Page 67 of Take

I choked back the sobs as I focused and tried to re-awaken my healing, but I’d used all I had in me to take Drake’s life and I was too weak.

“No,” I sobbed as I desperately tried to bring heat into him. There was a spark, like a match being stroked and his heart began to beat stronger as a flicker of heat began in my palms. “Come on, Jasper. Fight with me.”

He groaned and I pushed further, forcing my body to transfer my heat into him. “Baby.” His haggard whisper strengthened my resolve and I pushed more and more until he raised his head and his eyes flickered open.

“Stop,” he said. “Fuck, stop.” He strained against the chains. “You’ll die. Max, it’s too much. Stop.”

My heart slowed and staggered as the coldness I took from him leaked into me, but I’d never stop. Not until we left here together.

Suddenly, a loud boom from upstairs vibrated through the room and I fell backward. Dust and debris crumbled from the ceiling as the house groaned under the pressure. I looked at Jasper and his face was contorted in agony at the sound. Being weak, he was unable to tone down his ability.

I climbed to my feet then ran for the door. “Max,” he called.

Another loud bang as if furniture was falling. I threw open the door and the instant I did, I smelled the pungent smell of smoke and heard the distinct crackling of fire.

“Max, get the fuck out of here. The ceiling is going to cave in.”

I ran to Drake’s body and searched through his pockets and found his phone. It flashed the clock screen.

“Oh, God.” He killed his vampire followers upstairs just to make certain Jasper didn’t escape. That he’d burn here, just like my mother and Talde. And he would if we didn’t get out soon. The house would either collapse on top of us or the smoke would suffocate us.

I ran back to Jasper and tried to undo the chains. “Jasper. I . . . I can’t undo them.” Panic gripped me and my breathing quickened, making me lightheaded. I had to calm down. We’d get out together. We’d make it. The Scars had to know I was gone and then they’d see the fire and come for us.

“A gun. Something,” I said and ran to Drake’s body, quickly searching for any kind of weapon to break through the lock. “There has to be . . .”

“No,” Jasper said. “He was never planning on letting me go, Max.”

“No. No.” I shook my head as I yanked off Drake’s boots looking for a knife—anything. “He wouldn’t do that.”

But I knew that was exactly what he’d planned. That was why I knew I had to try and kill him. What I hadn’t anticipated was being unable to get Jasper out of the chains.

“Max, come here.” It was his calm, steady voice that drew me from my frantic searching. “Come here.”

I pushed up and then ran to him, my arms wrapping around his neck as I pressed my lips to his. “There has to be a way.”

He pulled back and I stroked his cheek. “You killed him. You stopped him, angel.”

“We did,” I corrected. “We have to find a way to get you out of here.”

“I want you to listen to me, Max.” He tilted his head down and looked at me while I cupped his face in my hands. The grey in his eyes wrapped me in its intensity as he waited until I calmed my breathing and my eyes were steady on his.

“Good girl.” He quirked a half-smile and then it was gone and I knew. I knew what was coming. “My heart is yours, sunshine.” My own heart crashed through its protective cage and dropped into my stomach. “Never knew I had one until you. It lost its beat a long time ago when I lost myself. I never thought it would beat again—until you.”

“Jasper. No.” I knew why he was saying this and I shook my head. “No. I don’t want it. I don’t want it without you.” I clutched at his shirt, tears staining my cheeks as I pleaded with him.

He grunted and his muscles flexed. I frantically reached around again to try and undo the chains on his wrists. I choked on the sob catching in my throat. “Help me. Help me. Your Ink. Groar can—”

“Baby,” Jasper whispered.

I ignored him, yanking on the chains, desperation blurring the reality of what I was doing. I had to get him free.

“Baby, stop.”

“No. Fuck you, Jasper. Fuck you. You don’t get to give up.”

“I need you to look at me, Max.” I clawed at his trapped wrists until he added, “Please.”

My trembling hands slid down his stretched arms and away from the chains that were going to break us; tear us apart before we were even brought together. I shifted so I was standing in front of him again, ignoring the escalating sounds of the crackling and banging upstairs.