Free Jonas (Darkness #7) by K.F. Breene Page A

cleared from her face for a brief, red-cheeked smile before she went back to her occupation. “We don’t have long. We need to get out of here.”
    “Do you have a sword?” Jonas glanced at the wall of tools behind her. A paddle wouldn’t do much good against anything sharp, and he wasn’t about to go twirling a whip in public. That was something chicks did.
    Emmy glanced behind her and refocused on him. Worry clouded her gaze. “No. I was never taught how to properly use one, so I’ve never kept one around.”
    Jonas shrugged and stalked toward the door. “I’ll take someone’s off them. How long have we got before your captives come calling?”
    Emmy replaced the stone and straightened up. She wiped her hands on her dress and retied her whips. “Any time. I caught Nathanial off-guard, but he would’ve unraveled my spell nearly immediately. He doesn’t think I can go far, so he’s probably not hurrying, but still…”
    “We just have to stall.” Jonas couldn’t help moving toward her and gently putting his hands on her shoulders comfortingly. He felt her flinch lightly at the personal touch, but she didn’t shrug him off. “Sasha will get this bitch humming. If anyone can shake it up, it’ll be her. We just have to stall long enough for her to get pissed, and then make our escape.”
    “She’s not as close as Nathanial, and my directions were probably not very helpful.”
    Jonas moved his hand up to her face slowly. He touched her cheek as their gazes held. In a soft, reassuring voice, he said, “She’ll find a way in, and she’ll blow this bitch sky-high. I have the best mage on this planet because she is a true survivor. And I have the best leader, who will run circles around Nathanial. We just have to stall. Show me around this place, and I’ll keep it lively until reinforcements come.”
    Tears glossed over Emmy’s eyes. One stray tear released and wobbled down her cheek before he wiped it away with his thumb. He bent, slowly, and lightly touched his lips to hers. He felt her hands wrap around his middle.
    “Some warrior,” she said in a low tone. “I’m scared shitless.”
    “That’s just because you’re thinking about it. C’mon.” He kissed her harder before stepping away. With a quick jerk, he swung open the door and prepared to rush a crowd of males with swords.
    The dingy hallway waited, sleepy and empty.
    He smirked back at her. “See? So far so good.”
    “You don’t feel pain, and you’re not afraid of anything. What are you, Superman?” Emmy tiptoed around him on silent feet and peered to the right. A few bare bulbs dimly lit the old, stone hallway.
    “I’m Superman’s kryptonite.”
    Emmy huffed and took off at a jog to the left. “Well keep up. I assume you can run.”
    “When I have to. I don’t make a sport out of it, or anything.”
    “This is a serious maze down here. They mapped it out a long, long time ago, but very few people ever come down here. I bet I’m the only one that really knows how to get around.”
    “What did this place used to be? Why is it here?”
    Emmy shrugged as she turned left into a dark maw. She slowed to a fast walk. “I got the human affinity for the light, so I don’t have great night vision. Bear with me. Anyway, this was built by the Europeans a long time ago, I think. Like, first settlers era. Your race, obviously. To hide from the human settlers and whatever else. I think this below area was the dungeons, and then all the stuff above is for living. The stuff above has seen a lot of makeovers, but down here—well, who cares about prisoners, right?”
    “And you’ve spent a lot of time in this place?”
    They turned left and then right. Only one bulb every twenty yards lit their way, now. The darkness encroached on Jonas’ visibility, blurring the once-sharp lines. Emmy spread one hand in front of her, and one to the side, lightly skimming the wall with her fingers and hesitantly advancing. She probably couldn’t see