Page 56 of Heartless Enemy

The people heading this way were close now, their footsteps sounding from just around the corner, so I darted into the room and then pulled the door shut as soon as Levi and Derek were across the threshold as well.

Or almost shut, anyway. Keeping a small gap, I peeked out into the corridor.

A group of angry-looking men rounded the corner a second later.

One glance was enough to confirm that they were guards and not domestic staff.

“Did you tell them to light the hearth?” a blond one demanded.

“I already told you I did,” someone replied from the back of the group.

“If it’s not lit, I’m gonna beat your ass. My very bones are fucking cold and I need to thaw them before the next shift or they’re gonna bloody snap like icicles.”

My heart leaped into my throat.

The hearth.

Fuck.

They were coming here.

Whirling around, I motioned frantically for Levi and the healer to get away from the door while mouthing, “They’re coming!”

Derek whimpered in fear while Levi scanned the room for places to hide. There was another door at the far end, by the outer wall. Still holding Derek by the arm, he hauled him towards it. I ran after them.

Yanking the door open, we found what appeared to be a small pantry. Food and bottles of what I assumed to be alcohol lined the shelves inside.

Dread washed through me.

This was the guards’ break room. There was no other explanation for the selection of furniture in the large room as well as the pantry.

My heart pounded in my chest as I spun around right as the voices outside reached the door to the break room.

They were going to stay here until their next shift.

Fuck.

A surge went through my stomach as Levi grabbed me by the collar from behind and hauled me into the pantry, closing the door behind us a second before the other one was opened.

With Levi’s arm around me, I stood pressed with my back against his firm chest while the sound of people walking into the room drifted through the air. The same voices from before echoed against the white walls again. Someone bossing another guy around. It was joined shortly by the creaking of furniture as the guards no doubt settled themselves on the chairs and couches. A man let out a satisfied groan, presumably from standing close to the warmth of the fire.

Tilting my head back, I blew out a soft sigh.

They hadn’t spotted us at least. But we would need to stay here until they left.

Or did we?

Standing up straight, I twisted around and looked towards the single window set into the wall. Gray light filtered in through it, providing the only illumination inside the small space.

After meeting Levi’s gaze, I nodded towards it.

He dropped his arm from where he had been holding it protectively around me, and instead turned towards the window as well. After moving closer to it, he glanced down. I raised my eyebrows in silent question.

While tilting his head to the side, he considered. This window was much higher up than the one we had used to get inside. My heart pattered in my chest as I waited for his response. Then he shrugged as if saying that it might work.

“Did you seriously drink all the ale?” a man’s voice came from the living room.

“It wasn’t me.”