Kiss of Death (Secrets & Sin Book 3) by Linsey Hall

Author:Linsey Hall [Hall, Linsey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bonnie Doon Press
Published: 2023-01-29T13:00:00+00:00

10

Cora

“A relic from the first house,” I said, recalling the crazy mishmash of architecture we’d seen as we’d driven up to the house.

Talan strode toward it. I followed, dreading what we might have to do. The metal accordion door had been torn off, and he stepped into the metal cage and looked up. “Bars are rusted.”

“How rusted?” I peered inside the tiny space and realized that he was right. They were rusted nearly through in parts. “Do you think you can break them?”

“I think I’d better try, because there’s no way I want to try cranking us up in that thing.”

“Not to mention, only one of us could go, if the other has to stay back and crank.” I wasn’t keen on going by myself or letting him leave me behind.

“Let me try.” He reached up and gripped two of the bars in his big hands. The muscles in his shoulders and forearms bulged as he slowly pried the iron bars apart. A low grunt escaped him as he worked. Finally, the space was big enough for us to squeeze through.

“Whew,” I said, exhaling in relief. “That was impressive.”

He lowered his hands, breathing heavily. “All in a day’s work.”

He formed a cradle with his hands, and I stepped into it with one foot, reaching for the bars as he gave me a lift. I squirmed through, then moved aside so he could pull himself into the cage. His sheer strength was enough to take my breath away.

I peered into the elevator shaft. It was dark as hell, and I quickly lost sight of the elevator cables that extended up into the gloom.

“How deep do you think we are?” I asked.

“Fifty, sixty feet maybe?” he said. “It will be a long climb.”

I reached for a dangling metal cable. It was close enough to the shaft wall that I could brace my feet against the stone. Thank fates for small mercies, because there was no way I could climb up using just my hands.

“Ready?” Talan gripped another cable.

I nodded, and he planted his feet on the stone wall and began to climb. I did the same on my side, the rusty cable biting into my hands as I ascended.

Hand over hand, step over step, I dragged myself up. Soon, we’d left the faint light of the chamber below and were ascending in darkness. A chill raced over my skin.

“Hang on, I’ve got a light,” Talan said, his voice low.

A moment later, a pale golden glow filled the elevator shaft. I glanced at him. The light came from a cuff on his wrist. A magical nightlight—handy.

I looked up at the shaft, searching for an exit. Praying for an exit. My hands and muscles burned, and with every foot upward I traveled, the more it would hurt if I fell.

A skittering noise made ice race through my veins. “Do you hear that?”

“I do.” Talan’s voice was way too calm, which meant that whatever it was, it had to be bad.

“You know what it is?” I asked.

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