Chapter 22

~Grace~

Where am I?

It was dark and cold, and I felt hard, uncomfortable ground beneath me. Groaning, I pushed myself up off of the ground, my arms feeling heavy.

What happened? The last thing I remembered was looking for Samuel in the forest, and then I heard a noise…

My heart dropped. Oh, no! Had they gotten me, too?

Blinking, I let my eyes adjust to the light. It was so dark, it was hard to see anything, but dim moonlight shone above me, and I scooted toward it. Looking around, I realized I was in a cave.

I wondered if Liam and Samuel were here, too? Should I call out? What if the kidnappers were here, too?

Hissing softly, I slowly got to my feet. My hips hurt from laying on the stone floor.

Which way was out? I couldn’t just stay here, and the hole in the ceiling wasn’t large enough to climb out of, even if I could get to it.

I guess it was better to start walking and see if I can find anything.

Taking a steady step forward, I was painfully aware of how loud my steps were, with no other noise in the cavern.

Walking for a while, I squinted in the darkness, another ray of light shining on a figure, vaguely outlining their shape. It looked like they were sitting on a chair, hunched over.

“...Samuel?” I whispered softly, my voice carrying through the room. The figure didn’t move.

I took another cautious step forward, listening hard.

Reaching the figure, I bent forward to get a better view of their faces.

Yes! It was Samuel!

I grabbed his shoulders, but he seemed unconscious. I felt ropes around his chest. He must have been tied to a chair.

“Grace.” A voice said behind me, and I whirled around, my heart leaping.

I recognised the voice instantly.

“Oh my goddess, Liam! You’re safe! They kidnapped Samuel and I-I heard you went missing-” I rambled, and Liam stepped closer to me.

My heart was pounding fast with relief. I was so scared it had been Rogues or an enemy pack, but the panic in my chest slowly subsided once I saw Liam. I never thought I’d be so happy to see him.

He kept walking closer, until he was inches away.

“Liam? What are you doing?”

I felt him wrap his arms around me, and he pulled me in for a tight hug.

What? I went to push him away, not that happy to see him, but I stopped myself. It had been a terrifying situation, and maybe this was his reaction to finding Samuel and I.

I wasn’t so cruel I would push him away when he likely felt like the world was ending for him.

But I didn’t want to hold the hug long.

“Liam, you… can let go now.” I said, my voice soft.

He didn’t.

“Liam,” I warned, and he loosened his grip, stepping back, but still holding onto my shoulders.

“Grace, I-I thought I’d never see you again-” Liam said, his voice quivering with emotion.

I felt a little bad. Had it really been that scary for him? Had whoever kidnapped Samuel and him been so strong he couldn’t fight back?

“It’s… okay,” I said slowly, trying to move on from this moment. I didn’t feel like having to comfort him. He could let Sophia do that when they got back.

I was here to rescue Samuel, and that’s what I’d do.

“Samuel is here, too, he’s tied to a chair. Do you have a knife or something? Let’s get him free,” I said, turning to look at Samuel, but Liam’s strong grip remained on my shoulder, pulling me back towards him.

“What are you-” I started, panicked.

“Grace, come back,” Liam begged. I couldn’t see his face in the dark, but it almost sounded like he was crying.

Annoyance pricked at me. I was not going to be manipulated. I had just gotten away from him just today, I wasn’t about to give that back up.

“Liam, goddess, this isn’t the time or place to talk about this, let’s get Samuel out of here,” I responded, exasperated.

Liam grabbed my wrist tightly.

“Liam, stop. That hurts,” I tell him firmly, trying to pull away.

“You’re not leaving me again,” he says, his voice dangerously low.

I freeze, a cold shiver running up my spine. Something about this situation wasn’t right. How had Samuel gotten kidnapped, and Liam conveniently went missing? And the only person to be notified was me, by Sophia…

I stepped back, fear seeping into my chest. No… had Liam…?

“Was this a set up?” I ask, incredulously.

Liam pulls me toward him again, and I stumble forward. I put my hand that wasn’t in a vice grip by him against his chest, pushing away.

“Liam, let me go,” I told him firmly again, and I felt him push me back. I hit the wall. I was trapped.

“I’m not letting you go. You’re coming home with me, and you’re going to stay there,” he whispered into my ear, and I turned away from him. I couldn’t move.

He turned his face towards mine, I could feel his breath against my cheek. I pressed my back into the wall as much as I could, but there was no getting away.

“Don’t, Liam,” I whispered urgently, becoming increasingly panicked.

I didn’t want to kiss him, hold him, touch him, comfort him–I just wanted him to let me go.

A scream welled up at the back of my throat, but suddenly, I felt Liam fly back, as if ripped off. I heard him grunt as he hit the ground, and there was a scuffle before it went silent.

I had been too terrified to move, and soon I heard heavy footsteps walking towards me.

“You shouldn’t go out alone at night,” I heard a deep voice say, and I almost cried with relief. Alex!

I rushed forward, seeing the outline of his figure in the light, and hugged him. Instantly, I felt comforted by his woody scent and his strong figure.

He didn’t hug me back right away, but eventually I felt his arms wrap around me and hold me momentarily.

“We shouldn’t linger,” he whispered, and I nodded. I didn’t want to have another fight between Alex and Liam, especially not in the pitch black.

And I supposed Samuel wasn’t really in danger, knowing now that it had only been Liam’s delusional plan all along.

Alex wrapped his arm around my shoulders, holding me close as we walked out of the cave.

It was cold out, and I pulled my coat more tightly around me. My breath came out in visible puffs.

I didn’t know how to feel. I was so angry at Liam for his stupid, ridiculous stunt, putting me and Samuel into a real situation of fear, and for what? Just to bring me back to him?

As if a move like that would make me want him back.

At the same time, I felt… awful. Even if I really wasn’t in any danger, I had been really scared. Ever since Nola left, I felt so vulnerable. I hated it.

“Here,” I heard Alex say, and I looked up at him, surprised. He held his coat out to me.

“Oh no, I’m alright,” I start but he cuts me off.

“You’re shivering.”

I stay quiet and take the coat. It’s incredibly warm and it smells like him—cedarwood and mint.