“Laasya,” I say, gasping for breath. “Don’t let me go to him. He’s planning something.”

Laasya dashes to hold the door open. “Quickly, Captain.”

The two soldiers grab an arm each and drag me to my feet, then half carry, half march me through the double doors. In the center of the room stands the cage, its shiny silver bars glinting in the midday sunlight. My muscles clench, but all I see is safety.

I know I won’t make it.

I am here for you, my love. Come to me.

I spring away from the soldiers’ hold as if injected by a sudden shot of adrenaline.

“I need to go to him,” I hear myself say.

“Oh, no.” Laasya points to the door. “Hurry. Lock it.”

Seonu fumbles with her bunch of keys to find the right one.

Mason raises the tip of his sword to my neck and grasps my elbow. “We can’t let you do that, half breed.”

I wrap the blade with the chains on my manacles, yank the sword from his hand, and sidekick. My boot lifts Mason’s feet from the ground, slams him down on his back, and sends him skidding across the stone. His shocked expression is priceless, but I’m not able to enjoy it.

I’ve got to get to my prince.

I stride back to the doors as the sword clatters to the floor. Seonu pushes a key in the lock. Before she can turn it, I grab her by the neck of her hard vest and throw her aside. She stumbles but recovers to plant her foot in my stomach. As I fold with a groan, she lands a hefty jab to my temple.

Pain bursts through my eye socket. My head jerks sideways, but it’s not enough to stop me. I kick into her exposed side.

She cries out as her body thumps against the door, face twisting with pain.

I grasp the door handle.

“I’m sorry, Michael,” a gentle voice says.