My mouth hung open in horror and my throat made a squeaking nose of surprise.

Christian sucked in a gasp and stumbled.

He gripped the side of the wall, as he slowly fell down, down until he was on his knees.

"Aimee, run. Use you powers on him and run."

"No, I—"

"Run! Don't look back."

My eyes darted up to see Carlos repositioning himself against the only exit.

My eyes narrowed as I zeroed in on him.

How much damage could I really inflict on him as a Changeling?

He must have known something I didn't about my strength because his face cast over with a split second of worry.

After a moment, he'd composed himself, the poker face back in place.

"Boss, what do I do with the prince?"

"The prince? There was never a prince here, Rowan. Merely an intruder. Go ahead and kill him."

"Wait—wait." I shouted at Carlos's retreating back. "You kill him and I'll use my powers on you. I'll blow this whole place apart just to watch you burn."

I stepped out of the cell, focusing all my energy on the tips of my fingers.

A slow, painful trickle began to nip at my fingertips. I didn't need to look to know there was a dark magic bubbling there.

Carlos glanced down at my hands, an almost imperceptible gulp traveling down along his Adam's apple.

"My, that's quite a threat."

"Not a threat." I gritted. "A promise."

"Well, what would you have me do instead darling, Aimee?"

"Let him go...and...and I will help you heal your dying wife."

His face lit up like a tree on Christmas morning.

"You'd really do that? For me? Oh, what a darling girl you are."

"Aimee, don't. You can't heal her, not without—"

"Shut him up!" Carlos roared.

The guard punched Christian in the face, causing blood to spray from his mouth.

"Are you willing to sign a blood contract? As insurance for myself that you are telling the truth."

Christian thrashed on the ground, trying to speak. "Aimee, don't!"

"Shut him up!" Carlos' roar echoed once again through the cavern.

"Do you think I'm stupid?" I asked, just as the guard delivered another blow to Christian's face. I fought the urge to grimace at the sound his knuckles made when they connected with skin. "I won't sign anything I haven't read."

"Then he dies."

I glanced back at Christian.

With a nod from Carlos, the guard pressed the barrel of the gun to Christian's heart.

"Silver bullets." Carlos explained. "I've found them to be much more efficient than a stake. Also cleaner."

Anger coursed through me, but also fear.

Fear that he'd make good on his promise.

"I don't really have a choice, do I?"

Carlos yelped in delight. "Now we are getting somewhere. You gave up your choice the moment you stepped foot on my land, little darling."

"You are a lunatic." I spat.

"Perhaps. But I am also a smart negotiator. Now, here are your choices. You can either heal my wife—"

"Soulsucker! His wife is a Soulsucker. Saving her means killing yourself!" Christian yelled, coming lose from the hand the guard had clamped over his mouth.

Carlos went on as if he'd never been interrupted. "Either way, you will heal my wife. The question is whether you'll die a noble death by saving your little boyfriend here or not."

It was my turn to gulp but the lump caught in my throat.

What had I gotten us into?

It had never been Carlos' intention to let me go. From the moment he'd known I was a hybrid, he'd decided my fate was death.

Now he was asking me if I'd give my life for Christian.

What the hell kind of question was that, anyway?

Like I could ever let him die for coming here and –stupidly—trying to save me. But at least someone was trying to save me and for that I owed him.

I bit the inside of my cheek.

There was a way out of this, I just couldn't see it yet.

Maybe the next step had to be accepting the lunatic's offer.

My life, in exchange for Christian's freedom.

He wouldn't just go riding off into the sunset once he was free, would he?

He'd come back, hopefully with reinforcements from his King.

Right...?

"Okay, well, let's do your stupid blood contract. But, you must swear it in blood or whatever that you'll let Christian go. You will not do anything to hurt him, harm him or make him disappear in any way, shape or form."

Carlos made an ugly face.

"Fine."

He snapped his fingers.

"Aimee..." Christian groaned again.

Get help and come back for me. You better not let me die or I will haunt you from my grave.

When I focused back on Carlos, he'd already written the 'contract' on a long piece of parchment paper.

There was blood on his wrist that he used to dab his felt-tipped pen into.

My stomach rolled.

The magic died at my fingertips, giving way to fear.

Though, if I really did die tonight and this was the end, I wouldn't go as a scared little girl.

I'd go on my terms, and no one else's.

I snatched the pen from Carlos outstretched hand and read the contract, happy with its content.

Well, aside from the part where I agreed to die in exchange for his wife.

That part really sucked.

Carlos tsked his disapproval at me just as I was about to sign.

"Must be done in blood, my dear."

Glancing back at Christian, whose face was wholly and entirely engulfed in horror, I shot him a rueful smile.

I took the tip of the knife offered to me and slit a clean line across my forearm, blood immediately erupting.

I signed the damned contract, for one second contemplating driving the small dagger into Carlos' chest.

In response to my thoughts, he snatched the dagger out of my reach and pressed a hand to my back, already ushering me out of the dungeon.

"Let's get a move on my dear. Elizabeth has been kept waiting long enough."

I reeled in my thoughts so there was no trace of them directed at Carlos except for the deep loathing I felt for him at the moment.

Sparing one glance over my shoulder, I saw Christian just as he pulled himself to his feet.

Stay alive, he mouthed.

Right. Easy peasy.

His blue eyes were wild with fear and something else...gratefulness, maybe? Or shock that I'd trade my life for his. He was right, I wasn't very nurturing but I was loyal to those who helped me.

And so far, he had helped me. More than I could repay him.

Come back for me, I thought.

"I feel compelled to tell you how wrong of a choice you've just made." Carlos said with a flare of his hand, interrupting my silent conversation.

"Any why's that?" I asked, already growing bored of him and his theatrics.

"Because dear, you should've just let him die."

"And why on earth would I do that?"

"Don't you want revenge?" Carlos asked, voice a little too innocent.

"Revenge for what?"

Carlos chortled. "I knew the moment I saw you whose daughter you were. The likeness is uncanny, really."

"Aimee, don't you listen to a word he says." Christian barked.

"What are you talking about? Get to the point."

"I just figured you'd want revenge for this man hunting you your whole life. Or," He paused. "Did you leave that part out while wooing her, young Dannek?"

My face snapped back to Christian.

"Shut up." He growled.

I paused by the entrance to the dungeon, my hand swinging out to steady myself against the frame.

Christian had been sent to hunt me and not to protect me, as he'd so often claimed?

My heart sank to my feet.

Why on earth would Christian do that? Why go to all these lengths to save me just to...

...Right.

Because I was a hybrid.

Cursed with a great power I didn't even want.

The question wasn't why the reader King would target me. The question was why wouldn't he? Just like all the others.

"Is that true?" I asked, sounding far stronger than I felt.

Because what I felt now was like I'd gotten punched in the gut.

"Don't listen to him." Christian urged. "Please."

"Are you calling me a liar, boy?" Carlos snapped. "Henric, your father, did not send you to find the coveted hybrid child he so desperately wanted dead?"

"Aimee, hey, look at me. He's lying. Look me in the eye. Don't listen to him, this is what he does."

"Your father wants me dead. That's why it was so important for you not to fail. Why you were so insistent."

That might explain why he'd stopped me the other night. Maybe his conscience had managed to claw its way to the surface.

Look, I just don't feel right taking advantage of you, he'd said.

"No, listen—"

My stomach turned.

If I didn't leave soon, I'd probably throw up all over Carlos's expensive shoes.

Why did this come as such a huge surprise? Brandon had tried to warn me that I couldn't trust anyone in this world.

Embarrassment seeped into every fiber of my being.

I'd begun to trust Christian. I'd put my life in his hands. I'd stupidly bought into his story about wanting to keep me safe.

And now I'd traded my life for his just in time for the truth to came to light, that all he'd ever wanted was to see me dead.

'Have to give you credit, though,' I thought bitterly, knowing he could hear me. 'You are an exceptional actor.'

"Come along, Aimee. Be glad the pain of his betrayal will be short-lived."

I shook my head, clearing the thoughts from it.

I didn't grace Christian with a final look or even with my anger.

He didn't deserve either.

It was time to shift all my attention onto survival.

The sting of betrayal I could deal with later.

Now? Now I just had to stay alive.

There was no knight in shining leather coming to rescue me.

There never had been.

I was on my own and I would survive this from stubbornness alone, if that's what it took.

Just watch me.