"You are going to let me die here?" Megan let her words sound incredulous.


    Rick walked to the bars. "I don''t want you to die. But I have no way of getting you out of here without being seen or found out. If I


    could save you and only lose my own life, I would do it. You don''t deserve to be here..."


    "But?" Megan cut in.


    "But I have a pup and a mate who would be executed if I went against Vince." He grabbed the bar and I heard the sizzle of his skin against the silver. "I can''t risk them. I hope you and Amy will understand that." He pulled back and turned away. "Wait!" Megan called after him.


    He turned. "The guard ising back in a minute. Be quick."


    "Will youe back to speak with me?" She tried to get close. "I have so many questions."


    Rick looked back to the door. "I can try. But Rick doesn''t like random peopleing in here."


    "Then why did youe in now?" Megan pushed.


    1


    "Because..." His shoulders sagged. "Because I felt like a monster and I felt like I neede3d to exin. If I could have let uyou go, I


    would have. But I can''t risk them."


    Megan sat back. "You came to ease your guilt?"


    He shook his head. "Guilt had be my best friend. There is nothing I could do


    to maker the guilt easy at this point. I just felt


    like I needed to exin myself to you. If that makes any sense." He raised his shoulder. "I listen to where the goddess points me


    now. I stopped asking questions a while ago."


    Megan tilted her head. "The goddess?"


    Rick bobbed his head. "Thest time I felt a push, it was to


    turned back to look at me onest time. "I truly am sorrypt Amy, and now she


    might save my kid. So now I listen." He


    get you out." Then he walked to the door.


    You don''t deserve this. I''m hoping that if Amy gets back to me, we can


    "If I can get out myself...when would be the best time?" Megan called after him.


    He stayed looking at the door. "I would wait until Vincees to see you on the day. He has a thing for you, girl, and he will


    be distracted. Allow it to happen for a little while. He will be angry. Like you are taking his focus from his ns. But he


    will stille because you are his new drug, his fix. Once he leaves, he will be angry about wasting his time and ignore this ce


    like a gue for a day or so. Go then."


    "How will I know it''s time?"


    Rick looked over his shoulder. "Vince is like an addict when he finds a new girl to chase after. He has the same pattern. He will


    visit multiple times a day, then grow frustrated, and the visits will grow less. He''s quick to fall, and quick to move on. Give it a week. By the end he will leave you alone for a day, then you will know." Then Rick pushed out of the door and left me alone with


    my thoughts.


    So we are here for at least a week? Nix huffed out a sigh.


    I raised a shoulder. It will give us time to collect information. Megan trotted over to the bed andid down. Gettingfortable? I


    chuckled at her as she dug under the thin nket.


    Might as well. I need to rest. My body has had less time outside, and I am weaker than you and Nix. And while I''d love for either of you to take over, or share power with me, I also realize we will need most of your power when we escape.


    That''s days from now... Nix offered, but Megan just settled deeper into the bed, curling up.


    Yeah, but we don''t know how many traps are around here. We rushed in, no nst time, and look where that got us. Now we have to n. She turned to me. Is there a way for you to keep us from being drained by the magic thrown around here?


    I settled on the ground next to Nix. I don''t honestly know. But I can try to figure it


    out.


    Good. Megan nodded. I looked at Nix, and we both snorted. But Megan was already asleep. I looked to Nix.


    Sleep. I''ll take the first watch.


    Nix settled against my side. Are you sure?


    Yeah, I''m sure. If anyonees in to talk to us, I will every one up.


    Nix curled up and put her head on myp again. In minutes, she was asleep. Once again I was alone with my own thoughts,


    surrounded by wolf snoring. I pulled magic to me; I tossed a light ball up in my


    mind to illuminate the book I had in my hands. I


    rubbed my fingers over my Book of Shadows, its words and form a figment of my imagination here. But it would mirror the real


    one at home.


    Now...to find a solution.