These Hollow Vows (These Hollow Vows 1)

“Shh,” Finn whispers, his breath hot against my ear and his free hand flat against my stomach.

I close my eyes and swallow. I hate that I react to him this way. Hate even more that part of me wishes he’d move that hand, stroke the skin that burns beneath his touch. “You’re enjoying this far too much,” I whisper.

His chest shakes against my back in a silent chuckle, and his lips brush my ear. “You have no idea.”

The sentry paces down the corridor past Jalek’s cell, but we stay hidden, waiting for him to return to his post at the top of the stairs.

Finn’s thumb circles ever so slightly against my stomach.

“Stop that.” The protest is too quiet to sound sincere.

“As you wish.”

But the feel of his splayed fingers flattening against my stomach is almost worse, and I have to swallow back a contented groan. The darkness pulses around us.

“Easy, Princess, focus on the magic. When we’re out of here, you can go back to imagining all the ways you want my hands on you.”

I open my mouth to tell him he’s a disgusting pig who is absolutely wrong about the direction of my thoughts, but I snap it closed when the sentry returns. He casts light into the cell again. When our back corner remains blanketed in darkness and he returns his attention to Jalek, unaware that anything’s amiss, I release a breath.

“I remember your sister,” the sentry says with a sneer. “It was a shame to see such a pretty thing pay the price for her brother’s crimes, but you didn’t care, did you? I got to put her into the fire myself. I’ll never forget the sound of her screams as the flames melted her skin.”

Finn grips me tighter, as if he’s afraid I might lunge at the guard. Jalek’s entire body goes rigid, his fists balled at his sides, but he doesn’t reply.

His sister, burned alive. My heart aches for him, and I feel more conflicted than ever about these supposedly “good” fae.

The sentry narrows his eyes at Jalek, his lip curling in a sneer. “I hope she lets you rot down here.” Then he turns back to the stairs, and we all hold our breath as we count his steps to the top.

Finn releases me, his fingers skimming across my abdomen slower than necessary. I spin and shoot him a glare.

He only smirks before turning his attention to Jalek. “When we get you out of here, you’re going to have to walk right past him.”

Jalek whips around, and even in the darkness I can see the torment in his eyes.

Finn crosses the cell to look his friend in the eye. “I know you’d like to tear him apart, but that is going to have to wait for another day. Do you understand?”

Jalek swallows and gives a curt nod. “How do we do this?” His voice is low but raw.

Finn takes my hand, then offers his other hand to his friend. “Just hold on and let us lead the way.”

Chapter Twenty-One

BY THE TIME WE GET BACK to Finn’s, I am exhausted in a way I haven’t felt since my mother left. I’ve never used so much magic at once, and the events of tonight have left me feeling emotionally wrung out.

While Jalek reunites with his friends, I go outside and sink into one of the chairs on the patio that runs the length of the back of the house. Dawn will come soon, and I need to get back to the palace before someone notices that I’m gone, but I can’t bring myself to go. Not yet.

I tilt my face up to the stars and close my eyes. I’ve known for a while now that the Unseelie aren’t the devils mythology makes them out to be, but tonight opened my eyes to the cruelty of Sebastian’s court. Burning an innocent alive to punish her brother? I can’t think of it without feeling sick.

I hear the click of the back door, and without turning to look, I know it’s Finn. I feel him . . . something else I don’t want to think about too much.

“Are you okay out here?”

Okay? What is okay? “Yeah. I’m just tired.” I roll my shoulders back. “Do you think I was at risk of burning out tonight? I feel completely drained.”

He shakes his head. “You’ve barely begun to tap into what you’re capable of. You just need practice. You’re not used to using that much power. You might feel . . . off for a few days. In fact, I’ll tell Pretha that you’re not training tomorrow. You should rest.”

I study the moon that’s sinking toward the horizon. “You mean today.”

“I suppose so. Today, tomorrow . . . take as much time as you need. You did great tonight. As soon as we get you past this block of yours, you’ll . . .”