I was still trying to get something useful out of Selena when a big commotion broke out somewhere up above us. Shouts, gunshots, and what sounded like an explosion rang through the dungeon.

Selena’s eyes flamed red again.

“I’ll be back,” she said, and she turned to run up the steps, leaving me alone in the dungeon.

I had no idea what was going on upstairs, but I could only hope Nik had arrived with reinforcements. And that wherever he was, he was being careful.

I hated myself for running away from him like that.

Here, I had spent most of my life longing for freedom, and when I finally got a taste of it, I had run from it like a scared child. But running wasn’t freedom at all.

True freedom was staying put, even when you were scared, because you were willing to fight for what you truly wanted. If I ever got the chance to see him again, I would tell Nik how I felt about him, and I would stand by his side, no matter the cost.

But first, I needed to find a way out of this cell.

As the battle continued to rage somewhere upstairs, I fought to free myself of the chains the held my hands behind my back. But I quickly realized the struggle was of no use. These chains were magically bound, and I had a feeling the only person who could free me was Selena herself.

I focused on the silver bars of my cell, instead, trying to find the lock, but it appeared the bars were magically sealed, as well. Dammit. I kicked against the bar with my boot, wanting to scream. I had not come all this way just to rot in some prison cell.

But before I could even try to come up with a better plan, footsteps sounded on the steps leading down to the dungeon.

Selena stumbled forward, her gown torn in several places, and a black mask covering the lower half of her face. Her eyes had turned nearly black and there were tears running down her cheeks. Her hands were bound behind her back with a red rope that was so familiar, it made me sick to my stomach.

Dominic used ropes like that. Red was his signature color, and he’d tied me up in those ropes more times than I cared to remember.

My blood ran cold as he stepped into the dungeon’s hallway, his coal-black eyes seeking mine.

“My dear, little Eva,” he said, shaking his head. “Just look at the trouble you’ve managed to get into without me. Only you would run away from me just to end up in the dungeon of some siren.”

He threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing against the stone walls.

Panic flowed through me, and I backed as far into the cell as I could.

No, this couldn’t be happening. How had he found me here?

My earlier prayer that Nik would come for me turned to a prayer that he would stay as far away from this place as possible. Selena I had hoped to be able to handle, but Dominic himself was an impossible foe.

“You can’t imagine my disappointment,” he continued. “When I returned from my weekly poker game to find an entire room full of dead men and demons, I wanted nothing more than to resurrect them just so I could kill them myself. I guess I underestimated you. I should have been guarding you with twice as many men, but don’t you worry your pretty little head. I won’t make that same mistake again. After I’ve tortured you to the point of near-death, I’m going to make sure you’re at my side at all times. So, I hope you enjoyed your little excursion across the country, because you’re never going to know a moment of freedom again for the rest of your life.”

He pushed Selena forward, and she stumbled in her high heels.

“Get her out of there,” he demanded. “I think I’ll take you both home with me tonight. I imagine a siren could be quite useful in a town like Vegas.”

Selena’s eyes met mine, and despite all that she had done, I actually felt sorry for her. She’d never even had a chance against Dominic, I’m sure. That must have come as quite a shock to a woman so used to getting exactly what she wanted from men.

But Dominic wasn’t a man. He was an abomination.

I couldn’t wish his terror on anyone, not even her.

She closed her eyes and the chains fell from my wrists. As much as I had wanted to be free of them, their absence now was not at all a comfort.

Next, she turned around and with both hands still bound, she gripped the steel bars. Like magic, they shimmered and disappeared, leaving nothing to protect me from Dominic’s wrath.

He stepped forward and grabbed me by the hair. He dragged me toward the stairs, motioning for Selena to follow us.

As we walked up the steps to the main part of the castle, I couldn’t help but feeling like I was walking to my own death.

I had survived thirteen years of his terror, but through it all, I had always had the hope of escape. Of something greater out there. But the truth was, I had never really known what I was missing. I had never truly understood the life that might await me on the other side of freedom.

Now, though, I had tasted life. I had known love.

And I knew if he took me back to Vegas now, my spirit would be broken forever.

I couldn’t let that happen.

As we walked up those steps, I decided I would fight him here, tonight. I would fight for my freedom at all cost, or I would die trying.

One way or another, tonight would be the end of it all.