“What the—”
I have time only to register that the voice is Cruz’s before he tackles Ace. Their bodies land with a thump that rattles the earth, and then the air is filled with the brutal sound of knuckles punching skin, vicious grunts, and ribs snapping. The space is so small I have to scuttle up against the wall, or get in the way of Cruz’s flying fists. I watch in shock as he pummels Ace like he wants to kill him—which he’s going to do if he doesn’t stop. He just keeps hitting, even when Ace’s body is covered in blood and immobile beneath him. I suspect he’d go on forever if he didn’t run out of breath first. He stops, bent over Ace and heaving for air. Sweat glistens on his forehead and dampens the front of his shirt.
“You okay?” he asks.
Grateful tears spring to my eyes. I don’t normally condone violence, but I can’t imagine what might have happened to me if Cruz hadn’t stepped in. (Well, I can. I just don’t want to.)
I open my mouth to speak, but no sound comes out.
“Of course,” he mumbles angrily. He waves a hand, and when I clear my throat, it makes a noise—my voice is restored.
“Thanks,” I say.
Cruz rises to his feet and uses his forearm to wipe the blood oozing from his split lip, his chest still rising and falling fast. He looks me over.
“You hurt?”
I give a little shake of my head. The hurt I feel isn’t what he’s asking about.
“Did he…”
The implication lingers heavy in the air.
“No. I mean, well, he did…but he didn’t.” I don’t know what to say about what Ace did.
He looks over at Ace like he wants to give him another kick in the ribs.
“How did you know?” I ask.
“I didn’t,” he says. “I just came to check on you.”
More footsteps sound from the hall, and then a voice: “Hurry up, Cruz. The Chief’s waiting.”
Cruz reluctantly drags his eyes from Ace. When they meet mine again, there’s something pained there that I don’t understand. A switchblade materializes in his hand. I gasp as he takes a swift step closer to me. But then he reaches around me and cuts the fabric binding my hands in one quick movement. I shake my hands out, then rub my sore wrists.
He looks behind him at the door before continuing in a rush. “Look, if you want to leave, now’s gonna be your only chance.”
My heart races at his words. At the excitement flashing in his eyes.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“Cruz!” someone yells down the hall.
His jaw clenches. “Mierda. We haven’t got much time. It’s now or never. You want to get out of this place or what?”
Footsteps sound nearby.
“Yes or no!” he hisses, waving a hand for me to hurry up and answer.
I freeze with indecision. Of course I want to leave—I want to get as far away from the guy on the ground as possible. But Paige might be in this place. I’m so close now.
A man pokes his head through the doorway. “The Chief’s going to bust a nut if you don’t…” His eyes fall to Ace. “What the hell happened to him?”
“We’re coming,” Cruz says.
The man stares mutely at Ace a moment longer before slowly backing out of the doorway.
“Let’s go.” Cruz motions for me to exit the holding tank. The excitement I’d seen in his eyes a moment before has been stamped out completely, and he looks at me like he’s unbearably sad. I step around Ace’s body. Cruz holds the door open for me, and I pause in front of him.
“Too late now,” he whispers.
But that’s not why I stopped.
I push my face into his chest, my damp cheek against his warm collarbone. He hesitates a moment before wrapping his arms around me.
“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice hoarse. His heartbeat drums through his T-shirt.
“Cruz!”
Cruz pushes me off him. The girl standing outside the door looks at the small space between the two of us with an expression of utter disgust on her face. I want to explain so that he won’t get in trouble, but I have a feeling it would be better to just shut up.
“Let’s go,” Cruz repeats, then takes off down the hall.
The girl grabs my wrist and gives me a shove in the opposite direction from Cruz. I walk dutifully, but I can’t help turning to look back at him.
He’s already gone.
17
Our footsteps echo through the tunnel. The girl’s bright blond ponytail swings in front of me as she struts down the hall, not even bothering to turn to make sure I’m following. I could probably make a run for it right now. And I should probably try—it’s what any human would do. But she’s taking me to the Chief, the leader of the sorcerers. And if anyone knows where Paige is, it will be him.
My legs feel weak, and every time I think of Ace’s mouth on mine I have to choke back vomit. I don’t have to wonder if that moment will haunt me forever.
After a while, voices begin to echo from around a bend in the tunnel.
“Who’s there?” a man’s voice calls. We wheel around the corner and come to a stop in front of two beefy guards in tight shirts and skullcaps.
“New recruit,” the girl says, like a soldier speaking to a drill sergeant.
The men eye me for what feels like a century before finally stepping aside. One of them pulls open a heavy metal door behind them.
“Sir, I have a new recruit for you,” he says to whoever is inside. I never would have thought such a cloying tone possible from such a douche. The guy salutes, then turns to me, waving me forward impatiently. I swallow and take a hesitant step. The blond girl starts to come with me, but the other guard steps in front of her, blocking her path.
“Not you.”
“But—”
“Recruits only,” he says. The girl stomps off down the hall. I watch her swinging blond ponytail and suddenly feel very sad to see her go. I’m alone with these men.